Android Outpaces iPhone in Share of New U.S. Smartphone Customers for First Half of 2010

[crackbookpro]

What difference does that make?

First cellular network to offer 4G(LTE)...

The download speeds you will experience with 4G(LTE) from Verizon in 2012(maybe 2013) are going to change the world of mobile web browsing yet again. Slow downloading for videos and/or large files will be a thing of the past(3G). Android phones with LTE will be blowing the iPhone out of the water if Apple is still trapped with AT&T till then. AT&T might not get 4G for a year or so after Verizon, and will have the same spotty 4G coverage like AT&T has now with their 3G network.

And by the way, Sprint does not have 4G like they advertise - it's a marketing ploy.

 

[awmazz]

The biggest competitor to Google is Microsoft, not Apple. Microsoft will be competing directly against Google by offering licensing of the new windows mobile OS to the same Android makers (HTC, Motorola, LG, Sansung etc etc) and offering way better integration into the dominant MS business and messaging platform( office, exchange etc)

Yeah, verily. HTC does already sell Windows Mobile phones as well as Android ones. And they'll be launching Windows 7 ones to mighty fanfare when they arrive. HTC will sell whichever OS generates the most demand, so what do they care which OS they use as long as they're selling HTC hardware?

And which will generate the most demand? One thing Google doesn't have when the time comes to leverage these manufacturers to install their OS instead is 90% of the world's installed desktop operating systems. Microsoft can leverage their desktop base like Apple does and introduce their own iZunes app store tie-in to their Windows PCs for an advantage Google doesn't have. The way I'm predicting it is Google needs to hold onto their 16% head start over Microsoft and make it stick or they'll risk becoming a Firefox or Chrome versus Internet Explorer. Both Firefox and Chrome numbers started dropping against IE last month according to Ars' latest numbers now that Windows 7 is becoming established. IE is recovering for the same reason it always led - it's the 'default' for Windows users, so this could be a foretaste of what's to come for Android.

Because if you include tablets then you have to include laptops.

True. What exactly are these figures actually representing? People who use an OS on a device on a telephony network? Laptops can do that with a 3G modem. Otherwise they're just measuring the people who are buying/upgrading smartphones instead of dumbphones. Which means what? I have no idea because people are still using and buying dumb phones in vastly greater numbers than any smartphones, so does that mean people prefer Symbian to Android? I don't think so. They're just buying cheap phones, on cheap plans, to make cheap phone calls.

I myself for example am as new gadget happy as anyone, but I simply don't need a smartphone and don't need to pay for expensive mobile data rates. Just a phone to make calls. So I still use a dumb phone. But in terms of mobile OS's and the apps you can use with them, I have an iPod Touch. I buy apps as much as any iPhone user does. Just like many other people as well, yet they aren't included in these surveys of mobile OS buyers/users. Just those with phones.

 

[crackbookpro]

Yeah, verily. HTC does already sell Windows Mobile phones as well as Android ones. And they'll be launching Windows 7 ones to mighty fanfare when they arrive. HTC will sell whichever OS generates the most demand, so what do they care which OS they use as long as they're selling HTC hardware?

And which will generate the most demand? One thing Google doesn't have when the time comes to leverage these manufacturers to install their OS instead is 90% of the world's installed desktop operating systems. Microsoft can leverage their desktop base like Apple does and introduce their own iZunes app store tie-in to their Windows PCs for an advantage Google doesn't have. The way I'm predicting it is Google needs to hold onto their 16% head start over Microsoft and make it stick or they'll risk becoming a Firefox or Chrome versus Internet Explorer. Both Firefox and Chrome numbers started dropping against IE last month according to Ars' latest numbers now that Windows 7 is becoming established. IE is recovering for the same reason it always led - it's the 'default' for Windows users, so this could be a foretaste of what's to come for Android.h

Androids big success comes with their App Store. The desktop leverage that Windows has is a mute point.

Microsoft is no risk to Android.

 

[Popeye206]

Good news for everyone except RIM.... especially with BBOS 6.0 looking to be rather ho-hum.

This is the real issue... RIM is getting killed and it does not look good!

iPhone has been out a while and in the US market is only on one carrier. Android is on several and they are new and have finally reached a similar level as the iPhone in functionality - so this makes sense.

Finally, some real competition in the market. I don't see any issues here either way. Some of the Android phones are nice... but I still love my iPhone. To each their own and there is nothing wrong with that.

