Android's rapid rise has put the iPhone in a tough spot

If you want to buy a smartphone based on Google's Android software, you can choose MOTOROLA's Droid 2 or Droid X, HTC's Droid Incredible, Samsung's Fascinate, or LG's Ally.

The smartphones listed above are just Android phones sold by Verizon Wireless, but consumers can choose from 20 Android phones in the U.S. and 90 Android phones worldwide. But if you want to buy a phone based on Apple's software, you have to buy an iPhone.

This also explains why Apple has been able to rise rapidly in the smartphone market.