Android makes serious gain in mindshare
If wishes were smartphones, then the future is very, very bright for Apple and Google, which rank one and two, respectively, in terms of satisfaction among handset owners and among those planning to purchase. Research in Motion’s Blackberry, Palm’s Pre and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile all lost ground.
ChangeWave has published an updated survey of smartphone owners and those thinking about buying one. Yes, Apple’s iPhone remains the leader in both customer satisfaction and is the top choice among those who say they will buy a new multi-function phone. However, since the launch of Motorola Android and HTC Eros on Verizon in September, Google-powered handsets have grabbed 4 percent of the market, up from just 1 percent.
Further, Android phones of a feather were also rated by those surveyed as second in satisfaction and second most popular choice in terms of which smartphone they intended to buy — as always with ChangeWave, big grain of salt please.
Now, this information has led many on the Web and mainstream press to pronounce the end of the iPhone’s run to dominance in the smartphone segment. It’s a little early for that.
Nevertheless, ChangeWave’s surveys over the last few years have predicted the iPhone’s rise and, whereas there’s little question that RIM, Palm and Microsoft are all in decline (perhaps terminally so), it might be fair to surmise that it’s now a two-horse race between Apple and Google.
That said, Apple’s upcoming tablet, fourth generation iPhone/iPod touch and Google’s nexus will further stir the pot and I believe hasten the already inexorable decline of everyone else.
And, this brings up an important point, Apple’s doesn’t just have one horse in the race. So, although Google’s a serious smartphone competitor, that company isn’t contesting the future of mobile computing and gaming in the broader sense, at least not yet…
What’s your take?
via Fortune
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January 5th, 2010
As someone has mentioned the goog phones are selling so well that VZ offers 1 free for 1 purchase.
January 5th, 2010
Andriod? Is that anything like a phone operating system? Sorta like Android?
May 30th, 2010
Why do I love my Android phone?
1. Because it just works, and its fast.
2. Proper multitasking is great.
3. Applications can be fantastic.
4. Widgets/skins can also be fantastic.
5. World-phone, works Canada/USA/Europe.
My phone is an early model (HTC Sapphire), that runs Android 1.5 with the HTC Sense skin. Even without all of the newer features of Android, or the graphics capabilites of the newer phones, I am extremely happy with this phone.
If I go biking, I can use MyTracks to map my ride, and on the way, I can stop and take pictures all while listening to my music over bluetooth. If I get a call at any point, it interrupts the music, and I can talk while everything else just works. Its fantastic.
I’ve been to Europe and the US for work, and the phone has worked without fail. In London, I was able to wander around without fear of getting lost – I just pull up the Maps app, mark the hotel, and the phone tells me which direction to walk in to find my way back! Google places was also good for finding things.
I love that I can have a nice widget with a clock, and the current weather for where I am. News, sports scores, and social network updates are all available right on the desktop, er phonetop as it were. It’s fantastic.
I think I would be almost this happy with an iPhone, but I am glad that I have the Android phone. In 18 months Android has gone from zero to hero, and is starting to become a phenomenon. Some of the new hardware is fantastic, and Android just keeps getting better and better.
SKL