Apple Isn't Creating Tool to Help iPhone Users Switch to Android

[MacRumors]

Over the weekend, The Telegraph published a questionable rumor suggesting Apple was planning to develop a tool to help iPhone users switch to Android to appease major European telecoms operators. Citing a "senior industry source," the site said Apple had agreed to create a feature that would let customers transfer contacts, music, and photos from an iPhone to an Android device.

The rumor gained enough traction to prompt Apple to step in and make a statement to Buzzfeed, clarifying that no iPhone to Android switching tool is under development.

"There is no truth to this rumor," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone, and that is going great."

As the Apple spokesperson says, Apple has been working hard to encourage Android users to switch to iPhone over the past few months, making the development of a tool to encourage the opposite nonsensical.

In September, Apple launched a "Move to iOS" app to make it easier for Android users to switch to an iPhone, and before that, the company debuted a trade-in program that allows Android users to trade in their Android-based devices to receive a gift card towards the purchase of an iPhone.

Apple's efforts have been successful, and Apple often shares details on the sizable number of Android users that have switched to the iPhone. During Apple's October earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that 30 percent customers who purchased an iPhone and replaced a smartphone in Q4 2015 had switched from an Android device.

Article Link: Apple Isn't Creating Tool to Help iPhone Users Switch to Android

 

[dwaltwhit]

"We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone, and that is going great."

I love this company.

 

[iTom17]

Thank God! I mean, who the hell wants to switch to Android anyway?

 

[FruitStandWarrior]

Android isn't making a switch to iOS app! But noooooo.....no one isn't complaining to them about it. -_____-

 

[NikeSG]

Completely nonsensical speculation. This would be the most counterproductive development that any company has undertaken. LOL.

 

[navaira]

What a shame this died so quickly, it was the best rumour of the year so far. So much could have been uncovered further, like Kitkat, Lollipop and Marshmallow versions of the app, special branded Samsung version and converting $ you spent on iOS apps to Google Play gift cards.

 

[Popeye206]

Was a silly rumor anyway!

 

[bladerunner2000]

Thank God! I mean, who the hell wants to switch to Android anyway?

Plenty of people, and thank god they exist as it gives apple a reason to improve their product... you know, like taking 7 years to allow users the option of having a custom keyboard.

 

[Karma*Police]

This rumor was a real head scratcher to begin with so I'm glad they put it to bed quickly.

 

[koruki]

I heard a rumor that Apple was building an open API for samsung to get their latest designs straight from the Apple Design studio. Was tested recently during the design phase of the battery case

 

[doboy]

Maybe Apple was planning on making the app so bad that people will just give up switching to Android

 

[Psyfuzz]

"We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone"

Fearless.

 

[eoblaed]

What next? We find out Apple isn't going to sell Androids in their stores?

 

[Leonard1818]

So they're not randomly picking one iPhone user to give $10M USD cash to either? Darn... here I was about to throw my dog out the window cause surely she can fly.

 

[inscrewtable]

This is the most risibly preposterous 'rumour' one (me for example) could imagine.

 

[libmanj]

The only thing that would make me switch to Android would be to get a smartphone with a standard headphone jack in the future.

 

[Mactendo]

The better response could be: "Yeah, we developed it, but Android is so buggy that we couldn't make a stable version".

 

[michelepri]

would sound absurd to me

 

[g33k]

"We really think that switching users from Android to iOS is the way to go because we're Apple." - Tim Cook

 

[Paradoxally]

Why would they create an app to make it EASIER to switch to their direct competition?

If anything, they should focus on creating and refining apps/services that make it almost impossible for us to not switch from the Apple ecosystem because they are simply great.

 

[Four oF NINE]

whew!

I'm glad that's settled.

 

[igorsky]

"We really think that switching users from Android to iOS is the way to go because we're Apple." - Tim Cook

Judging by the amount of switchers, people seem to agree with Cook.

 

[Solomani]

This is about as silly as the EU demanding that the European Catholic Church creates an app to help facilitate Christians into converting into Muslim Extremism.

 

[britboyj]

The onus lies with Google to create this. Apple couldn't (without REALLY annoying regulators in Europe, which they don't want to do) deny such an app placement on the app store, assuming it followed all the other requirements.

 

[igorsky]

Plenty of people, and thank god they exist as it gives apple a reason to improve their product... you know, like taking 7 years to allow users the option of having a custom keyboard.

And yet you haven't switched in 7 years...