Google's Android system was used on 70.1% of smartphones shipped in the quarter, while Apple held 21%, according to research firm IDC.
"The dominance of Android and Apple reached a new level in the fourth quarter," said IDC's analyst Ramon Llamas.
For the full year the percentage held by Apple and Android was 87.6% of the world smartphone market.
Llamas said Android benefitted from "a broad selection of smartphones, and an equally deep list of smartphone vendor partners" while Apple got traction from its new iPhone 5 and lower prices on its older models.
IDC said the global market for smartphones grew 46% last year with 722m units shipped, some 227m of them in the fourth quarter alone.
The report highlighted the tough task facing other smartphone vendors, such as BlackBerry or those reliant on the Microsoft Windows Phone platform.
BlackBerry remained the number three platform but its market share slid to just 3.2% in the fourth quarter, and 4.5% for the year. That compared with 10.3% for 2011.
The Windows Phone platform grew by 150% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, helped by the introduction of the Windows Phone 8 platform and new models from Nokia and HTC.
But the platform accounted for just 2.6% of the market in the fourth quarter.
"With the recent introductions of two new smartphone platforms we expect some ground to be made by the new entrants over the coming years," said Ryan Reith, another IDC analyst.
"There is no question the road ahead all uphill for both Microsoft and BlackBerry, but history shows us consumers are open to change. Platform diversity is something consumers and operators have asked for," Reith added.
Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge
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