[DISCUSSION] Do you think Apple will catch back up with Android?
Folks, we all may already know that not long ago Android took the number one spot, beating Apple in marketshare. Keep in mind, Apple isn't too far behind and together they both hold 50% of total smartphone marketshare.
Everyone then developed their own opinions as to why this happened and the discussions were very interesting. Were back today asking you what you think of the pattern we see and where you think Android will be versus Apple in the future.
One of the top arguments has been what I talk about next. Looking at the past you may have noticed that Android didn't become the top carrier until they manufactured devices for all carriers. Now that the iPhone has finally reached out to more than one carrier, do you see the iPhone OS taking back over in the future?
Take a look at one of the charts I found online to give you an idea of where each OS stood as of January, 2011.
For discussion, imagine that the iPhone became available on "all" carriers, just imagine. With that said, their numbers would increase just as quickly as Andriod's did, wouldn't you agree? Or would you disagree? Let us know what you think about the future of the OS's discussed in this article in the comments box below.
Chart: Fortune
© 2011, GirlGoneGeek. All rights reserved.
If all devices had the same cost to the consumer that might happen but that is not the case. You are never going to see by one get one free for the iPhone. There are many Android phones that are practically given away a couple of months after they are released.
I know that some will talk about how much better Android is because of how many things you can customize but many users simply don’t care about that.
jociego Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
not true at all.. when apple comes out with a new device, prices for the older version drops. the reason android prices drop is because new devices hit the market. also the price drops exists for carrier competition. iphone was only on att and never needed a price drop because no one had it on their network.
gTen Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Not exactly…while it is true that iphone prices drop when a new one comes out..many carriers gave away normally priced 200$ top end android devices for low prices from free – 50$…Sprint doesn’t do that much..but T-Mobile, ATT and Verizon all did it plenty of times…
Apple requires carriers to pay them monthly fees making subsidizing harder..(not sure if that changed with exclusivity ending)
larry54321 Reply:
February 15th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
I saw at the ATT store 3g Iphones for 49 bucks The evo will never sell for that unless it’s broke. lol
jociego Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
as an example you look at the english market.. the iphone is free there under contract.. why? all carriers have them in england
Anonymous Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
yes but it is not like that in the us lol and yes i know we arnt anywhere near the hole market but we are a big part of it and they still cost 100 for the last gen one
I think Apple products are fruity…but thats just my take :/
Apple won’t ever surpass Android…unless an alternative that can compete with Android comes out..the reason for it is simple..Android is open source..even I can make a device with Android on it…not to mention that open source is backed by Google which makes it marketable to the consumer…
We will see how MeeGo will do…but it has A LOT of catching up to do…
Courtney Frazier Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
never say never
Apple makes fine hardware. However, they have the same mentality they once ridiculed. They have become the company they railed against not long ago.
Thanks, but open is good. Apple is not open.
Apple needs to work on their OS, its been the same since 2007.
With it coming to Verizon, I think there might be a back and forth between iPhone and Android for a little while, but I think Android will come out ahead.
Android is gaining name recognition, which Apple already had. Part of that is thanks to Verizon and their Droid line.
Like someone else said, pricing is a big thing too. With Android, you have high-end phones, mid-range, and low-end ones. Not everyone wants the high-end phones like we do on this site. With the iPhone, your biggest selection is 8gb or 16gb. The only other way to get them cheaper would be to find an old model or a refurb.
I’m loving the feedback! Thanks everyone
I disagree with the “if all carriers had the iphone, sales would be better” thoughts.
apple has unique followers (sheep). the will go to one of the worst carriers (att) on the planet to own an apple device. when verizon gets the iphone this week, you will have millions of defectors from att in favor of the better service. if everyone gets it, then they will all spread out and by the iphone on their favorite network.
on the other hand android sales didn’t reach a million til 6 months later on t-mobile even though people knew android was a great OS. since android OS does have sheep as followers the users waited for verizon and sprint to launch it before purchasing an android device. the network counts for a lot when it comes to android because they don’t have sheep like apple does.
look at googles g series.. sales are aweful to say the least.. why? t-mobile
I think market entry has got to be a large consideration here. How many people in waiting for or wanting an iPhone ended up going with Android instead? Furthermore, how many of those now Android users no longer have an interest in the iPhone? I think we will get a very good idea of what this rivalry will look like for the future once we see that demographics of those purchasing iPhones on VZW i.e. how many are current iPhone users switching from AT&T, how many are coming from Android (on any carrier), how many are coming from other OSes?
