GOOGLE'S Android software platform rose to No. 2 globally in the booming smartphone market in the third quarter, research firm Canalys said yesterday.

Nokia's Symbian continued to lead the market with a 37 percent share, while Android had 17 percent of the market. It has surpassed Research In Motion, Apple and Microsoft this year.

Growing popularity of Android phones - made by companies like Motorola Inc, HTC Corp and Samsung Electronics - puts Google in a good position as handsets look set to surpass computers for browsing the Web.

Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said in September he expects mobile searches to generate most of the firm's revenue eventually, but it could take a long time, despite growing at a rapid clip.

Android software, offered free to cellphone vendors, has experienced dramatic growth since coming to market two years ago.