Windows Phone making gains in Europe: 1 in 10 handsets run Microsoft OS

Windows Phone is gaining momentum in Europe, with one in 10 mobiles sold now running Microsoft's operating system.

So claims researcher Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, which has published figures depicting sales in the last quarter ending September 2013. The majority of Windows Phone sales have been driven by Nokia, the firm suggests.

Android remains the preferred OS across Europe - with 71.9 per cent share of the market, compared to Windows Phone's combined 9.8 per cent. But Windows Phone has overtaken iOS in Italy, showing there's still everything to play for.

In the UK, Windows Phone has 11.4 per cent of the market, compared to Android's 58.4 per cent. Apple's iOS stands at 27 per cent, while BlackBerry now just has 3.1 per cent of the market. Windows Phone's popularity is grpwing in Microsoft's home territory, but US figures are still small - with Microsoft claiming 4.6 per cent of the market, compared with Android's 57.3 per cent share.

"With the smartphone market in developed countries so congested, it is emerging economies that now present manufacturers with the best opportunity for growth," said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

"Nokia dominated in Latin America for many years, and while its popularity declined with the fortunes of Symbian it now has an opportunity to regain the top-spot. The majority of consumers in Latin America still own a Nokia feature phone and upgrading to an entry level Lumia is a logical next step. Price is the main barrier in developing markets and the budget Lumia 520 opens the door to smartphone ownership for many."

However, the fact that Windows Phone isn't stealing Android's lead may not actually be as bothersome to Microsoft as the figures suggest. Indeed, for each Android success, Microsoft gets a little bit of cash due to patent royalties - this equates to a whopping $2 billion a year, according to Rick Sherlund, an analyst at Nomura, as reported by Business Insider.