Interesting how the niche for these two OSes are so similar and yet so different.
Go Android!
idk the fact that their hardware is great and battery life is long makes me envious but then I think about the little things like having insurance if i lose my fone, being able to make calls, tho thats changed on verizon… and actual more development…but then again iphone can be jailbroken legally now
Android is on like 100 smart phones.. iOS is on 4…. well , VZWs i4 makes 5..
Of course Android is going to take over Market Share, then run away with it.. based on sheer number of handsets its available on…
lets say in 2011 they had announced iPhone for all carriers, thats still only 4 handsets a year.. which ill agree youll make up some room with the High Sales they always get… but in that time, what like 20+ new Android devices will also.. spread across the same number of carriers.. I mean ATT is dropping like 10 or 15 Android devices this year alone they announced a while back..
theres also the people that say iOS is high end only… not really… yes, its a high end handset.. but its not a high end OS.. its so simple its ridiculous.. the price point as someone mentioned is whats NOT helping them drive sales Further through the roof though… run some deals, get some custo’s… theres never been a discounted iPhone sale lol..” sign up get a free iPhone, or upgrade get $150 off” they just dont do that shit… i mean shit, alot of Android devices are free with contract… iPhone will never have that happen..
and this Graph cant be right.. according to the chart based totals up until Q4 2010 are:
Android shipped about 90mil handsets
Other shipped about 61mil handsets
winMO shipped about 60. something mil handsets
iOS shipped about 58-59mil handsets
Blackberry shipped about 41mil handsets
Symbian shipped about 23mil handsets..
and if Android and iOS have 50% of Market than how come they only total around 150mil handsets and every one else combined is closer to 180-190mil.. i understand theres room for interpretation and all, but 30+ million device is a big swing lol
also according to this winMO has a higher Market share than iOS, BB, and Symbian – is that really true?? granted according to this chart iOS is only about a Million+ from over-taking winMO
Swank121 Reply:
February 9th, 2011 at 2:49 am
You’re reading the graph wrong. It’s total units shipped, broken down by OS. Think of each quarter data point as a pie chart.
Hell No!!!
@Courtney Frazier I will say they will they will NEVER catch up. I’ve said it before and I will say it again it is not Apples products that cause them to fail, it is their business philosophy. Until Apple learns that they cannot dictate to people what they can do with personal property, they will always fail. If Apple can learn to change their philosophy then they may have a chance, otherwise NEVER!!!! Hell it will not be to long before they are behind WM7, 8 or whatever it will be when they fall behind. I promise you.
The chart posted above does have margin for error, that’s already a given. As a fellow geek I believe a lot of our personal views have been tainted. As some have already mentioned, not everyone cares about high end phones, customizing or advanced features. I am in no way an Apple fan boy, I like Android however, I’m still on WinMo. Most people like simplicity, just something that works right about the box without much complication or hassle. Apple has made things simple for a lot of people their followers(sheep as they’ve been refereed to,) are usually common amongst those who like simplicity. Perhaps you should step out of your own box and look at things from someone else’s perspective who isn’t a phone genius.
I don’t like Apple’s we will think for you business philosophy but it works for the masses who purchase their products. If I were an iPhone owner I’d jailbreak my phone as soon as I unboxed it; I don’t have an iPhone, iPod or anything made by Apple. Android’s fragmentation is going to be a real issue over time, there are many phones with Android on the market now but with Motorola, Samsung and LG not really updating the OS version to keep them compatible with software who’s going to suffer? The sheep who don’t care about customization and who cling to apple that’s who. I’ve got a feeling that this summer iPhone will be on Sprint and T-Mo, so all carriers with have the phone. If you seriously believe Apple won’t pass up Android you’re delusional at best.
Att has had Android phones, but the iPhone still outsold them and now that the big red is in the mix it’s only going to continue dominance. I just want WP7 to mature some more so I can finally get of my TP2 until then, I’ll just kick back and sip some hot tea.