The market share of smartphones in China running the Android OS more than doubled in 2011, according to new data from Beijing-based research firm Analysys International.

The firm found that the share of Chinese Android phones grew from 33.6 percent of the total in Q1 2011 to 68.4 percent in Q4 2011. The Symbian OS commanded the second-highest share at 18.7 percent, but this was down from 42.5 percent at the beginning of the year. Apple led the chasing pack with a 5.7 percent share in Q4, with Windows Phone on 1.2 percent and BlackBerry on just 0.1 percent.

Analysys International attributed Android’s strong showing to the “wide channel coverage” that encompasses global phone brands such as Samsung, HTC and Sony, and domestic brand such as ZTE, Huawei and Lenovo.

Commenting on the rather weak showing for iOS, the firm claimed that the iPhone's “high price and penetration capability are unable to satisfy the needs of medium and low market.”

It added that the rise in smartphone penetration in China had been fuelled by the promotion of devices at the key CNY1,000 (US$158) price point, and via operator subsidies.