“Our latest survey shows the Android OS is once again making major advances in the smartphone market,” Paul Carton, Vice President of Research, reports for ChangeWave. “Among consumers planning to buy a smartphone in the next 90 days, 37% say they prefer to have the Android OS on their new phone — a 7-pt jump since our previous survey and a new all-time high for the Google operating system.”
Note: Estimated data for Sep 2008
Carton reports, “As the above chart points out, we’ve seen huge leaps forward for the Android OS in four of the last five ChangeWave surveys. All told, it’s a six-fold increase in consumer preference for the Google OS in a year’s time.
“While the Apple iOS (38%; -12 pts) remains the number one OS preference for future buyers, it dropped as expected in the aftermath of the huge spike we saw during June’s iPhone 4 release,” Carton reports. “The following chart shows mobile OS preferences for consumers who plan on buying a smartphone in the next 90 days — in comparison to the OS preferences from our June survey.”
Carton reports, “Research in Motion’s results are less encouraging in the above chart. Preference for the RIM OS (6%) is up just 1-pt since June, a time when RIM had fallen to its lowest level since we began asking this question. The current 1-pt uptick is likely attributable to the recent launch of the new Torch smartphone.”
MacDailyNews Take: Wonder that it is.
Carton reports, “We also took a look at OS satisfaction rates based upon the type of operating system consumers report using on their smart phones.”
Carton reports, “As previously, the Apple iOS leads the industry with 74% of customers who use the iPhone OS saying they’re Very Satisfied. Just behind them is the Android OS, with two-in-three users (65%) saying they’re Very Satisfied. The Very Satisfied ratings of both these leaders dwarf those of other major operating systems, including the Palm OS/Web OS (32%), RIM OS (31%) and Windows Mobile (24%).”
The complete ChangeWave report is available here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s approaching a crossroads that we’ve seen before where people who don’t know any better think that what they’ve settled for is “just as good” as Apple’s superior product. After all, those born into utter desolation would think a tarpaper shack is a palace.
Now, with smartphones (as opposed to personal computers back when Apple last stood at this crossroads) there is far less upfront cost and hardly no cost benefit to settling for the inferior, potentially patent infringing knockoff. Also, apps that cost on average a buck or two are much less of a lock-in than they were with personal computers, where software was a real investment (this is before Macs ran Windows software natively or via fast virtualization). On top of those facts, people turn over smartphones at a much more rapid pace than they do personal computers. All of these things work in Apple’s favor for when they finally do pull the trigger and move to multiple carrier models in more countries which eliminates the main – so “main,” it’s more like “sole” – reason why people settle for fake iPhones.
If you think you have to be on Verizon or your company pays for it or whatever, why wouldn’t you settle for an Android phone? It’s the best you can do. If you’ve never used an iPhone, you think you’re “satisfied.” The ChangeWave results are totally expected and not in the least surprising.
Now, what happens when Apple goes to multiple carrier model in the U.S.? Well, when the time comes for their next smartphone decision, prospective switchers won’t have to pay more for Apple’s product, they will have relatively little invested in the Android platform, and they will be ready to get the real thing rather quickly.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
@ Mark, Federico-
Wishful thinking. In the street or subways of any US city you’ll see as many Androids as iPhones these days… Vastly unlike just 1 yr ago. And folks swear they’re happy with them.
I think in the end there will be many different cell phone operating systems, all of them based on UNIX or -like, as it is the case with iOS. The PC market will be the same. As far as I am concerned, I will wait with my Nokia N97 until an ubuntu smartphone comes out. I have a netbook that runs ubuntu and it’s fantastic!
I think in the end there will be many different cell phone operating systems, all of them based on UNIX or -like, as it is the case with iOS. The PC market will be the same. As far as I am concerned, I will wait with my Nokia N97 until an ubuntu smartphone comes out. I have a netbook that runs ubuntu and it’s fantastic!
“First-time” smartphone buyers don’t necessarily know the difference, so don’t care. If their network doesn’t offer the iPhone, they’re likely to choose Android.
Android buyers may tire of their phone and switch at their next purchase (1-3 years). iPhone buyers rarely switch (I don’t know of one myself).
With enough years, that fact alone will move the market in the iPhone’s favor.
A choice of carrier will help even more.