It would suck if there was only one choice out there then life would be boring.

 

[gorgeousninja]

Technically, you also made a mistake. IT'S the people...

agreed, should also have been A proper education... glass houses and stones, hey!

 

[crackbookpro]

RIM is getting killed. iPhone 4 is the best phone. No doubt, they will always be better than an Android. I don't care how you mark it up. Apple makes the best product for markets in - desktops(Mac Pro), laptops(MBP). MP3s(iPod Touch), Tablet(iPad), smartphones, etc, etc.

They will always have the best hardware & software as they are meticulously synchronizing the two at all times. They take advantage of this as we've seen.

One problem is... AT&T. They need to ditch that sole contract in '12 and not re-sign. That is simply why Android has the oxygen to even breathe next to the iPhone. And of course, app store development is now something that Apple should be upset about. Apple innovated this market, and now Google has caught on...

Fully believe Apple could have stalled the market presence of Android & their App store development for a couple years if they had Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc...

 

[awmazz]

Androids big success comes with their App Store. The desktop leverage that Windows has is a mute point.

Microsoft is no risk to Android.

Where exactly is Google's App Store? On a website?

Microsoft's App Store will be (should be) built into every single Windows desktop on the planet, just like Internet Explorer, even if the people don't ask for it and don't even have a Windows Mobile phone. Just like iTunes on Macs. Show me a Mac that doesn't have iTunes installed by default..

Google simply doesn't have that. The only advantage Google has over Microsoft with Android right now is a head start. Netscape had that too. Much bigger than Google's.

And all that Android open-source 'free market' anti Apple walled-garden stuff doesn't wash with me either. That's just hyperbole. I've been using Macs long enough to know that developers are mercenaries and follow the money and 95% will either develop only for the largest OS base and totally ignore the rest (like us Apple users - 'sorry only Windows version available') or release the largest OS-base version first and delay the others by weeks/months which is tantamount to the same thing. It's the reason all the developers jumped on the iPhone bandwagon. Thar's gold in them thar hills. If Microsoft ever gets its nose in front of Android, which at this point is only a 16% point deficit to make up, Android will be relegated by most developers on their to-do lists as being less profitable and become Linux for sure.

 

[crackbookpro]

Microsoft's App Store will be (should be) built into every single Windows desktop on the planet, just like Internet Explorer, even if the people don't ask for it and don't even have a Windows Mobile phone. Just like iTunes on Macs. Show me a Mac that doesn't have iTunes installed by default..

Google simply doesn't have that. The only advantage Google has over Microsoft with Android right now is a head start.

Whenever this happens...

Android is already getting very strong adoption. I am not worried about IE. iTunes will never not be on a Mac as default, and people will always download iTunes on the PC because of Apple's dominance in the music generation we see today.

Google has dominance in many things, and has enough money & aggressive dominance to do whatever they please in which ever market they please. They just sunk their teeth in the smartphone market. They copied the iPhone no doubt. Android's App Store will keep getting bigger, and will be hard to stop like the one Apple has.

Microsoft is very far behind, and if Apple releases their iPhone on other carriers before Microsoft can even chime in, Microsoft will not gain even gain the presence in the market because of adoption of both the iPhone iOS & Android OS with both of them having great app stores.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Google simply doesn't have that. The only advantage Google has over Microsoft with Android right now is a head start. Netscape had that too. Much bigger than Google's.

I'm not sure I'm getting this.

Microsoft has had a mobile OS since 2000. Google, 2008. I think you've got things backwards.

 

[pistolero]

Androids big success comes with their App Store. The desktop leverage that Windows has is a mute point.

Microsoft is no risk to Android.

Android fast adoption is driven by the carriers' heavy promotions and incentives to get customers to buy smartphones and charge more for data, not because of any particular app store or because it's "android". Android was the only decent source code available to bring iphone imitations fast in the market. Once Windows7 is available, all carriers and hardware makers will offer it aggressively like they do with android. It is very possible that the mobile market will segment in chunks of 20% with not one single platform dominating. This favors carriers since they get to keep control of the handset distribution and gives them the upper hand.

Face it. Most android users are not paying for software, which means they dont have a heavy investment in the platform, making a future migration to a windows7 phone not a big deal with the carrier heavy promotions and upgrade discounts.

 

[BaldiMac]

That's exactly right. Jobs nearly killed Apple in the 1980s with the closed Mac (the "1984" commercial was a demonstration of chutzpah more than anything else, since he was doing more than anyone else to impose central control on computing) and he may hurt Apple again with the same approach.

