According to research firm IDC, shipments of smartphones climbed 4.2 percent to 43.3 million in the third quarter from a year earlier, reports TG Daily. Handsets using Google's Android operating system played a role in the increase, says IDC research manager William Stofega.

Stofega noted:

With the release of Android-based handsets from several different OEMs, most recently Motorola, but also Samsung, LG and Sony Ericsson, the buzz surrounding Android OS is reaching critical mass. The release of new Android devices has picked up dramatically over the past several months and the release of version 2.0 demonstrates that Android is rapidly evolving and responsive to suggestions from OEMs and developers.

Finland's Nokia kept its post as the top smartphone manufacturer, but Research in Motion continues to make strides across the globe. Apple also had its highest shipment volume in a single quarter. HTC and Samsung round out the top mobile device vendors for the quarter, according to IT Pro.