I have seen many good charts from the past years since Android formal introduction except the periodic “State of Fragmentation” report that we got from the Google. People expect a lot from Android because “iPhone is on only one carrier”.
USA is not the only country in the world. Android is doing pretty good in other countries also.
Android is still growing. MG Siegler of TechCrunch fame once said that USA is the biggest market for the mobiles and that is the reason why exclusivity over here is such a big deal and why the iPhone spreading to other carriers would probably spell doom for the Android. I do not agree with that but let’s just assume for a moment that USA decides the future of software manufacturers and sellers.
Just assume the situation of iPhone heading to Verizon Wireless. After some time, it may head to Sprint or T-Mobile. Will you think that Android will finish of?
In 2009, there was a fashion of big, strong, hard, fast phones from different manufacturers.
In 2010, this fashion has changed to cheap, small, slider phones.
A lot of users prefer to use smartphones as compared to the feature phones.
In America, there was a time when most Android phones charge 150$ to 200$ on a 2 years contact. Many middle class consumers avoided Android because of their expensive prices. The upfront prices stopped them from buying.
Assume what will happen when a person enter a shop to buy a phone because he want to replace his old phone. The salesman show him a 200$ iPhone and 100$ Android. He will strongly consider buying Android because it is giving many features of iPhone in lesser price.
He will be very happy with his new phone because of its new features which were not present in his old phone. His new phone can do a lot more than his old phone.
Android is not finishing in the near upcoming time. I am sure that Apple would not spoil the Android fantastic growth in the coming years.
You are right nothing beats free….
But the lousy user experience will kill the initial enthusiasm for the android phone.
Anyway who cares what happen, tomorrow is another day and life goes on.
“Assume what will happen when a person enter a shop to buy a phone because he want to replace his old phone. The salesman show him a 200$ iPhone and 100$ Android. He will strongly consider buying Android because it is giving many features of iPhone in lesser price.”
Trouble with that line of argument — there is a $99 iPhone. Oops. In any event the real expense in buying a smartphone is the 2 year contract — and I have seen no indication the carriers will charge less for the plans on Androids than iPhones.
Lastly, any well informed consumer realizes an iPhone can be sold on eBay for $200 and up, and the same can’t be said for most Android phones.
All that said, the iPhone on all 4 US carriers won’t “doom” Android. You’d have to be living in a very deep cave though if you don’t think it will negatively effect Android sales.
The only problem is that the iPhone is beating Android in countries with where it’s on multiple carriers. Android is about to take a big hit when the iPhone comes to Verizon, about a 34% loss based on current estimates. That will place it well behind the iPhone in US sales.
Game Over.