Apple Sneaks Up on Motorola in Mobile Phone Sales, Android Surges Past iOS

[LagunaSol]

Didn't I just see you argue that OS X is secure even though it's market share is growing?

Do you have a quote? I think you may be thinking of someone else. I don't recall commenting on that particular topic recently.

That said, OS X is secure even though its market share is growing. It still doesn't have enough share (not even close) to challenge the yummy monopoly OS position of Windows where malware kiddies are concerned, and probably never will (*crosses fingers*).

 

[Rodimus Prime]

How much profit do all the Android makers combined compare with AAPL?

I take it you like getting rip off on your hardware to line some else pocket full of cash?

 

[macsmurf]

How much profit do all the Android makers combined compare with AAPL?

Who cares? I, as a consumer/developer certainly don't. What the developers care about is how much money the platform users put in their pocket. I'm guessing iOS is still ahead here, but that might change.

 

[LagunaSol]

I take it you like getting rip off on your hardware to line some else pocket full of cash?

Could we please drop this ridiculous argument already? The consumer pays the same amount for an Android phone or an iPhone. Typically $199.

The lame "Apple's overpriced hardware" chestnut doesn't work in the mobile space. Deal with it.

 

[Žalgiris]

that reminds me of the DOS vs Mac vs. Atari vs. Commodore story from 25 years ago.

The system that was open and would run on any hardware was the one that succeded. iOS seems to have the same problem with Android now.

Andriod is open and runs on any platform. Hence it gets more sold devices and down the road more and better software and then better adoption in the business world.

I hope the iOS platform has enough of a headstart and a big enough user base to remain significant.

Already not the case with app number and quality, iPhone has both more apps in general and more high quality apps. Oh and if you count only Android phones that are up to iPhone (at least in some way) i think iOs beats Android in that area too.

 

[tlevier]

Direct Comparison?

Compare 1 manufacture against another...let's take Motorola vs. Apple.

Motorola has a 2Q10 of 9109.4 in the chart above.
Apple has a 2Q10 of 8743.0 in the chart above.

But then you realize that the chart is labeled "Mobile Phone units". And while Apple's smartphone concentration of their mobile phone units is 100%, Motorola is definitely selling more than just smart phones including prepaid and postpaid traditional phones.

HTC currently sells 9 Android devices and 19 Windows Mobile devices and while they are directly behind Apple in the Manufacturer's chart, the trail by nearly 3,000. That's 28 vs 3, and the 3 is winning hands down.

So, how many Android devices did it take to surpass iOS in Mobile Phones?

33. 33 Android Devices released in the first half of 2010

 

[RalfTheDog]

I take it you like getting rip off on your hardware to line some else pocket full of cash?

Money=R&D. R&D=better products. Better products=money.

 

[Popeye206]

Innovation. The free market is a good thing. It is also not devoid of rules.

Personally, I like the "rules" that Apple has put in place. It keeps developers on top of their game and provides end users with a predictable experience. Most consumers want this. Not everyone wants to "hack" their phone or goof around with every widget out there.

I do think Apple could ease up on some policies, but overall, rules keep the platform clean and I use Apple products because I know what I'm getting. I think what is Androids "advantage" today is their hurdle tomorrow.

With that said, they are both good products, but I think the only thing that holds back Apple today is product availability - they even say that in the article. Once the iPhone is available on more carriers and Apple is able to keep up with demand, there numbers will change.

Bottom line though... Android and Apple are good for each other. Each will cause the other to get better. Both will evolve and change. It's those who don't change... or don't change fast enough is who is loosing. Right now MS, RIM, Nokia and others are on the hot seat... they are the ones loosing the Smartphone race. Not Apple... not Google.

 

[Blakjack]

Doesn't ford outsell Mercedes?!!!

 

[BaldiMac]

Who cares, it's a report about smartphones. Android isn't even available for MP3 players.

Who cares? Anyone who is interested in the numbers for more than bragging purposes. The most significant advantages of market share in this market are money and the size of the platform for developers.

Apple is obviously making far more money despite smaller market share. The size of the platform for developers is still much larger than Android. And the iOS platform is more consistent (less fragmented), users upgrade faster, and customers spend money on apps at a much higher rate.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Could we please drop this ridiculous argument already? The consumer pays the same amount for an Android phone or an iPhone. Typically $199.

The lame "Apple's overpriced hardware" chestnut doesn't work in the mobile space. Deal with it.

Hey I am not the one who brought up the agrument about how much profit AAPL. If you want to do your little complaining please talk to PerfSeeker

I know you hate reading what I put out there but I was not the one who brought it up.
In terms of specs those 199 Android phones normally have higher power hardware in terms of faster CPU, AMOLED screens (cost more than LCD) and so on. Butlike I said I was not the one who brought up the profit argument.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Who cares, it's a report about smartphones. Android isn't even available for MP3 players.

Exactly, yet the headlines and articles are all about how "Android is beating iOS", which is a patently false statement. The key to the success of Android or iOS is going to be the total number of DEVICES (therefore market share), not just smartphones. The leader in total OS market share will have more developers and apps, which is what this is all about. Right now developers have over double the number of potential customers on iOS than Android - and that's just based on sales figures. That doesn't even take into account current app store offerings or consumer buying habits on each platform.

Perception is very important -- Google and Apple both understand that better than anyone. Let's try to keep the headlines accurate and not sensationalist, shall we?

