Google's Android operating system is progressing by leaps and bounds, in a move that could pressurize its arch-rivals such as Apple and Microsoft.

New figures compiled by IDC revealed that the Android smartphone market expanded by 143 per cent since the fourth quarter of last year.

Increasing popularity of Android-based smartphones such as the HTC Galaxy S could steal considerable market share from rivals such as Apple's newly launched iPhone 4.

Commenting on the increasing popularity of Android operating system, HTC's General Manager Anthony Petts said, "Growth that was predicted for 2011 is now being achieved in 2010. The launch of the new Galaxy S from Samsung will help grow the Android market and this is a good thing."

Analyst Mark Novosel from IDC estimated that as many as 300,000 Android-based devices would be shipped to Australia before the end of 2010. He said that shipments of Android-based devices in the first quarter of this year were five times higher than the corresponding period of last year.

Presently, shipments of Android devices account for 2.1 per cent of the Australian converged device market, but the figure is expected to jump to 8.1 per cent by the same time next year.

Google claims that around 160,000 new Android devices are being activated per day around the globe.