Consumer Preference for iPhone and Android Returns to Neck-and-Neck Race

[Antares]

If this report shows anything, it is that Palm needs to get something new out there. People are not even thinking about Palm, it seems. That OS is in danger of dying if they don't do something about it... Satisfaction from current users is not enough to gain new users or sustain the people who use the current phones.

 

[Popeye206]

I hope both Apple and Google are always fighting for number one and there isn't a blow-out like with Windows and Macs. Windows taking 90% of the market was a complete train wreck. Same if Macs had 90% of the market.

Intelligent words my friend!

Having two or more strong offerings keep the playing ground moving. We saw what happened with MS... they get big and lazy and loose the spark. Competition keeps the innovation going.

If this report shows anything, it is that Palm needs to get something new out there. People are not even thinking about Palm, it seems. That OS is in danger of dying if they don't do something about it... Satisfaction from current users is not enough to gain new users or sustain the people who use the current phones.

Same is true for Microsoft... they are way behind the curve and getting little mind share.

 

[jayducharme]

Did you ask him how satisfied he was with his device?

If you were to ask a caveman how satisfied he was lighting a fire by rubbing two sticks together, he'd probably say he's very satisfied because he's done it that way all his life and doesn't know any other way. But then if you showed him a box of matches, his view might change. At first he might say there's no need for matches. But once he tried them, he'd see how much simpler it is.

I see a lot of people with old cell phones and bulky laptops. If I show them my iPhone, they don't get it. They're used to their old ways and even though the iPhone is alluring, they don't see how they could use it -- until they actually get one in their hands and integrate it into their life. Then they won't be able to live without it.

 

[BC2009]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-gb; Dell Streak Build/ERE27) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

You can't go wrong with either platform really. Both offer different and cool things to consumers.

Its a real good time to be into smartphones with what Apple and Google are providing.

I agree -- in the last year Android has really improved. My buddies HTC EVO is a very nice device. iOS has improved too -- my brother's iPhone-4 is awesome. I currently own the iPhone 3Gs and will likely upgrade to an iPhone-5 next year, but I am grateful that Google has stepped up to offer a viable alternative to the iPhone/iOS as it seems Google and Apple each have somebody to set pace with and seems to be pushing both of these innovators farther and faster. Neither can afford to leave their best innovations on the shelf for "next year's upgrade" -- both have a strong sense of urgency to stay on top and keep the loyalty of their customers.

I must give the nod to Palm in this, although their effort was too late to save the company. WebOS is very slick, and I am interested to see if HP turns it into a viable competitor for mobile phones & tablets. Competition is good for us consumers. It reminds of being a Lakers fan as a kid and watching them play the Celtics. Without the Celtics the Lakers could not have been great, and without the Lakers, the Celtics could not have been great. Great competitors bring out the best in each other.

 

[csouv]

I've heard that the vast majority of Android users are in the U.S. and the vast majority of those are not on AT&T. The non-AT&T customer base is going to be heavily swayed towards Android because Google is the only true "smartphone" OS provider on their preferred network (I don't count WinMo or RIM BBOS in their current incarnations). Until Apple gets untangled from its AT&T exclusivity it will be hard for Apple to garner preference from that customer base.

A multi-carrier US iPhone release will yield a better test of customer preference, although I think Apple may already be a bit late to the party. According to this survey, 68% of Android users are satisfied with their device. That means customer loyalty. Apple would have to overcome that loyalty to garner preference from the customer base they have excluded for so many years. It would take time and a significant advancement over Android to motivate customers to leave an ecosystem in which they already have an investment.

The same point can be made for the folks on iOS maybe even more so...with a 74% "very satisfied" rating. It would be just as difficult to sway those folks over to Android as well.

 

[Popeye206]

Apples loosing ground apps and tech has caught up to the iphone.... its all about software and OS. The Android os is basically there and not having to deal with one carrier is Apples big issue now that the android phones are a valid first choice in the "Smart" Phone market.

