Ever since the first Google Droid commercial came out during Christmas of 2009, I was intrigued by what was the first smartphone to really compete with the ever-popular iPhone. In comparing the iPhone vs Android features, it didn’t take long for me to realize which phone was the one for me.
The Balance of Power
For years, iPhone users took pride in the fact that they owned the most advanced and popular smartphone of all time. However, the introduction of the Motorola Droid, and more specifically the Android mobile operating system, tipped the balance of power. Slowly, but surely, more and more iPhone users, and new smartphone customers, opted for the mobile device that promised faster Internet speeds, quicker apps and of course the task-switching power that set the Android operating system on its way toward market domination.
Iphone users scoffed at the commercials, scoffed at Droid users and looked down their nose at the Android Marketplace…yet the Android continued its steady march with a steadily increasing user base, until today. Today, news sources are screaming with the latest – Android devices now top out the iPhone user base, with 28 percent of the market in the first quarter of 2010 vs iPhone’s 21 percent. Blackberry of course still controls the market with 36 percent, mostly due to the business/corporate user base.
First Quarter 2010 – The Market Share Shifts
The CNET report notes:
Android is an operating system that is available on several different models of phones made by different manufacturers, such as Motorola, HTC, and Samsung. Meanwhile, Apple’s operating system is used only on Apple’s own iPhone.
The report notes that part of the trend is due to the fact that the Android is now available on all major carriers. However, what the report fails to mention is that this wasn’t always the case. I personally switched over from AT&T to Verizon because AT&T’s Android selection was lacking, and when the Droid came out – the decision to switch over to Verizon was clear.
