Google Chairman Eric Schmidt Says Android is 'Pretty Clearly' Winning the Mobile War with Apple

[MacRumors]

In another wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, Google Executive Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt says that Google is winning the war against Apple in the mobile space.

This is a huge platform change; this is of the scale of 20 years ago -- Microsoft versus Apple. We're winning that war pretty clearly now. [...]

"The core strategy is to make a bigger pie," he said. "We will end up with a not perfectly controlled and not perfectly managed bigger pie by virtue of open systems."

Bloomberg points to a Gartner study claiming that Android's market share reached 72% during the previous quarter while iOS registered at just 14% as its market share has plateaued or even retreated somewhat in the face of Android's momentum.

The report notes that Google has gained confidence in its model of giving away Android to handset manufacturing partners and relying on advertising, search, and other services to generate revenue. The flexibility of Android has resulted in adoption by numerous manufacturers, yielding significant diversity and market penetration for the platform.

Schmidt sat down with The Wall Street Journal for a similar interview last week, during which he noted that Google and Apple have an on-and-off relationship. Schmidt noted at the time that Apple and Google would address their differences "the adult way", recognizing that they have major partnerships in place that need to be fostered even as they have disputes in other areas.

Article Link: Google Chairman Eric Schmidt Says Android is 'Pretty Clearly' Winning the Mobile War with Apple

[\-V-/]

Not completely clearly, but "pretty" clearly.

[ugahairydawgs]

If only they were playing the same game....

[iRCL]

I love how nobody outside of core hardcore tech people have any idea who the hell Eric Schmidt is

I sure as hell don't recognize the name. He looks like my dad though

[TennisandMusic]

Originally Posted by iRCL

I love how nobody outside of core hardcore tech people have any idea who the hell Eric Schmidt is

I sure as hell don't recognize the name. He looks like my dad though

Your dad is a genius billionaire?

[Hastings101]

Originally Posted by iRCL

I love how nobody outside of core hardcore tech people have any idea who the hell Eric Schmidt is

I sure as hell don't recognize the name. He looks like my dad though

To be fair, no one knows who the hell Tim Cook is either lol. Steve Jobs was a one of a kind when it came to public awareness.

[bawbac]

Originally Posted by iRCL

I love how nobody outside of core hardcore apple consumers people have any idea who the hell Tim Cook is

I sure as hell don't recognize the name. He looks like my dad though

fify

[Apple Corps]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

If only they were playing the same game....

Spot on :-)

[Dwalls90]

Market share =/= winning.

There are some great non-iOS smartphones out there, but just because the 20,000 new Android models keep an edge on the single iPhone model every year, doesn't mean that's the reason for it being the better product.

Same logic could be applied to Windows and OS X.

[Stella]

Originally Posted by Dwalls90

Market share =/= winning.

There are some great non-iOS smartphones out there, but just because the 20,000 new Android models keep an edge on the single iPhone model every year, doesn't mean that's the reason for it being the better product.

Same logic could be applied to Windows and OS X.

"The better product" - well, thats subjective isn't it? What is "the better product"? Ask half a dozen people and you'd get various answers.

You can say "who is winning" by various statistics - what is it? Sale figures, profits? Each are valid, each, iOS and Android are "winning".

Originally Posted by mp0890

Remember when Steve Jobs said Apple was after 1% market share?

Salesman talk. Nothing more, nothing less. It was a get out clause.

Apple ( Steve Jobs specifically ) liked to use sales figures when it suited Apple.. SJ claim they didn't care about sales for its desktops - because it would be pretty minor compared to windows, but couldn't stop talking about the market share of iTunes and iPods in keynotes, because they were high percentages. He wouldn't boast about Apple PC sales when Apple were selling less than 1 million per quarter back in early to mid 2000s. When Apple PC sales started to become impressive, SJ started to quote sales figures for all computer sales.

[coolspot18]

Originally Posted by Dwalls90

Same logic could be applied to Windows and OS X.

But ultimately Windows IS the dominate computing platform... and it shows in terms of stability, applications, accessories, etc.

[c0venant]

Originally Posted by Dwalls90

There are some great non-iOS smartphones out there, but just because the 20,000 new Android models keep an edge on the single iPhone model every year, doesn't mean that's the reason for it being the better product.

Same logic could be applied to Windows and OS X.

Originally Posted by Nova Sensei

That's like Hyundai bragging about selling more cars than Rolls Royce.....

I'm not saying iOS is a Rolls Royce, but c'mon Eric, be real here.

Originally Posted by impulse462

Famous saying: "quality not quantity"

Apple is trying to make the best smartphone hardware and software
Google is trying to sell as many ads to people as they can, through android devices.

There's the difference.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy stock android...but their goal is not to make the best smartphone, it's just to sell ads.