Think of it this way the iPhone is getting competition the iPods NEVER EVER HAD! Creative, Arcos and the rest of the MP3 Player market could never come up with anything that was as useful as the iPod. Here we are a mere few short years and products that best the iPhone and the iPod are here.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I disagree. I don't see why you say Android is the "valid" first choice? Apple is selling iPhones as fast as they can make them and soon the limited carrier issue will be gone and then we'll see. But my prediction... both will survive for a long time and both will evolve and be leaders in the market that the rest scramble to catch up.

 

[BC2009]

The same point can be made for the folks on iOS maybe even more so...with a 74% "very satisfied" rating. It would be just as difficult to sway those folks over to Android as well.

Absolutely. Both Apple and Google are trying very hard to lock you into their ecosystem. Google is a bit more open and that may make it easier for some Android users to switch over, but the biggest lock-in is going to be investment in quality apps that you don't want to give up.

One dynamic where this differs from PCs is that many apps are cheap, and thus software won't as big a block to making the switch as it was for Windows-to-Mac converts. Nonetheless there are some pricey apps and being an owner of three apps that cost me $30 or more for iOS and several in the $10 to $20 range, I am definitely going to factor that cost into any decision to switch platforms. I'm pretty well locked into the Apple ecosystem and Apple would have to do something pretty dumb or Google something really great to get me to switch.

 

[Popeye206]

I'm pretty well locked into the Apple ecosystem and Apple would have to do something pretty dumb or Google something really great to get me to switch.

Agree'd... Given the functionality is about the same... why would I switch now that I have my iPhone integrated into every part of my life?

Honestly, Googles biggest challenge is also their advantage. Consistency in hardware and support. Apple keeping control on everything makes for a very slick and integrated experience. If Samsung, Motorola (or whoever??) makes bad hardware or fails to give good support, customers will get frustrated and look for something else. Overall, Apple does very well in this area, but Google has to rely on the partners for this.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Poor webOS

 

[ChazUK]

If Samsung, Motorola (or whoever??) makes bad hardware or fails to give good support, customers will get frustrated and look for something else. Overall, Apple does very well in this area, but Google has to rely on the partners for this.

It may not work that way all the time really. I'd guess that if someone from the general public had a poor experience with Motorola/Samsung then the problem would lie with that particular manufacturer rather than Android/Google.

Looking at the issues my colleagues have had with PC's in the past, in the event that someone has a problem with a HP or Dell they normally shun the manufacturer and get another PC by one of the competitors.

The likelihood that a poor experience with Moto/HTC/Samsung/Whoever will result in a platform switch is higher for iOS as there is no alternative to switch to. That being said, looking at Apple's satisfaction ratings, the chances of a poor experience with Apple is lower than anyone else!

Time will tell how this all pans out!

 

[spades1412]

Who fills out these surveys? Ive never been given the opportunity. Who are they gathering this info from?

 

[silentnite]

If apple really wants to see iphone 4 pull ahead. It's got to open up to Verizon & maybe T-mobile. It's time to quit with the exclusive network game already. So many would be iphone buyers are jumping ship because they don't like AT&T.

 

[NebulaClash]

If apple really wants to see iphone 4 pull ahead. It's got to open up to Verizon & maybe T-mobile. It's time to quit with the exclusive network game already. So many would be iphone buyers are jumping ship because they don't like AT&T.

Why do you assume Apple's hands aren't tied by contract?

 

[kdarling]

Who fills out these surveys? Ive never been given the opportunity. Who are they gathering this info from?

Dunno, but over the years I have noticed that every time there's a survey showing what people say they want, their actual actions are quite different.

Historically, it seems that only a quarter to a third of people actually follow through on their stated desires... perhaps because of money, life, carrier restrictions, etc.

 

[Minimoose 360]

Poor Palm :/

 

[JAT]

Looks like Apple and Google are cleaning up in the satisfaction arena! The others should be worried.

