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Android is taking the smartphone market, but don't panic just yet

To read all the latest internet posts, the iPhone is all but dead, succumbing to the onslaught of Android phones being bought by customers in massive numbers. ComScore, who watches mobile use very carefully, pretty much says Android is rapidly eating away at the iPhone market share.

It's enough to make an Apple stockholder or fan weep, or at least get a bit nervous. The problem is, it's all a bit over-hyped. In a Fortune column today, the numbers get a bit of welcome perspective. While Android phones are doing very well, with market share up 5% in the three month period ending July 31 from the previous three months. Meanwhile Apple is down 1.3%, but the numbers don't tell the whole story.

First, the iPhone sold out on the U.S. launch day on June 24, and has been in short supply ever since. Of course that means that the iPhone wasn't even on sale for all of May and most of June. Further, since everyone and their cousin Clem knew a that a fresh iPhone model was coming out, it also likely suppressed sales.

Will Android eventually be the number one smartphone? Good chance. Suppliers and carriers get the OS for free, it's a good phone with a vibrant app store and an increasing loyal user base. It's not such good news for RIM and Microsoft, but who knows what the future might bring. It's just that the shovels are getting deployed just a bit early to bury the iPhone, and Apple continues to be innovative and responsive to the competition, which is good for all smartphone users.



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To read all the latest internet posts, the iPhone is all but dead, succumbing to the onslaught of Android phones being bought by customers...
 

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September 18 2010 at 7:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lincoln

Maybe I'm missing something. But here's the way I see it..

Who cares, honestly? Maybe the guys at Apple who get paid based on the success of this thing, but as consumers.. well, does it really matter to you that much? Take a look at Mac v. PC. The PC obviously dominates the Mac in terms of market share, and personally, I like that. The more common Macs are, the more security risks exist. I'm actually quite fine with being among the minority in this field.. the same goes in the mobile field. So what if Android overtakes the iPhone & iOS? Apple will continue to sell the device, developers will continue to push apps into the monster that is the AppStore.. these things aren't going anywhere any time soon. So why bother getting so defensive?

September 17 2010 at 4:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
peter

iphone 4 is a piece of crap compared to android devices, no mobile hotspot? no true multitasking? no customization on your lockscreen/app screens, walled garden approach to apps like google nav, google voice, etc?? and so many more things.

wake up, even my x10 is 100x better than the 4g ...

only an apple fanboi would find a way to spin an inferior product with declining market share as the "best" .. reality distortion field indeed.

September 17 2010 at 10:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chris

Blah! Android folks love their phones. That's absolutely great. But instead of boasting about how much better they think their phone is and wallowing in sales figures, they should shouting out a collective THANK YOU to Apple for leading us away from the past "smartphone" market which consisted of the ridiculously boring offerings of WebOS, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile. Apple changed the market.......again. Thanks, Steve.

September 17 2010 at 9:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mkvirt

so, what happens when Oracle and Google finally settle their lawsuit and Google has to pay royalties on Oracle's proprietary Java language, upon which Android is intricately based?

September 17 2010 at 8:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iPadMilk

"Vibrant App store"

You're joking right? I went through 2 android phones and left android due to it's App store alone, it's garbage.

September 17 2010 at 7:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sebastian

It's because some people just don't like the iPhone anymore. When it first came out it was revolutionary, now it's just another phone with the biggest App market. Really all the revolution comes down to now is "Hey developers, we're giving you 1000 new APIs that you pretty much get on every other phone, that should have been there from the beginning and that still don't let you do what you want".
They completely rely on developers to sell the phone. I don't see why I should shove more money up Apple's ass because some developers make great Apps. I'd rather help bringing up Android's market share to make it more interesting for developers. Plus I like how humble Google is about it. They don't invite the entire world to a keynote because they just added folders and multitasking to their phone. Things that should have been there from day 1. They make a small event and release something like navigation.
I was going to upgrade my 1st Gen iPhone to an iPhone 4 before it came out, but the way Apple handled everything there was no way I'd do that. iOS 4 is no revolution, it's just catching up with other devices. The "Antennagate" does exist on other phones, but not as severe as on the iPhone 4. I remember when I was in kindergarten and did something wrong, the first thing I did was say "but … did it too". So did everyone else, just how children behave. But really Apple, instead of doing the manly thing and just saying you did something wrong, you have to attach a big "but other companies are no better"? Like that makes it okay for you? Excuses that come with a "but" attached are no excuses, they just make it worse because they show that you still didn't get that you did something wrong.

September 17 2010 at 6:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Caspian

I can't even buy an iPhone in my country...would very much like too but no where in sight...so I think this story has no weight on it. iPhone is 100x better that android...tried but no thanks android.

September 17 2010 at 6:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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