Samsung has given the Android platform a boost by securing a 45 percent share of the European smartphone market in the 12 weeks ending 8 July, with sales being driven by the recently-launched Galaxy S3 smartphone.

According to data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, five of the top ten smartphones sold in Great Britain were made by Samsung, showing the popularity of the company's products. “While the majority of noise is focused on big-name products such as the S3 or S2, it’s easy to forget that Samsung is selling smartphones across all tiers,” said Kantar Worldpanel ComTech global consumer insight director Dominic Sunnebo.

In the five largest European markets (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain) the South Korean tech giant has contributed to Google’s Android OS market share increasing from 42.7 percent in July last year to 65.7 percent. This will raise spirits at Android's backers given recent news that the OS' popularity may have peaked already in the US.

Android has been the most popular mobile OS in the UK in terms of sales for the 12 week period with a 59.5 percent share. This compares to 47 percent a year ago. The largest market share for Android is in Spain, where it accounted for 87.1 percent of smartphone sales.

RIM saw its market share in the UK falling to 10.9 percent compared to 21.6 percent a year ago while the market share of Windows Phone remains at around 3 percent as consumers wait for the release of Windows 8 devices.

Apple’s average market share across the big five European markets was 14.4 percent. The loyalty of Apple consumers is shown by 80 percent of UK consumers who changed their device buying another iPhone and 92 percent planning to stick with Apple when they next upgrade.