That can't possibly be true. Everything I read here says the iPhone sucks. Except for everything else I read here which says Android sucks.

Obviously, they both suck, and nobody really wants to use either.

 

[JackAxe]

I hope both Apple and Google are always fighting for number one and there isn't a blow-out like with Windows and Macs. Windows taking 90% of the market was a complete train wreck. Same if Macs had 90% of the market.

I couldn't agree more!!!

 

[DougB541]

Poor webOS

Word.

I have android now but had a Pre....it has so many good ideas....we'll se what HP/Palm can do with it.

 

[jwhite878]

Urgh... I have a droid. I feel like I'm fraternizing with the enemy.

 

[kingtj]

Android?

Honestly, I'll be a bit surprised if Android manages to keep (or grow) its share of votes as "first choice" for a cellphone OS.

Everywhere I turn, I see people dissatisfied with their Android-based phones!

Sure, it has its fans, who think Android is the "end all, be all". But the majority were initially excited about its promise, bought a phone with it, and proceeded to be dismayed by battery life issues and the need to "babysit" the phone with tweaks and memory/task managers. (I see people doing things like installing apps that disable the GPS part of the phone during the business day while they're at work and figure they don't need it, or turning off wi-fi whenever the phone detects it's more than so many feet from their house.) That's all fine and dandy if you're the type who likes to tinker and "optimize" everything -- but I think the majority just want a phone they can power on, leave on all day, and expect all the features to be there, working properly.

Also, with multiple versions of Android OS and 2.2 only available on a relative few cellphones out there? That just adds to confusion and disappointment.

 

[KnightWRX]

Also, with multiple versions of Android OS and 2.2 only available on a relative few cellphones out there? That just adds to confusion and disappointment.

Hum... the SDK is properly designed to fallback. An app written against the 2.2 SDK can run on 1.5 if you target the proper API level. This is no different than iPhone with iOS 4.0 offering different features on different devices.

Also, 2.2 was on 29% of devices the last time the numbers were released, which was close to a month ago.

 

[KTF]

Agree'd... Given the functionality is about the same... why would I switch now that I have my iPhone integrated into every part of my life?

Honestly, Googles biggest challenge is also their advantage. Consistency in hardware and support. Apple keeping control on everything makes for a very slick and integrated experience. If Samsung, Motorola (or whoever??) makes bad hardware or fails to give good support, customers will get frustrated and look for something else. Overall, Apple does very well in this area, but Google has to rely on the partners for this.

Well Said!

 

[ppc_michael]

, or turning off wi-fi whenever the phone detects it's more than so many feet from their house.)

I have an app like that (Tasker). It's pretty awesome, actually. I can set it to automatically switch to vibrate during the hours I'm normally asleep, and enable all the more power-consuming features (full brightness, GPS, etc) when it's plugged in. That's pretty awesome to me. You don't have to have that application (in fact a lot of people don't know about it), but I love having the option so I can be a nerd.

Anyway, about the thread, I'm happy to see such competition. I think both of the leading OSes deserve their high rankings.

 

[axual]

True

Until you can get an iphone and the top of of the line android phone on the same carrier, Any comparison data doesn't have true relevance.

Absolutely true ... once again, a flawed survey (or should I say, a flawed set of choices by vendors).

 

[kingtj]

That may be, but ....

I know, using an Android 1.6 based phone right now, I find a lot of apps that don't work properly or at all on it. (Google Goggles completely crashes my phone, for example, as soon as it tries to enable the camera! And several games I've installed refuse to play any sound.)

Poor programming? Likely ... but it's still a big problem.

Hum... the SDK is properly designed to fallback. An app written against the 2.2 SDK can run on 1.5 if you target the proper API level. This is no different than iPhone with iOS 4.0 offering different features on different devices.

Also, 2.2 was on 29% of devices the last time the numbers were released, which was close to a month ago.