Android users are the most "data hungry" of all the smartphone owners, according to a new report.
The study by telecoms specialists Arieso compared the data usage of what it deemed "newer smartphones," including the BlackBerry Bold 9700, the Google Nexus One, the HTC Desire, the Sony Ericsson Xperia and the Apple iPhone 4, against its chosen control device, the iPhone3G.
Users of the handsets based on Google's Android mobile OS were found to have higher data call volumes, longer times connected to the network and more data volume, both uploaded and downloaded.
Specific figures from the report backed up the overall findings. Samsung Galaxy users where shown to upload 126 per cent more data than iPhone3G users, and HTC Desire users were shown to download 41 per cent more data.
"Mobile operators are playing Guess Who?' with their subscribers," said Michael Flanagan, chief technology officer (CTO) of Arieso. "The variations in data use between various devices highlight the pressing need for a more accurate, in-depth and intelligent view into the potential impact of individual handset users on the network."
"Right now, operators struggle to see their network as their customers see it, especially regarding performance and quality of service within individual buildings. They are risking rising operational costs, and delivering a sub-par quality of service to customers. They must adopt a new, more precise approach to monitoring and optimising their networks."
This week Google introduced its latest version of the Android OS, version 2.3 codenamed Gingerbread. It will be shipped with Google's second attempt at its own handset, the Nexus S, from late December.
