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iPhone Continues to Hold Off Android in U.S. Smartphone Market Share

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NebulaClash said:
ChazUK said:
Is there any brand value in a free, open source operating system?
Click to expand...

I agree with you that both Google and Apple will do well, but I highlight this one sentence because I think that's how most people think of Android. The problem is that Android is not really free or open source in any meaningful way to the consumer. For the programmer, you bet, it's open. For cell phone manufacturers, hehe, it's free to them all right. But unless you are a developer, what do you get when you buy an Android phone?

You get whatever Motorola or Samsung let you have, plus whatever Verizon decides to foist upon you. Want the latest version of Android? You wait. And wait. Maybe forever, if the cell providers want you to upgrade your hardware instead. How is this free again?

It isn't. Not in any real sense that benefits the consumer. The ones who benefit are the phone manufacturers and cell providers. They are like pigs at the trough grabbing this free software. Then they lock it up.
Click to expand...

Carrier branding is the thing I absolutely detest about the platform (hence the ownership of Nexus phones).

I think you're right in the consumer not really caring (or knowing) what Android is specifically because of that was true, the Google sanctioned Nexus phones would be top sellers. I'd guess plenty of Android owners want a phone "like an iPhone" without the premium price that comes along with it.
 
You've gone through 8 Android phones? How long have there been Android phones, about a year right? Wow, that's some churning.
 
ten-oak-druid said:
Most android users on other networks secretly want an iphone.

But they wont admit it.

With Android having more carriers one would think it would be more competitive.

What will likely happen is that Android will briefly take the top spot for a year or two until newly signed contracts end and the iphone is available on more carriers.
Click to expand...

Also is hard to argue this when Android has an entry price on Smartphones of a third of the "cheapest" iPhone(3GS).

However to understand this data we have to look the market for what it is, apples to apples is not the baseline the market is adopting either.
 
NebulaClash said:
I agree with you that both Google and Apple will do well, but I highlight this one sentence because I think that's how most people think of Android. The problem is that Android is not really free or open source in any meaningful way to the consumer. For the programmer, you bet, it's open. For cell phone manufacturers, hehe, it's free to them all right. But unless you are a developer, what do you get when you buy an Android phone?
Click to expand...

seriously? heres a picture to help you

enabling_unknown_sources.png
 
archer75 said:
All the data i've seen for almost the past year has shown android in the lead in the US and just recently gained the world wide lead. Then we get this that says something different. Don't know who to believe.
Click to expand...

Given that Android is on so many phones... many already heavily discounted down to two for $100 kind of deals, it goes without saying that Android driven phones will overtake the iPhone.

However, take any one Android based phone and put it up against the iPhone... sorry... I don't see one single Android phone capturing 25%+ market share. Again, Motorola, Samsung and the rest are still playing the quantity and variety game. Models will come and go so fast you won't know which is the best phone this week. In the mean time, I'm sure Apple will stay the course and keep releasing 1 major upgrade per-year that has the rest of the market scrambling.
 
ChazUK said:
Carrier branding is the thing I absolutely detest about the platform (hence the ownership of Nexus phones).

I think you're right in the consumer not really caring (or knowing) what Android is specifically because of that was true, the Google sanctioned Nexus phones would be top sellers. I'd guess plenty of Android owners want a phone "like an iPhone" without the premium price that comes along with it.
Click to expand...

I was rooting for the Nexus phone because I wanted someone as strong as Google to break the monopoly the cell service providers have over the market. Alas, the cell providers won that fight.

You are in the UK where the price structure is different. In the U.S. you can get an iPhone for $99, just like Android phones (though without the buy one-get one deals), so the idea that iPhones carry a premium price is not so true here. Here it's about availability. If the average consumer is a Verizon customer, it's Android for them whether they want it or not.
 
