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Android Tops 50% Share of Smartphone Sales, But Apple Still Dominating Profits
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Like most people here, I paid a premium for it. While I accept that, I'm not foolish enough celebrate it. But it is what it is, the free market working as it does.
But I also understand and accept that Apple being extremely profitable isn't good my wallet.
The manufacturer still gets their money. It's up to the operator to make a profit out of you for the duration of your contract.
How many people on here own more than a few nominal shares of Apple.
Oh wait, it's the internet, I'm sure people will all start claiming they bought 250 shares 10 years ago.
There's no such thing as 'irrational' purchasing unless you are comparing an iPhone to another iPhone which are identical except for cost.
All it illustrates is that people are selecting products on criteria other than crude hardware comparisons, and that people value things which you don't.
If I want an iPhone for its features and OS integration, then it's 'irrational' to pay hundreds for a not-iPhone.
Honestly I have no idea. But these arguments seem more FUD and MacRumors "go to" answer more than facts.
And again - maybe it's because Android has a lot of built in functionality in that regular "joe's" don't feel the need to add more stuff. I have no idea.
But I am sure - given the amount of Apps in the marketplace - and that nearly 99 percent of the Apps on my iphone (I checked) are also available on Android - they (developers) must be making money. Otherwise - as you said - why bother?
Amazing, and the Android software and phone's still suck.
Something to be said for flooding the market with free and cheap phones I guess.
Sad really, so many versions of a fragmented OS out there, many phones can't be updated, flawed UI's and app's oh what a mess.
This Apple walled garden is like being surrounded in paradise!
Something to be said for flooding the market with free and cheap phones I guess.
Sad really, so many versions of a fragmented OS out there, many phones can't be updated, flawed UI's and app's oh what a mess.
This Apple walled garden is like being surrounded in paradise!
My uncle uses original iPhone and complains that takes him ages to download a wap page...
Still iPhone and if what you say it's true then maybe it's about time your brother changes that G1 already.
Yeah its a pretty decent profit for Google as the underlying costs are considerably lower. They dont have to pay for hardware development, R&D, etc and in a lot of cases, the handset manufacturers (mainly Samsung) are handing down code to Google. Really they are doing very well.
Amazing, some people like to point out to the world how narrow-minded they truly are.
I speak from experience. You?
Yes, all of them, because you have used all of them
You can hold off with the rolling eyes because yes, I have used nearly all of the Android phones since their inception, HTC, Motorola and Samsung's crap.
Ok... I will start with basics of math... you know that 1 = 1 and 1< 2 and so on...
iPhone 4s = $649
Galaxy Nexus = +/- $650
HTC Sensation XE = +/- 650
Now... contract prices you can look up yourself and please tell me how is that free going on? And isn't 3GS free right now on contract?? NO WAY!!
Many people (like me) buy android off contract and it costs me more than I would buy a iPhone.
Stop insulting yourself dude. It's pathetic.
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Interesting.
What's your experience then? I can already tell you speak out of your ass but go on. Enlighten me.
I agree. Why wouldn't they include non-smartphones in a smartphone user survery?
yeah, when I got my new iphone, I just synced it with itunes and had everything on it my old phone did, texts, pictures, app settings. If I bought a palm pre my next upgrade would not be so easy...
I think the numbers you were responding to were Google's revenue vs iPhone profits. Google's costs related to Android were not considered (e.g. $12 billion for Motorola
)Me too. I develop on iOS, Android, WebOS and Blackberry. I'm sitting next to an iPhone 3G
All are pretty decent (with the exception of the ZTE Blade, running FroYo and a bit sluggish due to its older 600Mhz CPU), no complaints with any of them really. Sure, all have little annoying issues (yes, even the iPhones) , but no showstoppers. I cant say I use them all extensively as phones, as they are for development, however clearly they do the job they need to.
So, as I said before, narrow-minded views.
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Your next upgrade would actually be impossible given that palm no longer exists...
Interesting to note the disparities in units versus profits. I'm sure Apple doesn't care about total market share (hell, they'll probably whip up some PR bs like the Mac wanting to remain niche)-- after all from a pure business prospective profit margins are the only thing that really counts. That said, Google's model is not to sell hardware to make a profit, unlike Apple, and thus solely relies upon getting Android into as many people's hands as possible to make a profit.
In this regard both companies are winning... razer thin profit margins (typically, though there's exceptions of course) and advertising, etc revenue for Google from the en mass usage, high profit per handset plus content profits for Apple.
It will be interesting to see how far the profits can be saturated by Apple, at which point their growth will undoubtedly stagnate.
EDIT: Someone undoubtedly mentioned the BOGO situation again; I personally would find it very interesting if these companies aggregated and published data on the "free" phones year over year in terms of volume and lost profit margin per handset-- this includes the discount and free models offered by Apple, too.
In this regard both companies are winning... razer thin profit margins (typically, though there's exceptions of course) and advertising, etc revenue for Google from the en mass usage, high profit per handset plus content profits for Apple.
It will be interesting to see how far the profits can be saturated by Apple, at which point their growth will undoubtedly stagnate.
EDIT: Someone undoubtedly mentioned the BOGO situation again; I personally would find it very interesting if these companies aggregated and published data on the "free" phones year over year in terms of volume and lost profit margin per handset-- this includes the discount and free models offered by Apple, too.
I think the numbers you were responding to were Google's revenue vs iPhone profits. Google's costs related to Android were not considered (e.g. $12 billion for Motorola
Last I checked Google haven't actually paid a penny yet, its still got to be approved by the shareholders, and probably the competition commission too.
Even with that taken into consideration, you'll probably find it'll take Googles profits pretty close to Apples within a few years as they will be taking the 30% marketplace cut from Motorola handsets, as well as hardware sales profits, not to mention licenses from patents.
Apple's model is interesting - but at the same time - it is built on one pillar. Apple. They have to be self sustaining.
Google's model has several pillars. If one phone manufacturer shuts down - Google still stands.
Not saying which is better. Just stating that they are different models and can withstand different market issues.