“App Annie has released its regular report on the two main app stores in the mobile world – the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store” Ewan Spence reports for Forbes. “Given the two handset markets, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are more downloads from Google’s store than Apple’s. What is more interesting is that the worldwide revenue figures are almost the exact opposite, with Apple’s App Store revenue nearly doubling that of Google’s.”
“This needs to be read alongside the market share numbers. In terms of volume, Android’s market share is four times higher than that of iOS (depending on the territory, it’s a little bit closer in the US market),” Spence reports. “If all is equal, the numerical advantage within Google’s platform should allow it to dominate both the app store ‘downloads’ and ‘revenue generated’ charts.”
“Apple’s strategy of keeping an air of desire around the iPhone ensures there will always be a demand for the iPhone brand. This keeps prices high, which enhances the luxury appeal. And while there will always be the second-hand market and familial hand-me-downs, the general rule of thumb is that iOS owners are in a better place to invest in the third-party app ecosystem,” Spence reports. “It’s the Apple that gives developers an option to work with a highly engaged and cash-positive audience, as opposed to the more rock and roll nature of Android. And it’s the Apple that dominates the mind share of up and coming consumers. Android may have the largest market share and the biggest addressable user base, but sometimes efficiency is more important than having the biggest number.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Developers, developers, developers!
How that “making it up in volume” going for ya, Fragmandroid? (smirk)
People don’t want poor man’s iPhones. They want real iPhones.
“All men are created equal.”
Well, not when it comes to users of smartphones and tablets…
The bottom line: Those who settle for Android devices are not equal to iOS users. The fact is that iOS users are worth significantly more than Android settlers to developers, advertisers, third-party accessory makers (speakers, cases, chargers, cables, etc.), vehicle makers, musicians, TV show producers, movie producers, book authors, carriers, retailers, podcasters… The list goes on and on.
The quality of the customer matters. A lot.
Facile “analyses” that look only at market (unit) share, equating one Android settler to one iOS user, make a fatal error by incorrectly equating users of each platform one-to-one.
When it comes to mobile operating systems, all users are simply not equal. – SteveJack, MacDailyNews, November 15, 2014
—
Google made a crucial mistake: They gave away Android to “partners” who pushed and continue to push the product into the hands of the exact opposite type of user that Google needs for Android to truly thrive. Hence, Android is a backwater of second-rate, or worse, app versions that are only downloaded when free or ad-supported – but the Android user is notoriously cheap, so the ads don’t sell for much because they don’t work very well. You’d have guessed that Google would have understood this, but you’d have guessed wrong.
Google built a platform that depends heavily on advertising support, but sold it to the very type of customer who’s the least likely to patronize ads.
iOS users are the ones who buy apps, so developers focus on iOS users. iOS users buy products, so accessory makers focus on iOS users. iOS users have money and the proven will to spend it, so vehicle makers focus on iOS users. Etcetera. Android can have the “Hee Haw” demographic. Apple doesn’t want it or need it; it’s far more trouble than it’s worth. – MacDailyNews, November 26, 2012
SEE ALSO:
Poor man’s iPhone: Android on the decline – February 26, 2015
Study: iPhone users are smarter and richer than those who settle for Android phones – January 22, 2015
Why Android users can’t have the nicest things – January 5, 2015
iPhone users earn significantly more than those who settle for Android phones – October 8, 2014
Yet more proof that Android is for poor people – June 27, 2014
More proof that Android is for poor people – May 13, 2014
Android users poorer, shorter, unhealthier, less educated, far less charitable than Apple iPhone users – November 13, 2013
IDC data shows two thirds of Android’s 81% smartphone share are cheap junk phones – November 13, 2013
CIRP: Apple iPhone users are younger, richer, and better educated than those who settle for Samsung knockoff phones – August 19, 2013
iPhone users smarter, richer than Android phone users – August 16, 2011
Study: Apple iPhone users richer, younger, more productive than other so-called ‘smartphone’ users – June 12, 2009
I’m reminded of the old shipped versus sold meme.
Wasn’t it not that long ago that App store revenue was 3x or higher than Google Play? So does this mean the total revenue gap is closing bit by bit and is just being spun as ‘good’ for Apple?