Setting the tone of the Mobile World Congress, which began on Monday in Barcelona, Spain, market research firm comScore unveiled its final statement on the 2010 mobile phone market.

Setting the tone of the Mobile World Congress, which began on Monday in Barcelona, Spain, market research firm comScore unveiled its final statement on the 2010 mobile phone market. In the U.S., 27 percent of mobile phone users owned smartphones, while the European market topped out at 31 percent – both figures represented approximately 10 percent growth over 2009.

In terms of handset use, Samsung owned the top spot in the U.S., while Nokia remained No. 1 in Europe. Samsung's Android-based devices propelled the handset manufacturer's growth. Nokia has struggled to make its way to the U.S. and to remain No. 1 in Europe, which provided the impetus for its recently announced partnership with Microsoft. Many anticipated that 2011 would be a battle between only Apple and Google, which may very well prove to be the case, but some are beginning to suspect Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 can impact the market, with Nokia pushing the mobile operating system.

Neither Apple nor Google appears particularly nervous about Nokia. But Mashable reported on Tuesday that Google CEO Eric Schmidt said his company tried to reach an agreement with Nokia.

Schmidt made the statement at the Mobile World Congress, where he also presented Android 3.0, the company's much anticipated Honeycomb iteration of Android. The latest version of Android is designed for tablet use, as the company attempts to challenge Apple's iPad. Both the Motorola Xoom and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will feature Honeycomb. In terms of the Xoom, some experts openly questioned its size and price at the MWC, but its capability may be enough to sway substantial users.

At the close of the Mobile World Congress, Google Realtime search results showed frequent social media mentions and Google searches for “Google Honeycomb.” The iPad is still the leader in both the enterprise and consumer tablet markets – and it will be for the foreseeable future – but the interest in the Motorola Xoom and some other Android-powered tablets shows users would like some alternatives.

Earlier in the week, Research In Motion, manufacturer of BlackBerry mobile devices, pushed its PlayBook tablet at the MWC. The tablet has been discussed at length since BlackBerry first announced the device in September 2010. The International Business Times noted that the RIM PlayBook was the fastest tablet in display at the MWC. Furthermore, hopeful buyers won't have to wait much longer, as a March release is expected.

With BlackBerry's popularity in the enterprise sector, some may think RIM is pushing for a strong debut among business users. However, it has repeatedly stated both enterprise users and consumers are in its sights. Web discussion regarding “BlackBerry Playbook” was consistently high throughout Thursday, as rumors pertaining to its capability became trending topics on both Twitter and Google search.

HTC debuted its Flyer tablet as well, which will run Android 2.4, rather than 3.0. EWeek questioned HTC at the Mobile World Congress regarding its decision not to use Honeycomb. The company declined to comment, but it revealed that the Flyer will be available in the second quarter of 2011, featuring a 3D-enabled homescreen. While its 3D capability represents a move to the future, it will also feature a more retro element with stylus capability. Pairing the two is an especially interesting idea from HTC, who has blossomed in recent years due to the success of its Android-based devices, such as the Verizon-supported Incredible and Sprint-supported Evo.

As Mobile World Congress wrapped up on Friday By the end of the Mobile World Congress, “HTC Flyer” was a popular search topic on Google and mentioned frequently on Twitter. A majority of the conversation came from tech experts, but an improving economy, paired with increased interest in both smartphones and tablets, has consumers considering their next mobile and computing purchases carefully.

For Android users, the final full week of Feburary could be an especially telling time. On Monday, Motorola Atrix will be available for preorder through AT&T. Similarly, AT&T has a lot invested in the Atrix's success. While AT&T's place as a leading mobile service provider is hardly at stake, the Verizon iPhone release has taken current and potential customers from the company.

Early next week, when the early numbers for the Atrix come in, there will be a much more vivid picture of the mobile market, more specifically, AT&T and Android's places in it. At the moment, “Motorola Atrix” is a pretty popular topic on Google Realtime search.

Joe Meloni is Brafton's former Executive News and Content Writer. He studied journalism at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has written for a number of print and web-based publications.