According to Connected Intelligence, a service from The NPD Group that analyzes the confluence of connected devices, access, and content, Android is the preferred operating system among current smartphone owners and those who intend to buy a new smartphone in the next six months. Android not only generates more interest than any other OS at 36%, but it is also the platform consumers were “most interested in” at 36%.  No surprise there, but the study goes on to reveal a growing consumer interest in Windows Phone devices.  What’s up with that?

“The Android juggernaut continues, and that’s not great news for some of their OS competitors,” said Linda Barrabee, research director for Connected Intelligence.

“For example, one-third of BlackBerry smartphone owners are most interested in Android for their next smartphone purchase. That said, Android is also experiencing continued competition from Apple’s popular iPhone, as well as some nascent competition from Windows Phone 7.”

Though Android devices seem to be dominating the market, there is a possibility that Windows Phone 7 devices can soon end Android’s reign, or be hot on their tail, as 44% of current smartphone owners and those who plan on purchasing a new device are considering a Windows Phone 7 device for their next purchase.

Though people are curious as to what WP7 has to offer and may want to try their product, 45% of consumers are still not aware of what the WP7 is.  Aside from this, 50% of consumers who plan to buy a smartphone in the next six months are not interested in WP7 devices for a number of reasons, topping the list is that consumers “don’t know enough about it” at 46% followed by “too much time or money invested in another smartphone OS” at 21%.

Android devices have an edge compare to WP7 devices because they are more commercialized and because there are a lot of devices from different manufacturers that run on the Android platform like Sony Ericsson, Samsung, HTC and Motorola.  But with HTC and Samsung’s recent collaboration with Microsoft, things could possibly be looking up for Microsoft’s mobile platform.

HTC unveiled two new smartphones, the Titan and the Radar, which run the new version of the Windows Phone.  The Titan features a 4.7-inch LCD display, an MSM8255 single-core 1.5GHz processor, an 8 megapixel camera with autofocus, a dual LED flash and 720p movie mode, a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, 16GB of internal storage, and support for DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1 and WiFi.  Then there’s the Radar that features a 3.8 inch LCD display, MSM8255 single-core 1.5GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, 5 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.1 and WiFi.

Both smartphones are based on Mango, the next update for Windows Phone.  The phones will be available by October, making them the first devices to run the new platform in Europe.

And at the Windows BUILD Conference held last week, Microsoft unveiled the Windows-powered Samsung tablet/slate and gave them away to 5,000 lucky attendees.  And now, just after a week after launch, the slate seems to be in demand based on eBay prices and could be a giant leap for Microsoft’s mobile platform and worldwide recognition.  The slate comes with the Samsung Series 7 tablet features: Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SDD then Microsoft completed the package with the addition of accompanying dock, Bluetooth keyboard, stylus, carry-case and a 12 month AT&T SIM with 2GB of mobile data each month.

“Windows Phone 7 has a way to go before consumers really understand what it is,” Barrabee said. “But with the right marketing mojo, apps portfolio, and feature-rich hardware, Microsoft could certainly improve its standing and chip away at Android’s dominant market position.”