The latest figures released by Google show that version 2.3.x of Android, known as “Gingerbread”, is now being actively used on nearly one third of all devices running the open source mobile operating system. According to the Platform Versions device dashboard on the Android Developer portal, Android 2.3.x accounts for 31.3 per cent of the total number of devices in use, an increase of 7 percentage points compared to just one month ago.

Android 2.2, “Froyo”, first released in June 2010, still accounts for just over half (51.2%) of all devices, while use of version 2.1, known as “Eclair”, continues to decline, dropping from 15.2% last month to just 13.3%. Older devices running the now outdated 1.5 (Cupcake) and 1.6 (Donut) versions make up only 1% and 1.8% respectively.

Distribution of Android versions based on devices accessing the Android Market
Source: Google

Use of tablets based on version 3.0 to 3.2 of Android “Honeycomb”, such as the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, only increased by 0.1%, rising from 1.3% a month ago to just 1.4%.

Google is expected to announce the next generation of Android, code-named “Ice Cream Sandwich“, later this year. The new version will reportedly work on both smartphones and tablets without requiring any modification.