“First-time” smartphone buyers don’t necessarily know the difference, so don’t care. If their network doesn’t offer the iPhone, they’re likely to choose Android.
Android buyers may tire of their phone and switch at their next purchase (1-3 years). iPhone buyers rarely switch (I don’t know of one myself).
With enough years, that fact alone will move the market in the iPhone’s favor.
A choice of carrier will help even more.
Android rules the profitless handset sector, where there is actually zero brand loyalty. The real appeal of those phones is that from a distance they kind of look like iPhones.
Android rules the profitless handset sector, where there is actually zero brand loyalty. The real appeal of those phones is that from a distance they kind of look like iPhones.
time for Apple to add T-Mobile (GSM). And slowly, but surely add CDMA until LTE is ready
time for Apple to add T-Mobile (GSM). And slowly, but surely add CDMA until LTE is ready
@m159
Right you are. They look enough from a ways away to fool the chicks. But up close it is adios mfer.
@m159
Right you are. They look enough from a ways away to fool the chicks. But up close it is adios mfer.
Well if apple took their patent and stood up we might have something. Why apple let’s everyone take hold and use their patents I don’t know.
Well if apple took their patent and stood up we might have something. Why apple let’s everyone take hold and use their patents I don’t know.
Only 1 page of comments? I see the writting is on the wall. If only Apple understood that when your entrusted with one of the top two OS’s in the new world of mobile you need to go for the masses. Just like the Mac OS Apple just wants to be the BMW of the mobile market and let Google be the next Microsoft. So sad…. What could have been…
Only 1 page of comments? I see the writting is on the wall. If only Apple understood that when your entrusted with one of the top two OS’s in the new world of mobile you need to go for the masses. Just like the Mac OS Apple just wants to be the BMW of the mobile market and let Google be the next Microsoft. So sad…. What could have been…
Billion dollar question is – should Apple allow Verizon in?
I have this feeling Jobs was mistreated by Verizon when he approached them originally about the iPhone. I imagine they treated him from the position of arrogant bully and told him basically it’s our way or fuck off. So if above is the case, Jobs dilemma is whether he should forget how they treated him and let Verizon in to stop the spread of Android, or to keep hurting them by refusing to give them the iPhone and work on the utter defeat of Verizon. My feeling is, Jobs likes to offer to it’s potential partners equal opportunity. Meaning, partnerships with Apple to be beneficial for both Apple and it’s partners. If you mistreat Apple, or backstab Apple, it will go after you. My impression is that Apple will take a third road. It will allow additional carriers to have iPhone. As a matter of fact it will allow ALL of them in. All except one – Verizon.
Billion dollar question is – should Apple allow Verizon in?
I have this feeling Jobs was mistreated by Verizon when he approached them originally about the iPhone. I imagine they treated him from the position of arrogant bully and told him basically it’s our way or fuck off. So if above is the case, Jobs dilemma is whether he should forget how they treated him and let Verizon in to stop the spread of Android, or to keep hurting them by refusing to give them the iPhone and work on the utter defeat of Verizon. My feeling is, Jobs likes to offer to it’s potential partners equal opportunity. Meaning, partnerships with Apple to be beneficial for both Apple and it’s partners. If you mistreat Apple, or backstab Apple, it will go after you. My impression is that Apple will take a third road. It will allow additional carriers to have iPhone. As a matter of fact it will allow ALL of them in. All except one – Verizon.
1st off market share and profit is the reason apple is in business. Number 2 it is not people are settling it is that they are choosing great phones on great service companies and not at&t
1st off market share and profit is the reason apple is in business. Number 2 it is not people are settling it is that they are choosing great phones on great service companies and not at&t
In the UK we effectively have ‘deregulation’ of the iPhone market. We buy our new iPhones from Apple ‘sim free’, sell our old iPhone in a recycle program (O2, for example, is very reasonable with the prices they offer) and then choose the carrier we want to use. No more long term tied-in contracts, it costs about $25-30 a month including 500Mb data, 900 minutes, unlimited texts and all the rest. Even cheaper contracts are on offer. If I don’t like my carrier, well I can have a tariff that allows me to change it every 30 days should I wish, and if I go abroad, I can swap my sim card thus cutting back on call costs for the duration of my travel.
We very much hope that one day soon our US cousins will have the freedom to choose and cut their costs like we can here in the UK – at present it sounds like they are very much living in the ‘iPhone dark ages’.
