Good. Android is the superior OS and I'm glad to see it winning. A huge victory for open source.
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Android Smartphone Sales Exceed iPhone in the U.S. for First Time
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Well this article should rile up the natives.
This could be looked at in a few ways. One, iPhone sales are down since people are anticipating a new summer release. Or, Android could actually be more popular right now. Or, the Android platform being on multiple carriers, coupled with HTC's wonderful hardware, helps drive sales, whereas the iPhone is only available on one much maligned network that people are complaining about daily.
I set up a couple of Droid Incredibles for people here at work last week. Damn that thing was gorgeous. While Android still has too much of the unpolished "Linux feel" for my liking, that thing lived up to its name. I kept the phones for a little longer than necessary just to play with the OS a little and test it out. Apple has their hands full with this OS. And that's good for everyone.
A very intelligent post here. I agree with everything you said.
Tony
Not really surprising. I've been expecting this.. multiple manufacturers making Android phones vs one model of iPhone, together with more limited carrier access.
Additionally, one model of iPhone isn't for everyone, where as the consumer has many Android phones they can pick and choose from, so there's more diversity .
Additionally, one model of iPhone isn't for everyone, where as the consumer has many Android phones they can pick and choose from, so there's more diversity .
"free" phones cost nearly as much as paid phones
A "free" phone obligates a user to $720 in cost over the mandatory 2 year contract. A $100 phone obligates a user to $820 over the contract term. So the real difference between free and paid is only 12% relative. Including "free" phones in a market share estimate is perfectly reasonable under these circumstances.
Android phones are substantial competition for iPhones. And these data don't reflect sales of Verizon's HTC Incredible, which has been on backorder continuously since its launch due to high sales. Android phones will take another big jump in May.
I look forward to Apple's upcoming response.
A "free" phone obligates a user to $720 in cost over the mandatory 2 year contract. A $100 phone obligates a user to $820 over the contract term. So the real difference between free and paid is only 12% relative. Including "free" phones in a market share estimate is perfectly reasonable under these circumstances.
Android phones are substantial competition for iPhones. And these data don't reflect sales of Verizon's HTC Incredible, which has been on backorder continuously since its launch due to high sales. Android phones will take another big jump in May.
I look forward to Apple's upcoming response.
agree, however I for one dont care anymore where the iPhone sits.
I just need it to work period. No amount of who wins this war will change my use of the phone. At the moment, I text, email, browse and occasion call
I can still call it a phone at the end of the day.
um, yeah... i'm guessing the fact that the new iphone is coming out in 2 months is a MAJOR FACTOR in buying decisions... don't you, mr. super genius analysts?
more androids selling means more mature platform, which is excellent...
but come back with the sales numbers after june, and we'll talk...
Of course, Android numbers could be down with people waiting for the EVO.
At least 2 (maybe even 3). The only "real" Android phone on AT&T is the Nexus One, which AT&T didn't screw up. Phones like the Backflip, AT&T took out all the Google functionality and replaced it with Yahoo (at Apple's request, I wonder?).
Agreed 10000%.
I like what Brett says above.....
Anyway....I personally want an iPhone, but will not move away from Verizon because they offer "Real" coverage. So for me, if iPhone does not come over to Verizon soon, I will be forced into further considering the Droid options.
The iPhone has been updated in June or July since it was released.
Even without the publicity generated by the lost prototype we've all known a new model was coming this summer.
I was thinking along the lines of sales numbers...how many android units are currently in use on the AT&T network vs. iPhones?
I am sure that Android phones are going to be HUGE sellers on Verizon...just wondering if that would change if the iPhone was a choice for all cell users out there.
Hickman
You miss the point
Apple does not need to be the dominant smart phone seller. They are happy with growth and there 'closed' system may in the long run prove a saving grace. With hundreds of different models of Android out there (soon enough there will be hundreds vs. the dozens now) Android could end up splintered and a mess for consumers. What software works where and when? What changes do handset/hardware makers make that Android isn't ready to support? And does anyone care in the long run about the platform or are they buying the cheapest phone?
There are a lot of questions but your thinking is faulty in at least the point that Apple wants the largest marketshare. I think they want the better product which they have. And the better platform. Other than tech-weenies no one cares about the 'open' BS. They want secure systems that work.
Apple does not need to be the dominant smart phone seller. They are happy with growth and there 'closed' system may in the long run prove a saving grace. With hundreds of different models of Android out there (soon enough there will be hundreds vs. the dozens now) Android could end up splintered and a mess for consumers. What software works where and when? What changes do handset/hardware makers make that Android isn't ready to support? And does anyone care in the long run about the platform or are they buying the cheapest phone?