Yet another shining example of rewriting history to fit your point.

Not sure. Maybe marketing and OEM installation has a little effect on market share as well?

Google is taking the Windows path when it comes to their OS. Apple is taking the path they always take with their products. Apple does what works for them and that's pretty much that. There isn't really anything wrong with it and it works for them, but you won't end up owning the market in the end.

I guess the iPod doesn't count because... Apple has had three chances to "own" a market. They succeeded with the iPod. They are making billions with the iPhone and the Mac. Who knows what will happen with the iPad?

Choice in the end will always win with the consumer.

Why do people repeat this constantly? Is it written in some textbook somewhere? What do you win? When did economic markets become so simplistic? Why do we need to ignore the obvious examples to the contrary?

 

[LagunaSol]

One problem is... AT&T. They need to ditch that sole contract in '12 and not re-sign.

2012 would be way too late.

If Microsoft ever gets its nose in front of Android, which at this point is only a 16% point deficit to make up, Android will be relegated by most developers on their to-do lists as being less profitable and become Linux for sure.

I find this unlikely. Is MS going to give their mobile OS away for free? If they don't, the hardware makers are going to push Android. Though I can see MS not only giving their OS away for free in the beginning, but I can see MS actually paying hardware makers to make WinPho devices to get their foot in the door.

So...if MS isn't making money on the OS, and they're not making money on the hardware, they'll have to rely on app store profit. And I seriously doubt MS is going to take developers away from iOS and Android at this stage of the game. Unless it pays them to develop for WinPho, which I certainly expect to happen. But even Microsoft can't write enough checks to catch up this time.

I think WinPho will be yet another money dump for Microsoft, a two-hit has-been (Windows + Office) run by a used car salesman (Ballmer) desperately trying to stay relevant in a new technological age.

 

[BaeSicLee]

Are You Kidding Me

Yes, lets go ahead and compare over a dozen Android handsets to one iPhone handset. Sure that makes perfect sense.

My thoughts exactly!!! Everytime I see one of these articles, I'm lost by the everyone's comments!!! iPhone is only 1 phone....versus dozens of Android phones. I like Android too, but the comparison is ridiculous!!!!

 

[awmazz]

Microsoft has had a mobile OS since 2000. Google, 2008. I think you've got things backwards.

And they still do, still holding 10% share of sales against Android's 27% according to that chart despite being yesterday's OS. So Google's only managing to sell 2.7 super-new Android phones for every 1 of yesterday's-news Windows phones.

See what happens when Win7 Mobiles hit the market. They only need to sell another 1.6 phones for every one they're already selling now and they'll catch Android. Sales should surge at release time, see if they hold long-term and Android's got a battle on its hands.

 

[DakotaGuy]

2012 would be way too late.

It might be too late, but I would say 2012 would be the very earliest that Apple would open up the iPhone to other carriers especially Verizon. If a person listens close enough you will see that Apple considers AT&T to be one of their closest partners. Sending the iPhone over to Verizon would be very detrimental to AT&T. I don't see Apple treating one of their most valued partners this way at least not before their initial 5 year contract is finished.

Verizon has stated they would like to have their entire network switched over to 4G by the end of 2013. I would say 2013 is about the time we might see a Verizon iPhone especially if AT&T is having trouble getting their 4G network launched. They look to be at least a year behind Verizon at this point.

If anyone is waiting on a Verizon iPhone right now they would be best just to make the switch to Android. I don't see one coming anytime soon.

 

[NC MacGuy]

It might be too late, but I would say 2012 would be the very earliest that Apple would open up the iPhone to other carriers especially Verizon. If a person listens close enough you will see that Apple considers AT&T to be one of their closest partners. Sending the iPhone over to Verizon would be very detrimental to AT&T. I don't see Apple treating one of their most valued partners this way at least not before their initial 5 year contract is finished.

Verizon has stated they would like to have their entire network switched over to 4G by the end of 2013. I would say 2013 is about the time we might see a Verizon iPhone especially if AT&T is having trouble getting their 4G network launched. They look to be at least a year behind Verizon at this point.

If anyone is waiting on a Verizon iPhone right now they would be best just to make the switch to Android. I don't see one coming anytime soon.

AT&T has done Apple no favors. They were second choice and even though Steve may act hurt about BigV, he's all about the money and a Verizon iPhone would bring in lots of it. 1st quarter 2011.

