Apple isn’t worried about Android outselling the iPhone in the U.S.

Speaking with Digital Daily, Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison says that the company isn't worried about research firm NPD's claim that Android outsold the iPhone for the first time last quarter.

This is a very limited report on 150,000 US consumers responding to an online survey and does not account for the more than 85 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide," she said of IDC's report. "IDC figures show that iPhone has 16.1 percent of the smartphone market and growing, far outselling Android on a worldwide basis. We had a record quarter with iPhone sales growing by 131 percent and with our new iPhone OS 4.0 software coming this summer, we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon.

Obviously, the iPod touch doesn't count as a smartphone, but Harrison's claims are true -- more or less. Previous research has Apple atop the list of the biggest cell phone manufacturers in the U.S., and the iPhone does have a commanding lead over Android in the worldwide market. However, that is likely to change as Android gains more traction overseas.

The bottom line is that Apple has two smartphones on AT&T. Android, on the other hand, is on dozens of devices across all major carriers. It was inevitable that Android would surpass Apple based on sheer volume and availability. Obviously, Apple has chosen to do what it does best -- maintain control over its product.

The story would also likely be very different if the iPhone was available across multiple carriers.