NebulaClash said:
You've gone through 8 Android phones? How long have there been Android phones, about a year right? Wow, that's some churning.
Click to expand...

ive fully used/tested/ripped apart/reflashed the following

Desire
Desire Z
Liquid E
Captivate
G1
Legend
Hero
Milestone

i used each for a couple weeks to a month

all of them work well however none of them have what i needed (office 2010 support, Task and SMS sync on exchange, so it was back to my WM6.5 Sony X1)

but now i can support android phones if i need too at work.
 
Fraaaa said:
Also is hard to argue this when Android has an entry price on Smartphones of a third of the "cheapest" iPhone(3GS).

However to understand this data we have to look the market for what it is, apples to apples is not the baseline the market is adopting either.
Click to expand...

NebulaClash said:
I was rooting for the Nexus phone because I wanted someone as strong as Google to break the monopoly the cell service providers have over the market. Alas, the cell providers won that fight.

You are in the UK where the price structure is different. In the U.S. you can get an iPhone for $99, just like Android phones (though without the buy one-get one deals), so the idea that iPhones carry a premium price is not so true here. Here it's about availability. If the average consumer is a Verizon customer, it's Android for them whether they want it or not.
Click to expand...

Actually, I forgot about that. That's a good point.
 
Popeye206 said:
Given that Android is on so many phones... many already heavily discounted down to two for $100 kind of deals, it goes without saying that Android driven phones will overtake the iPhone.

However, take any one Android based phone and put it up against the iPhone... sorry... I don't see one single Android phone capturing 25%+ market share. Again, Motorola, Samsung and the rest are still playing the quantity and variety game. Models will come and go so fast you won't know which is the best phone this week. In the mean time, I'm sure Apple will stay the course and keep releasing 1 major upgrade per-year that has the rest of the market scrambling.
Click to expand...

I know people love to say the only reason android does well is because of all the carriers and manufacturers as if that's a bad thing. I just don't see it that way. Variety is a good thing. And maybe it has less to do with variety and more with people just prefer it? I see more and more people switching from iphones to android and saying they prefer it. I mean, they aren't necessarily buying the phones but rather buying the OS and isn't that what is really compared?

Whatever the case I have no stake in either. I don't even own a cell phone.
 
elppa said:
It is funny how the popular perception for months has been that Android has already overtaken iOS in the US.

Now obviously that day will come very soon, but it is funny how the perception differs from reality.

In Europe I believe iOS still leads over Android. And it a few other territories as well. And of course the other platforms (notably Symbian and Blackberry) are strong in their areas as well.

Apple is playing the platform game with iOS in set top boxes, media players and tablets. In terms tackling the whole eco system Android has yet to really get started.
Click to expand...

You know you are right? There is already an IOS phone, PMP, Tablet, Set Top Box....and they all integrate with each other perfectly and there are more ways for them to integrate in the months and years to come. Plus apple stuff is worth some money after a year of use, unlike android and all other electronics in this space.
 
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NebulaClash said:
ChazUK said:
Carrier branding is the thing I absolutely detest about the platform (hence the ownership of Nexus phones).

I think you're right in the consumer not really caring (or knowing) what Android is specifically because of that was true, the Google sanctioned Nexus phones would be top sellers. I'd guess plenty of Android owners want a phone "like an iPhone" without the premium price that comes along with it.
Click to expand...

I was rooting for the Nexus phone because I wanted someone as strong as Google to break the monopoly the cell service providers have over the market. Alas, the cell providers won that fight.

You are in the UK where the price structure is different. In the U.S. you can get an iPhone for $99, just like Android phones (though without the buy one-get one deals), so the idea that iPhones carry a premium price is not so true here. Here it's about availability. If the average consumer is a Verizon customer, it's Android for them whether they want it or not.
Click to expand...

Ash yes. I always forget the carrier first model. Were lucky enough to be using the same GSM standard across all networks over here (being such a tiny island must help).

A Verizon iPhone would be a massive twist to the Smartphone marketshare in the US I feel. But we won't beat that dead horse again will we? :D (I'd love to see it happen for the discussions here and on other forums)
 
ten-oak-druid said:
Most android users on other networks secretly want an iphone.

