Survey data isn't the most reliable form of market research, but when collected in sufficient quantities it can provide some interesting insight.  ComScore has cobbled together its latest phone survey report, which queried over 30,000 U.S. phone customers over the age of 13.

The study reports that among the surveyed users with a smartphone, the number of users of Google, Inc.'s (GOOG) Android operating system has sharply risen.  In April Android held a 36.4 percent market share, three months later it's risen to 41.8.

By contrast Apple, Inc. (AAPL) largely held steady managing an anemic 1 percent gain, rising from 26 percent to 27 percent over the same period.  Meanwhile Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Waterloo, Ontario-Based Research in Motion, Ltd. (TSE:RIM), and Finnish phone maker Nokia Oyj.'s (HEL:NOK1V) soon-to-be-defunct Symbian OS all shed market share, with RIM's 4 percent drop being the most severe.

RIM's losses ostensibly came due to the company's failure to match Apple in customer brand loyalty, Google in device selection, and both rivals in app selection.  RIM does offer industry-leading secured business solutions, such as encrypted email.  However, to the average consumer, the utility of those services may be minimal.

The phone maker has also lagged in hardware.  Earlier this month, it did at last unveil a single competitive offering -- the high-resolution touch screen BlackBerry Torch 9860.  However, the device will not launch until October in the U.S. (on AT&T, Inc. (T)).

In terms of overall phone sales (both smart phone and non-smart phone), the rankings remained unchanged with Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (SEO:005930) on top, LG Electronics (SEO:066570) in second, Google's recently acquired Motorola unit in third, Apple in fourth, and RIM in fifth.

Both Samsung and Apple, buoyed by strong smart phone sales, saw 1+ percent growth in overall phone sales.  Meanwhile Motorola sank by 1.5 percent.

The study also revealed that all types of smart phone use, including gaming, internet browsing, music listening, and social networking continues to rise.