^^^

[gagaliya]

quantity does not mean quality, I have android right now on Verizon 4g lte and it's a piece of crap, don't get me wrong the Samsung hardware is brillant probably better than iPhone but the software - android is junk, completely fractured with useless crap embeded everywhere, and constantly freezes. There is absolutely no integration.

I can't wait until the contract is over and switch back to iPhone and iOS. My old ipad2 which I use everyday is still flawless.

apple all the way, it's the software not hardware...no one seems to realize that.

[1080p]

Lets's see...

Google develops a mobile OS built around it's services and give this OS away for FREE to device manufacturers so that they may collect user info and *HOPEFULLY* use that info to make money in advertising. Sells no devices of it's own.

Apple develops a mobile OS and offers services for use on hardware they design and build. Apple sells their products at a HUGE PROFIT point. (At LEAST $400 per iPhone!!!)

Who is winning again?

[seamer]

What's the market share for iOS-comparable androids? Not all gphones are using good hardware; most of it is lowest tier possible just to enter poor markets.

[roxxette]

Originally Posted by seamer

What's the market share for iOS-comparable androids? Not all gphones are using good hardware; most of it is lowest tier possible just to enter poor markets.

Thats not the case anymore, high end android devices are selling a lot; good example are samsung galaxy range and the Note range that proved people dont mind huge screens.

Next year will be a good to see who really have the upper hand.

[oliversl]

Winning: where making money is not a key point.

[adam044]

all Apple really has to say to this: "we have more money than the US government b!tch"

[iMikeT]

Of couuuuurrrrrrrsssee he's going to say that. He is the former CEO and current chairman of Google.

If anything, this is a quantity vs. quality statement. Android is becoming the Windows of the mobile space where it's slapped on any device despite how wonky it is.

[wikus]

I've been running MIUI for over a year now with a MyTouch 4G and its been a total delight with Android. Bug-free, quick, ridiculously customizable, great battery life and a ton of features that just aren't available with stock android (and especially not available on iOS).

HOWEVER,

I really wish Google would be more anal about setting a standard for manufacturers and carriers with Android OS, particularly crappy skins of Android that are slow as hell (stock ROM for MyTouch 4G was garbage) and especially allowing manufacturers get swindled by carriers and slap on BLOATWARE. Holy crap, take a page out of Apple's book and release phones that don't ship with junk.

Google's got a wicked and open platform, but they really need to do a better job at quality control for the noobs who don't know how to root and flash roms. I'm pretty tech savvy so I get the benefit of having the best mobile device experience, but noobs should have that privilege as well.

[likemyorbs]

Their pie may be bigger, but Apple pie is tastier...

[Yamcha]

Android is getting better, but frankly iOS has provided a great experience from the very start.

Most applications and games on the Android platform are not optimized for all devices, they are just stretched out versions of the app or game. Some Android Tablets or Phones can't even update to the latest and greatest version of the OS..

In terms of performance and experience, iOS is still in my opinion the best out there.. An example I could give is despite my iPod Touch 4G having slower hardware It's still faster then my brothers Galaxy Nexus, even with Jellybean installed..

So I'd say in terms of overall experience iOS is still the best. There are certainly features in Android OS that I do like though..

[BuckusToothnuts]

I don't it's necessarily a BAD THING for Apple to be in the challenger position again. The BEST eras of Apple were ALWAYS when they weren't the "top dog", of course discounting the time when Steve Jobs was forced away from the company and Sculley or Amelio was running the show.

Look at where Apple was when it developed the Macintosh. Look at where Apple was when it introduced the iMac. The iPod. The iPhone. Even the iPad.

And look where Apple is TODAY.

OS X has regressed unbelievably. iOS is trailing behind Android. And it's not just the operating systems, even things like Final Cut Pro have taken HUGE leaps BACKWARDS.

Why?

Because Apple is no longer HUNGRY. It no longer feels it needs to PROVE itself by offering customers with a far superior ALTERNATIVE.

Apple has grown FAT and CONTENT.

When you spend more annually on patent litigation trying to keep competitors off the market rather than on research and development trying to BEAT competitors IN the market, it's an obvious sign that you have LOST THE PLOT.

So let Google and Android have their VICTORY. What they don't understand is what they MIGHT have done is AWAKEN A SLEEPING GIANT.

[carmenodie]

Seriously, you give out a free mobile OS to a bunch of handset guys and now you think you're king of the world?
Eric isn't even playing Apple on the same field. Let Google do its own phone with no other handset maker using Android and lets see Google battle it with Apple that way.
If Google comes out on top, THAT WASY, then I'll give then their props.
But giving out your sh** for free to a bunch of clowns that put out a dozen models of cellphones a week is weak.

[bjm2660]

"We will end up with a not perfectly controlled and not perfectly managed bigger pie by virtue of open systems."

Translation: Our pies will suck, but there sure will be a lot of them!