 

[2 Replies]

HELLO... This report is presenting skewed data and the headline of this news item needs to be changed. Nowhere in this article does it say that Android surpassed iOS for anything other than JUST SMARTPHONES!

WTF...
It would be SKEWED if they DID include the iPod & iPad iOS data.
When they start selling media players with Android on then, then MAYBE you'll have a point. Till then, that comment will just remain another retarded apples to oranges attempt to save face.
Besides, Android's PRIMARY use currently IS smartphones, which is what they are comparing.

Hey, lets compare a Ford F150 to a Dodge Ram!
OH! Don't forget to include all Dodge Durango and Dodge Journey data in this pickup truck comparison!

 

[macsmurf]

Do you have a quote? I think you may be thinking of someone else. I don't recall commenting on that particular topic recently.

That said, OS X is secure even though its market share is growing. It still doesn't have enough share (not even close) to challenge the yummy monopoly OS position of Windows where malware kiddies are concerned, and probably never will (*crosses fingers*).

I happen to agree that the bigger the market share, the bigger the target. On the other hand, Linux has a large presence in the server market and seems to be very secure.

The conclusion would seem to be that countermeasures aren't useless and that a large market share doesn't necessarily lead to a malware/virus infested platform.

It's early days for the mobile platform anyway but I wouldn't want to take away your dreams of a crippled competitor.

 

[Plutonius]

We have a few people at our place using Android - but most have an iPhone. Don't see what people like about the Android platform. Seems very clunky in comparison.

There are things to like about Android but, in general, people are choosing Android for the carrier.

 

[Žalgiris]

I take it you like getting rip off on your hardware to line some else pocket full of cash?

So typical.

 

[LagunaSol]

Who cares? I, as a consumer/developer certainly don't. What the developers care about is how much money the platform users put in their pocket. I'm guessing iOS is still ahead here, but that might change.

Your guess is spot on. All the reports I read indicate Android development is a barren wasteland, profit-wise, compared to iOS. Microsoft will soon be jumping into the fray, paying developers to develop for WinPho 7, many of whom will probably be drawn from the Android camp (since they can't seem to make any money there).

 

[LagunaSol]

It's early days for the mobile platform anyway but I wouldn't want to take away your dreams of a crippled competitor.

Let history be your guide.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

So typical.

Ah some one does not like reading the facts. I could say it so typical that the profit argument gets used all the time as well. I was not the one who brought that one up. I just make that my normal responses to people who bring it up.

 

[macsmurf]

Personally, I like the "rules" that Apple has put in place. It keeps developers on top of their game and provides end users with a predictable experience. Most consumers want this. Not everyone wants to "hack" their phone or goof around with every widget out there.

I do think Apple could ease up on some policies, but overall, rules keep the platform clean and I use Apple products because I know what I'm getting. I think what is Androids "advantage" today is their hurdle tomorrow.

With that said, they are both good products, but I think the only thing that holds back Apple today is product availability - they even say that in the article. Once the iPhone is available on more carriers and Apple is able to keep up with demand, there numbers will change.

Bottom line though... Android and Apple are good for each other. Each will cause the other to get better. Both will evolve and change. It's those who don't change... or don't change fast enough is who is loosing. Right now MS, RIM, Nokia and others are on the hot seat... they are the ones loosing the Smartphone race. Not Apple... not Google.

I agree with you. A company leveraging market power to stiffle competition is not a good thing, though. As long as there is healthy competition that probably wont happen but we've already seen what Apple will do when they gain the advantage.

 

[Fant]

Something odd about these numbers/charts ... what smartphone does Symbian make that has sold 3 times as many as apple iphones? And why isnt Symbian on the top chart and only on the bottom when its sold 25k phones?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Your guess is spot on. All the reports I read indicate Android development is a barren wasteland, profit-wise, compared to iOS. Microsoft will soon be jumping into the fray, paying developers to develop for WinPho 7, many of whom will probably be drawn from the Android camp (since they can't seem to make any money there).

I also have read that is it easier to make it big in Android than iOS. Reason for it is there are fewer fish in the pond. on iOS you need to have a lucky break to get any were.

Doodle jump got is break not from being a good app (which it is) but they struggled until they got incontact with some one at Apple who made it a feature app. It was not until it was made a feature app did people learn about it and then it took off because it was a good app.

It is easier to get that break on Android, Blackberry, and Palm than iOS.

 

[macsmurf]

Let history be your guide.

I say let knowledge be our guide. There are vast differences between the emerging PC market of the '80s and the emerging mobile market of today. For one, security was a non issue for years and Microsoft didn't take it seriously for a long time.

Conversely, security was an important concern on Unix/Linux systems from the get go and here we are.

 

[Žalgiris]

I just make that my normal responses to people who bring it up.

And how this helps?

 

[LagunaSol]

Hey I am not the one who brought up the agrument about how much profit AAPL. If you want to do your little complaining please talk to PerfSeeker I know you hate reading what I put out there but I was not the one who brought it up.

It doesn't matter who brought it up, you're the one who made the bogus assertion.

In terms of specs those 199 Android phones normally have higher power hardware in terms of faster CPU, AMOLED screens (cost more than LCD) and so on.

O RLY? I'll take Apple's Retina display over anything currently being offered in the Android camp.

Ah some one does not like reading the facts. I could say it so typical that the profit argument gets used all the time as well. I was not the one who brought that one up. I just make that my normal responses to people who bring it up.

The fact is, manufacturer profitability in this case has nothing to do with what the consumer is actually paying out of pocket.

Your "normal response" is, alas, fallacious.