“Remember back in the day when Google was only activating 100,000 Android units a day? You should — it was May,” MG Siegler reports for TechCrunch. “By June, that number had jumped to 160,000 units a day. And today it now stands at 200,000 Android units activated a day. That’s pretty incredible.”
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“Google CEO Eric Schmidt revealed as much today during a sit down with a group of journalists after his panel at the Techonomy conference in Lake Tahoe, CA,” Siegler reports. “When asked about how the Android platform is doing, Schmidt was practically glowing. He cited the recent quarterly shipment numbers (the ones showing total shipments passed those of the iPhone in the U.S.) and said that he just checked their own internal numbers this morning.”
Siegler reports, “When questioned if the revenue coming in from Android was enough to make the whole project worthwhile, Schmidt said that it absolutely was. He noted that the idea behind Android is that it drives search — and that search is still their primary means of revenue. ‘Trust me that revenue is large enough to pay for all of the Android activities and a whole bunch more,’ he noted.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Presumably, Steve Jobs knows what he’s doing — and he’s going to actually do it before he runs out of customers who aren’t locked into a derivative, inferior, wannabe platform that is, once again, likely infringing on Apple’s patented intellectual property. Thankfully, this time, Jobs is in charge instead of an unprepared sugared water salesbozo who has signed away the company jewels via a poorly-written contract.
Let’s see: If Jobs waits until January 2011 to address Apple’s blatantly apparent U.S. carrier problem, then roughly 150 days x 200,000+ equals at least 30,000,000 Android units. Of course, Apple will be selling tens of millions of iPhones in that period of time, too. So, until proven otherwise, we’re going to trust that Jobs knows the score and has a plan.
Apple needs to get the iPhone on Verizon ASAP, even if it means breaking the exclusive contract with ATT and paying them off. Apple is putting itself in a position to lose the U.S. market by not being available on Verizon.
Bernie Ebbers comes to mind. I am glad jobs does not get rattled. I do wish he stops this nonsense by providing daily updates with hard facts. Maybe WS would then expect the same from the vapor conjurers.
Reminder. Jobs has no interest in selling the most phones. Only the best. If Google Android becomes iPhone’s worst enemy it happens at the expense of Nokia, RIM, Microsoft, <strike>Palm</strike> HP and Dell. How is that a bad thing?
Apple is selling every phone it can make. At this time, expanding to Verizon is not only technologically unwise, it would not, could not increase sales.
Let Google get those customers who are not able to pay. Apple should concentrate on being #1 when it comes to paying customers, high quality apps and world’s best user experience.
I still want to see the actual numbers. How many are each maker selling. I think 200,000 is BS. Where are they? Don’t see very many where I live. That means that in three days they sell more than the entire population of Wyoming. Wow, just wow.
Maybe the phones have to be activated two or three times before the actual activation is active?
Good point FalKirk. You can only sell existing units, and they are, all of them.
@HMCIV
Never underestimate the public. If they perceive iPhone share as dropping significantly (and when you’re at the top you have nowhere to go but down), some will start moving. They’ve proven in the past they don’t care about what’s best, just what their friends have. This worked for Apple for iPods and the iPhone, but for years this wasn’t the case with Windows.
Apple needs to set up as an MVNO and free themselves from the TelCos. They have the money to make it happen.
I wish Apple would also offer the iPhone on Sprint and T-Mobile. Now that would put the big hurt on Verizon.
Not sure if that idea would fly economically/technically but I bet Verizon would be crawling on its knees to Apple within a year if it happened.
Google licenses Android…That means they pre sell in bulk packages.
No Support, no global hardware, parts or quality standards, means it’s a pot luck adventure and then, of course no control over malicious and sub standard Apps means drive t your own risk and peril…Kind of like using windows : Plug and pray.
Eventually like someone here said yesterday, it will be like the whole Microsoft mess all over the undiscriminating mass crap mobile state of the union.
I anyone’s time is too valuable to take chances with, there’s only one platform – iOS.
Steve Jobs’ plan needs to include an iPhone on every network, including CDMA.
In fact it’s bigger than the iPhone. Google and Verizon are now in bed for iPad competitors. Those who want iPads but not with ATT will soon be turning to Verizon and Android, or Sprint and Android, or T-Mobile and Android for the “good enough” solution. And with the millions in marketing dollars Verizon will wrap around the package, it’s bound to become a serious threat.
iPhones and iPads on every network, especially Verizon. Like MDN said, I trust that as a businessman Steve understands the situation and won’t fall to the ludicrous fanboy beliefs of some here who don’t believe Apple needs Verizon.
12 million androids in the last 60 days? Bullshit. At that rate, 72 million by August next year. Bullshit.
I am a computer consultant, traveling from client to client. I have seen *one* android phone in use out in the field. iPhones, on the other hand, seem to be everywhere.
Did Eric say that was 200,000 in the US alone? If not, then MDN’s calculations are incorrect.
I think it’s great that the iPhone has some charging competition.
And how many are they deactivating?
Chinese hackers must be really happy right now.
So many millions of potential victims.
Android is the next bottom of the barrel POS on the cheap. People are drooling all over it since its cheap, and in their minds, it works just like an iPhone. Sounds like the old Windows is good enough scenario. Thats why Apple needs to lock down these copy cats and stop this “we work just like an iPhone” BS from Google and competitors. What are you waiting for Apple?
On the other hand, Apple cannot make enough iPhones as it is, why would they expand to another network if they don’t have product to sell? It would just frustrate potential customers and fuel black market causing even bigger shortages
Doesn’t the fact that Foxconn is building a new facility exclusively for making iPhones tell everyone that Apple’s ahead of the game and planning the details?
Apple’s indignant approach to selling phones with Verizen may go down as one of the biggest blunders in technology history. Verizen may not WANT to deal with Apple. They may decide even if Apple offers them a deal, to not do it! Imagine that!!
1/3 of Android cell phone buyers will by Android phones next time. That means that 2/3 will be looking for a better smartphone.
What? Me worry?
Because of their Anti-Net Neutrality collusion with Google, I am no longer in favor of a Verizon iPhone.
In most industrialized countries where iPhones are sold there is a choice of carriers. Canada, Britain, France, Australia,etc… all have choices. We need that in the US. This ATT exclusivity is for the birds. Sprint and Verizon have plenty of customers to make a CDMA iPhone worthwhile and TMobile would be a great addition to the GSM family and don’t forget the smaller carriers like US Cellular and so forth.
If the iPhone becomes a distant 2nd to Android, developers will abandon the platform just as with Palm
Who cares about market share? Not me? All I care about is next iPhone, as long as there’s a market for it, they will make it and that makes me happy. And if I share my experience with 30m people or 90m, I don’t really care.