But they wont admit it.

With Android having more carriers one would think it would be more competitive.

What will likely happen is that Android will briefly take the top spot for a year or two until newly signed contracts end and the iphone is available on more carriers.
Click to expand...

So what about someone like myself, an Android user on AT&T, satisfied with their service, not under contract and upgrade eligible, and with $200 in disposable income to spend on a phone? You're assuming I secretly want an iPhone, but I don't. All of the right pieces are in place for me to get an iPhone, and yet, I still don't want one. I have an Android phone and love it, and will only be upgrading to a new Android phone in the future.
 
0815 said:
Geeee, are the androids phone so bad that you have to buy a new one every other month?

[sorry, couldn't resist]

---------------------------------------------
send from my computer
Click to expand...

nope, android doesnt do what i need it too, thats all, i posted above which phones ive used.

NebulaClash said:
Seriously? How does that invalidate anything I said? The average consumer (non-developer, non-techie) won't have a clue about that stuff. As I said.
Click to expand...

the avg consumer? the avg consumer is usually too dumb to even know what phone they bought.

the "techie" consumers will know if they want an app from the store or a 3rd party

the "enthusiast" consumer will want to have full control over their phone, if they want to transfer a file over bluetooth, they WILL. if they want to install another rom on their phone, they WILL.

android make it easy to customize and make the device your own, iOS is locked down and annoying.
 
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pr5owner said:
0815 said:
Geeee, are the androids phone so bad that you have to buy a new one every other month?

[sorry, couldn't resist]

---------------------------------------------
send from my computer
Click to expand...

nope, android doesnt do what i need it too, thats all, i posted above which phones ive used.

NebulaClash said:
Seriously? How does that invalidate anything I said? The average consumer (non-developer, non-techie) won't have a clue about that stuff. As I said.
Click to expand...

the avg consumer? the avg consumer is usually too dumb to even know what phone they bought.

the "techie" consumers will know if they want an app from the store or a 3rd party

the "enthusiast" consumer will want to have full control over their phone, if they want to transfer a file over bluetooth, they WILL. if they want to install another rom on their phone, they WILL.

android make it easy to customize and make the device your own, iOS is locked down and annoying.
Click to expand...

Those that want more power over iOS Jailbreak. Us Android users Root for more control.

No difference in either platform in that respect.
 
The scenario in the US:

Various Android phones (by different manufacturers) are available on every carrier (including pay-as-you-go) and are heavily subsidized across many (buy one get one free, etc.).

What do you expect?

What's impressive is that the iPhone (one manufacturer) is available on only one carrier (AT&T) with a subsidy not even comparable and it still puts up numbers like that. That's impressive.

Didn't a recent poll show that most users want an iPhone and either can't afford it or it's not available on their carrier. Pretty simple to me.
 
It's good that iOS will be a strong second and Android first. That way the industry will always have a mad man pushing the boundaries but will not have the mad man controlling it. It's how it should be.
 
theheadguy said:
While the title sounds really nice, it looks like it won't hold off Android for long... unless they do something like widen carrier availability.
Click to expand...

Let.me.see...

iPhone: One and only one phone release a year, one manufacturer, one network (in the US of course)

every.one.else: too many yearly releases to keep track


Yup. Shame on every one else for not obliterating the iPhone out of the market... It has taken over three years, and iPhone is still king. Remarkable.
 
ChazUK said:
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Those that want more power over iOS Jailbreak. Us Android users Root for more control.

No difference in either platform in that respect.
Click to expand...

Jailbreak / Root = same thing, YES... but

i ment some people (like the 3 million on XDA Developers) want to install a CUSTOM OS, none of the carrier crap, no garbage programs, some want BASE OS, some want flashy, some want loaded.

android allows this because you can build the rom yourself, same with windows mobile, this is the only thing that saved WM from getting wiped out, WM doesnt even work out of the box, but once you flash a custom wm6.5 rom it runs blazing fast, 100% more stable, tons of functionality, totally new phone
 
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