Google released its latest Android Market user figures, which show that Android Gingerbread (2.3.x) is now the most commonly used platform among visitors to the store.

Based on figures for the two weeks to 3 November 2011, 44.4 percent of users to the store were using Gingerbread devices, compared with 40.7 percent using FroYo (Android 2.2). Just 2.8 percent of visits were for devices powered by Honeycomb (Android 3.0), the version of the platform targeting tablets.

Google provides the information to enable developers to decide which versions of Android to target. Because Android APIs are forward compatible, any app targeting a specific platform will also support subsequent devices – meaning software targeting Android 2.2 will also be supported by Android 2.3 smartphones, giving a potential reach of 85.1 percent.

The first devices using the next version of the Android platform, Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), are set to appear on the chart imminently.