Apple's iPhone might still be grabbing the lion's share of headlines, but phones powered by Google's Android operating system actually outsold iPhones in the United States in Q1, according to market watcher NPD's latest numbers.

NPD Group, which bases its findings based on 150,000-plus online consumer research surveys, found that Android phones such as the Droid and Droid Eris took a combined 28 percent share of the U.S. market for units shipped in Q1, second to RIM at 36 percent and ahead of Apple at 21 percent.


"As in the past, carrier distribution and promotion have played a crucial role in determining smartphone market share," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD, in a statement.  "In order to compete with the iPhone, Verizon Wireless has expanded its buy-one-get-one offer beyond RIM devices to now include all of their smartphones."

AT&T had 32 percent market share in Q1, followed by Verizon (30 percent), T-Mobile (17 percent) and Sprint (15 percent).