Google Inc's GOOGL Android operating system dominance of the worldwide smartphone market slipped slightly in the fourth quarter, with the iPhone nipping at its heals.
Android systems garnered a 76.6 percent market share in the recent period, down from 78.2 percent a year earlier, according to IDC a unit of privately held of International Data Group.
Apple Inc.'s AAPL iOS operating system's recent share climbed to 19.7 percent, from 17.5 percent last year.
Other systems, including Microsoft Corporation's MSFT WIndows Phone and BlackBerry Ltd. BBRY saw its market shares sink to 2.8 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively, from 3 percent and 0.6 percent a year earlier.
IDC's Melissa Chau said there's "a hunger to chip away at Android's dominance," especially in low-end markets.
Chau noted Microsoft bringing ever-cheaper Lumia phones to market and Tizen-based Samsung Z1T phones launch in India last month.
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