In the UK we effectively have ‘deregulation’ of the iPhone market. We buy our new iPhones from Apple ‘sim free’, sell our old iPhone in a recycle program (O2, for example, is very reasonable with the prices they offer) and then choose the carrier we want to use. No more long term tied-in contracts, it costs about $25-30 a month including 500Mb data, 900 minutes, unlimited texts and all the rest. Even cheaper contracts are on offer. If I don’t like my carrier, well I can have a tariff that allows me to change it every 30 days should I wish, and if I go abroad, I can swap my sim card thus cutting back on call costs for the duration of my travel.
We very much hope that one day soon our US cousins will have the freedom to choose and cut their costs like we can here in the UK – at present it sounds like they are very much living in the ‘iPhone dark ages’.
Broad blanket statements saying that people like android because they don’t know any better or spouting that apple has a superior os without corresponding facts or personal experience is ignorant drivel.
With my docket on ical, my music on iTunes and my apps on my iPad, I’m effectively locked into the apple ecosystem. I’m content and satisfied where I am, so there’s no reason to switch. But I see no reason to make myself feel better about my decision by bashing another OS that I haven’t even tried.
Leo LaPorte, who has impeccable credentials as a long time mac enthusiast, prefers his whatever the heck it is android phone to the iPhone. Are we to assume that he is ignorant and uninformed as well?
Funny how MDN bashed the recent virgin mobile mifi story as a suitable competitor to a 3g ipad, then glibly talks about the utopia that will occur when at&t is forced to release its death grip on he iphone. Geez, MDN…could you please pick a bias and stick with it? Further, you should say ‘if’ apple switches to multiple carriers instead of ‘when’: I suspect that if AT&T sends a fleet of dump trucks carrying loads of twenty dollar bills to One Infinite Loop towards the end of their current contract, the current arrangement will continue. It will continue until the other carriers give Steve the control he demands and collectively send more dump trucks than AT&T.
Broad blanket statements saying that people like android because they don’t know any better or spouting that apple has a superior os without corresponding facts or personal experience is ignorant drivel.
With my docket on ical, my music on iTunes and my apps on my iPad, I’m effectively locked into the apple ecosystem. I’m content and satisfied where I am, so there’s no reason to switch. But I see no reason to make myself feel better about my decision by bashing another OS that I haven’t even tried.
Leo LaPorte, who has impeccable credentials as a long time mac enthusiast, prefers his whatever the heck it is android phone to the iPhone. Are we to assume that he is ignorant and uninformed as well?
Funny how MDN bashed the recent virgin mobile mifi story as a suitable competitor to a 3g ipad, then glibly talks about the utopia that will occur when at&t is forced to release its death grip on he iphone. Geez, MDN…could you please pick a bias and stick with it? Further, you should say ‘if’ apple switches to multiple carriers instead of ‘when’: I suspect that if AT&T sends a fleet of dump trucks carrying loads of twenty dollar bills to One Infinite Loop towards the end of their current contract, the current arrangement will continue. It will continue until the other carriers give Steve the control he demands and collectively send more dump trucks than AT&T.
Apple needs to move on this in some satisfactory way.
In every country where they have more than one carrier, i.e. most of the rest of the world, they can’t make iPhones fast enough to meet the demand.
In Canada, three months after launch, hundreds of people line up every day to buy whatever meager supply there is at their local Apple store.
Two weeks ago, when I got mine, I was around 50th in line. I arrived at Apple’s flagship downtown store at 6:30 am. That day they had around 90 iPhones in stock. Many people were disappointed. It is impossible to get one from one of the four carriers. They have NONE.
Apple needs to move to the multiple carrier model in the US, too.
Apple needs to move on this in some satisfactory way.
In every country where they have more than one carrier, i.e. most of the rest of the world, they can’t make iPhones fast enough to meet the demand.
In Canada, three months after launch, hundreds of people line up every day to buy whatever meager supply there is at their local Apple store.
Two weeks ago, when I got mine, I was around 50th in line. I arrived at Apple’s flagship downtown store at 6:30 am. That day they had around 90 iPhones in stock. Many people were disappointed. It is impossible to get one from one of the four carriers. They have NONE.
Apple needs to move to the multiple carrier model in the US, too.