When it comes to buying a smartphone right now, there are pretty much only two choices – Android or iPhone. Yeah, you could go buy a Windows Phone or a BlackBerry if you really want to, but no one else is.

Both the iPhone and Android ecosystems are growing so fast that competitors can’t catch up. According to the latest figures from Strategy Analytics, 92% of all global smartphone shipments in Q4 of 2012 where either an iPhone or Android.

Thanks to estimates of 152.1 million Android phones being shipped globally in Q4 2012, Android nearly doubled the amount shipped in quarter a year ago. As a result, Android’s global smartphone share increased from 51% in 2011, to 70% in 2012.

Even though iOS increased the number of units it shipped in Q4 2012 compared to a year ago, 47.8 million verses 37 million, iOS’ marketshare declined slightly from 23.6% in 2011 to 22% in 2012.

Android is obviously winning the smartphone wars in terms of shipping volume. Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, said that now that Android’s got the lead, it’s challenge will be to keep it.

”Android’s share of the global smartphone market has surged… crushing Symbian, Bada and other platforms in its wake. Android’s challenge for 2013 will be to defend its leadership, not only against Apple, but also against an emerging wave of hungry challengers that includes Microsoft, Blackberry, Firefox and Tizen.”

By commanding 70% of global smartphone shipments, we have a hard time believing anyone will be able to unseat Android in 2013. And if Apple really is slipping, it might be years before another company is able to offer a mobile platform as compelling as Android.

• SourceStrategy Analytics
• ViaTechCrunch