 

[OllyW]

1st quarter 2010.

They kept that quiet.

 

[NC MacGuy]

They kept that quiet.

Dohhh!!! I'm still writing 2003 on my checks too.

edit: 2011

 

[FearNo1]

I know people who have had android fones for years. I am not aware of them having any problems.

The point I was making is that iphone sales numbers are misleading because many sales are just "upgrades". As long as iphone is only on one network, its reach is limited and android has a better chance of catching up. Note I don't own either device.

I had an Android last year. I had it get it replaced twice within 1 month. My brother just got the Incredible 3 months ago, he's on his 3rd replacement. His buddy has one and he's on his 2nd replacement.

I switched to iPhone 3GS at the start of the year, not 1 single problem. I bought the iPhone 4 and not one problem yet. Everyone I know who has an iPhone is in the same boat.

You're right, I have no idea why I keep buying iPhones.

 

[DakotaGuy]

AT&T has done Apple no favors. They were second choice and even though Steve may act hurt about BigV, he's all about the money and a Verizon iPhone would bring in lots of it. 1st quarter 2011.

I don't know maybe your right, but many have said it is pretty doubtful that Apple will make an CDMA EVDO iPhone so I guess time will tell.

 

[NC MacGuy]

I don't know maybe your right, but many have said it is pretty doubtful that Apple will make an CDMA EVDO iPhone so I guess time will tell.

It would make perfect sense. China Telecom has 43M+ CDMA customers. That's a pretty big market coupled with U.S. Verizon.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/08/02/foxconn.spends.100m.on.dedicated.iphone.factory/

 

[FearNo1]

I don't know about that. The 4G android phones have better features than iphone 4.

RIM is getting killed. iPhone 4 is the best phone. No doubt, they will always be better than an Android.

 

[avanpelt]

I had an Android last year. I had it get it replaced twice within 1 month. My brother just got the Incredible 3 months ago, he's on his 3rd replacement. His buddy has one and he's on his 2nd replacement.

I switched to iPhone 3GS at the start of the year, not 1 single problem. I bought the iPhone 4 and not one problem yet. Everyone I know who has an iPhone is in the same boat.

You're right, I have no idea why I keep buying iPhones.

Everybody has different experiences.

I loved my iPhone 3G. I gave it to my wife when I got my iPhone 4. With the iPhone 4, I had nothing but problems. I couldn't talk on the phone for more than a few minutes without "FaceEnding", "FaceMuting", or "FaceCalling" a third party from my contact list.

Apple still hasn't fixed the proximity sensor problem -- nearly a month and a half after the phone was released. It would appear that they don't have a software fix for the problem yet or else they likely would've released iOS 4.0.2 to fix it instead of making everyone wait with bated breath to see if iOS 4.1 will fix the proximity sensor.

I went to Verizon to get the Droid X after I returned my iPhone 4 for a full refund. I have had a few quirks with the phone (one or two reboots in the past three weeks), but I haven't dropped a single call in three weeks, nor have I had any problems with the Droid X's proximity sensor. Given the choice, I'd rather have a phone that reboots itself every few weeks than a phone that I can't talk on without my face pushing buttons on the screen.

We all make trade offs. People sticking with the iPhone 4 are putting up with proximity sensor issues, or the fact that they have to put a case on their phone due to the "magical design", or they're putting up with AT&T's network in the U.S. I lost Apple's iTunes Store on my phone, but I gained a phone with no case on it that I can hold any way I want without dropping a call. I also gained the best wireless network (in terms of coverage) in the U.S. The loss of the iTunes App Store on my phone was a tradeoff I was willing to make.

P.S. -- I'm not an "Apple hater." I love my MacBook Pro. I will continue to buy Apple computers until such time as Apple's management tells me that I can't use their "latest and greatest" computers the same way I've used any other computer I ever owned (including my previous Macs.)

 

[WeegieMac]

It's to be expected when you can get an Android phone, which could be from Google themselves, HTC, Sony Ericsson, etc and get it on a variety of networks.

Why Apple is sticking with AT&T in the US is baffling.

I'd like to see UK data for iPhone vs Android with iPhone available on numerous carriers here.

 

[kernkraft]

agreed, should also have been A proper education... glass houses and stones, hey!

'Proper education' without an 'a' is fine, but that whole sentence was messed up. I don't mind correcting people, who attack others with this 'you are a moron' attitude.