Australia belongs to the Apple universe, according to Google, which means more iPhones have been activated in the country than Android-powered smartphones as of the first three months of 2012.

Based on its in-house survey, which ZDNet Australia said was conducted by Ipsos Media CT, Google admitted that 49 per cent of Australians own iPhones while only 25 per cent disclosed that they have smartphones that stand on the mobile platform engineered by Google.

Up to 1,000 mobile phone owners participated in the survey, Google said.

The result was in contrast with Android's strong push in the United States, where about 40 per cent of smartphone users picked Google's mobile OS while only 32 per cent opted for the pricier Apple product, based on earlier surveys.

Another study issued by Kantar WorldPanel on Tuesday indicated too that Android has been gaining more support in Europe, the United States and Australia from March through mid-April this year, with Apple's iOS gradually losing some ground.

The platform, Reuters said, has narrowly maintained its hold on the number two post as smartphone makers like HTC and Samsung continue to flood the global markets with Android handsets that cater both to high-end and entry-level buyers.

But back in Australia, where Google said smartphone usage has reached 52 per cent dispersion over the past 12 months, mobile users still prefer the iconic iPhone over other cell phones compared to the surge experienced by Android handsets in other markets around the world.

Analysts noted that iPhones seem to sell more even if the price of getting the unit's most basic configuration is more expensive in Australia.

The Google study also reported that as the lucrative smartphone market expands even more, Aussies tend to rely further on mobile computing to perform their everyday functions such as searching for products to purchase and looking for new business outlets to deal with.

Six out of four in Australia have intimated in the survey that they conducted their online shopping via their mobile device but only a handful thought of using their gadget in processing their payments.

The remaining 40 per cent who opted out of mobile shopping revealed lingering worries on the security risks that come with online purchases.

And those who took the plunge intimated that they rather do their online shopping via a desktop computer or a laptop, citing ease of use or navigation.

The last indication was a letdown, Google said, as it exposed many businesses' ill-configured Web sites that turn away would-be buyers.

According to Google Australia's Jason Pellegrino, the company' mobile advertising chief, retailers wanting to cash-in on the exploding online shopping industry must realise the fact that "the mobile revolution isn't coming ... it's already happened."

"Mobile is no longer optional: businesses need to develop a mobile strategy now, or risk getting left behind," Mr Pellegrino was reported by ZDNet Australia as saying.