There are a lot of questions but your thinking is faulty in at least the point that Apple wants the largest marketshare. I think they want the better product which they have. And the better platform. Other than tech-weenies no one cares about the 'open' BS. They want secure systems that work.
If only there wasn't so much fragmentation among Android devices.
There's no denying they're perfectly good devices, easily as good for games as iPhone, but we've been there before with J2ME. I had a mail a few months ago from someone installing a game that required a keypad, who'd installed it on an LG Chocolate, and insisting "you suck" because we didn't support it. The game was 3 years old, and pre-dated the LG.
No such issues with iPhone.
The benefit of Apple is, ironically, their control freakery. It's not perfect, but it's miles better than what anyone else has come up with - probably because everyone else is afraid to assert some kind of law and order in their own product lines.
The bottom line is, we're working on Android SKUs, but they're not the primary platform. So anything iPhone can do and Android can't do, Android won't get - but not vice versa. So while they may win in numbers in the long run, they need something more to win in preferred platform - and that means users lose out.
Is it a news to you that all mobile phones in US are subsidized by carriers? BTW, this includes iPhone. Android phones have a wide range of specs/prices including the part of the specter where the subsidy covers the cost of the phone fully.
iPhone is entering its end of life. I'd expect things to slow down this late in the day.
Things will change once the new iPhone arrives, I'm sure.
Things will change once the new iPhone arrives, I'm sure.
Precisely. I'm actually surprised that they've managed to get to where they are so quickly with an OS that's still kinda of rough around the edges. Although, a real eye opener for me was when I heard my girlfriend's aunt - a complete technophobe - was thinking of replacing her old nokia 3100 with a HTC desire last week.
Sure. Worldwide? Nah. Not even close.
Besides, Apple's percentage is made entirely of a single product. Android requires multiple manufacturers with multiple models to make up those numbers. In terms of individual product popularity, iPhone is still well ahead.
That's nonsense logic. Open source is just a methodology, not a technology or a way of life. You might as well claim it as a win for PRINCE2 or ITIL. For every Android, there's an Nvu and hundreds of other abandoned, unsuccessful projects. I'll dig them out if you want. Still a win?
It's a win for Android, nothing more, nothing less.
If the survey is at all reliable, Apple's 21% market share is totally on AT&T's 32% market share, so that means that 11% of ALL other smart phones on AT&T are not iPhones... that includes Android, Palm OS, MS mobile, and RIM. I'd expect that RIM rules that 11% balance, so I'd place Android at 5% at most.
I would be interested in not the sales figures, but rather, the customer retention of said devices.
What is the likelihood that you would repurchase an Apple iPhone when your contract is up, vs. what is the likelihood that you would repurchase an Android phone when your contract is up?
From the people I know that have Android handsets, most of them (not all) can't wait for the day to be able to dump them without an exorbitant cancellation fee, to move to something else... blackberry, win phone 7 or iPhone.
Other than disliking ATT, very few of my acquaintances are chomping at the bit to dump the iPhone.... we'll, except to dump it for a newer version of the iPhone.
I had a Moto Droid for a month, and returned it just before getting locked to the cancellation fee. I HATED it. I wanted to LOVE it, but it was too unpolished and had too many glitches.
Sadly, I am back to a standard, non-contract clamshell cell phone, waiting for the new iPhone to be released.
What is the likelihood that you would repurchase an Apple iPhone when your contract is up, vs. what is the likelihood that you would repurchase an Android phone when your contract is up?
From the people I know that have Android handsets, most of them (not all) can't wait for the day to be able to dump them without an exorbitant cancellation fee, to move to something else... blackberry, win phone 7 or iPhone.
Other than disliking ATT, very few of my acquaintances are chomping at the bit to dump the iPhone.... we'll, except to dump it for a newer version of the iPhone.
I had a Moto Droid for a month, and returned it just before getting locked to the cancellation fee. I HATED it. I wanted to LOVE it, but it was too unpolished and had too many glitches.
Sadly, I am back to a standard, non-contract clamshell cell phone, waiting for the new iPhone to be released.
But we will never know the reliability of the data. Sometimes I wish the quarterly reports from these corporations would delivery much more transparency.
Hickman
I was testing the HTC Droid Incredible this past weekend. I had problems with many apps (downloaded from marketplace) crashing. It was very frustrating.
Screen is amazing
Speakerphone is amazing
Form factor is amazing
I also had a problem hitting buttons or icons by mistake.
I have had apps crash on my iPhone but nothing like this.
Verizon network kicks ass. If the iPhone were available on Verizon, It would be a killer combo.
Screen is amazing
Speakerphone is amazing
Form factor is amazing
I also had a problem hitting buttons or icons by mistake.
I have had apps crash on my iPhone but nothing like this.
Verizon network kicks ass. If the iPhone were available on Verizon, It would be a killer combo.