2013 has been dubbed the year of Android by Strategy Analytics.

Google’s Android platform accounted for 79% of global smartphone OS shipments in the year, according to the latest Strategy Analytics estimates. It reckons a record 781.2 million smartphones shipped globally running Google’s mobile OS, out of a total of 990 million smartphones, TechCrunch reports.

Another analyst, IDC, put out its own smartphone market figures – in which it had global smartphone shipments just pushing past the billion mark in 2013.

Despite Android breaking its record for shipments last year, the platform is not quite the powerhouse engine of growth it has been, with some slowing down evident in the data. Strategy Analytics notes that 2013 saw Google’s mobile platform grow at its lowest rate yet — which it pegs at 62%. It’s also expecting further slowing down for the platform this year.

“We expect Android’s growth to slow further in 2014 due to market saturation, and rivals like Microsoft or Firefox will be ready to pounce on any signs of a major slowdown for Android this year,” said Neil Mawston, Executive Director, in a statement, according to TechCrunch.

Strategy Analytics said iOS grew a “sluggish” 13% annually during 2013 — although it also notes Cupertino saw “record volumes”. The iPhone 5c not performing as well as expected is cited as one reason for what it characterises as “sharply slowing” growth on Apple’s platform.

As for third place, the analyst says Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform is now “firmly established” as the smartphone industry’s bronze-coloured third major ecosystem. The Windows Phone platform shipped 35.7 million units worldwide in 2013 – giving it a 4% marketshare last year.

“The Windows Phone platform is still struggling to gain traction in the low-tier and premium-tier smartphone categories and they remain serious weaknesses that Microsoft will need to address in 2014,” noted Linda Sui, Senior Analyst, in a statement.