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.
iPhone vs. Android – Top Droid Features that You’ll Love
When my iPhone friends compare their iPhone vs Android with me, the winner is obvious even though many iPhone fans refuse to admit it. I show them how quickly I can switch between my chat application (which incorporates every major IM service) and my email app, and then over to my mobile RSS feed reader and finally back to chat. My iPhone friends struggle as they must close one app and open the other – except for those who know how to jailbreak the phone. Others wait patiently for the next generation iPhone, which reportedly has the ability to task-switch, but will it be enough – or too little too late?
The irony is that my originally struggle was to choose between the Blackberry or the iPhone. I wanted both a touchscreen and a keyboard, and neither mobile device had both, or the ones that did had tiny little screens. When the Motorola Droid came out, it was like a dream come true – and if you’ve ever held one of these hefty little devices in your hand – with the distinct feeling of high quality in metal and glass, you will understand why the Android share of the market is blossoming.
Put simply, it’s clearly the best phone on the market right now – hands down.
The strongest asset the Nexus One has over any other Android device is updates. Since it comes straightaway from Google, us N1 possessors will be enjoying 2.2 while different phones are even so being updated with 2.1.
Heh, the same report mentions that “The figures do not include sales of devices to business customers through enterprise contracts.” -which would of course increase the ratings even more for the Blackberry. I’ve not seen an Android over here in the UK yet, I wouldn’t mind testing one out.
The Flash Forward Blackberry commercials sum it up nicely for me: “Love Blackberry” I certainly love mine
Maybe you better slow down and do some math.
“…Android devices now top out the iPhone user base…”
Nearly 50 million iPhones have been sold since launch in 2007. 41.2 million through the end of last year and another 8.7 million in the first quarter of 2010. Through the end of 2009, 8.5 million Android phones had been sold. Using the percents cited in the NPD report, that means 11.6 million Android phones were sold in the first quarter of 2010, making the Android user base 20.1 million, or about 40% of the iPhone user base.
The statement quoted above is very misleading as well as being inaccurate. Your personal preferences in choice of smartphone aside, you should get your facts straight and not try to bend them to say something they don’t.
And, at any rate, are consumers buying Android phones in preference to iPhones or are they buying Verizon over AT&T?
[...] In this article, Ryan weighs in with his opinion about the latest news that the market share of Android mobile devices has now surpassed that of the iPhone. Ryan discusses what makes the Droid a better phone over the iPhone. [...]
I am pretty sure that Nokia is still the number 1 global leader in mobile phone sales. I believe they sell about 1/3 of all the mobile phones. Which means that their Symbian OS is the winner.
I suppose if you only care about the US than sure iPhone & Droid are winners.
I never liked iPhone since version 1. From a developer’s point of view I saw where Google is coming. The simplicity of their SDK captured my creative minds. iPhone is not open. You cannot even program it from the PC. Open vs Close? It’s your choice and Google is giving us the right to choose.
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Interesting article and great findings. After using iPad for quiet some time, I could no less agree with the fact that iPad definitely invites social interaction. Its really an interesting and engaging platform!
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Omg folks are very retarded stop fighting concerning what phone is healthier I prefer both phone I think they’re cool however no I will not get them iPhones running on a shitty network and droid runs on another xpensive neither droid nor iPhones
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