Android Smartphones Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

[Kangaroo]

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Android-Google-iPhone-BlackBerry-Symbian,news-7656.html


iPhonemania may have gotten a jump start over the weekend with the device's launch in an additional 17 countries, but Apple was this week dealt big blows in its battle against Google's Android OS.

Smartphones currently account for 25 percent of the U.S. cell phone market and market penetration for these kinds of devices is improving at an incredible rate (it was just 16 percent this time last year). It's no secret that Apple is insanely popular among mainstream smartphone users, however Android devices are growing more in popularity with each passing day. In fact, Android devices are more popular with those new to smartphones. In the last six months, Android accounted for 27 percent of new smartphone subscribers, compared to Apple's 23 percent (Nielsen). Though Nielsen research shows that BlackBerry remains the most popular choice for new subscribers (33 percent), Android is the only OS that doesn't show a downward trend.

So Nielsen says Android is more popular with new subscribers, but its not the only research firm talking about Google's mobile OS and its growth in recent months. Canalys yesterday said that Android had seen sales growth of 886 percent compared to the same period last year. Apple is said to have seen growth of 61 percent, while RIM grew 41 percent. As far as the US smartphone market is concerned, Canalys reports that Android devices represent 34 percent share of the US market, while RIM accounts for 32 percent and Apple has 21.7 percent.

 

[Vtwin]

I just joined the 21st century last weekend with the purchase of a Samsung Captivate and a two year contract with AT&T. I chose the Captivate over the IPhone just because I didn't want to be tied down to Apple.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I just joined the 21st century last weekend with the purchase of a Samsung Captivate and a two year contract with AT&T. I chose the Captivate over the IPhone just because I didn't want to be tied down to Apple.

A guy I work with bought a Samsung Vibrant which I believe is a more rounded version of the Captivate. (I think it's T-Mobile's version) Another guy here I think is going to get one too. He prefers the T-Mobile network because he travels to Europe a lot. (He is a Frenchmen)

The Vibrant is little bigger than my Nexus One, the only down side I saw to it was it was definitely a bit more flimsy than my Nexus One. It's made of a light plastic that feels kind of cheap. The Nexus One feels more solid (and heavier) in your hand and and the material it's made out of is very high quality.

The guy that has it loves it though. He said there are one or two things he doesn't like, but overall he said it's the best phone he has ever had. (of course he is upgrading from a MyTouch G1! :laugh2: )

He noted he rooted it immediately and enabled tethering on it. (his doesn't have the Android 2.2 update on it yet)

 

[ajk23az]

I know rooting a phone is the best way to get all you can out of an android but did he do it just for tethering? I have the Moto Droid and didn't have to root it to be able to tether.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I know rooting a phone is the best way to get all you can out of an android but did he do it just for tethering? I have the Moto Droid and didn't have to root it to be able to tether.

Does your Droid have 2.2 on it? His doesn't. 2.2 added tethering as a built in app. My Nexus One didn't either (unless I installed it) until 2.2 was rolled out.

 

[ajk23az]

Does your Droid have 2.2 on it? His doesn't. 2.2 added tethering as a built in app. My Nexus One didn't either (unless I installed it) until 2.2 was rolled out.

No it doesnt. I just downloaded an app called EasyTether. Then I had to install the same thing on my laptop and it works good.

One thing I saw with the Froyo update (at least for the Droid) is that it isn't going to support WiFi hotspot and tethering. LINK

Pretty upset about this..

 

[Vtwin]

Is 2.2 out yet? I was told it was coming soon.

I've got a lot to learn about this stuff.

Rooting?

Tethering?

When I said I just joined the 21st century I meant it.

 

[ajk23az]

Is 2.2 out yet? I was told it was coming soon.

I've got a lot to learn about this stuff.

Rooting?

Tethering?

When I said I just joined the 21st century I meant it.

:laugh2: 2.2 is going to be released for the Moto Droid this week. It is already out for some models.

Rooting is essentially being able to modifiy the OS to any way you want it and add some functions to it that may have been restricted before.

Tethering is when you use your phone as a modem practically. Anywhere you don't have WiFi for your laptop you could hook up your phone via bluetooth/usb and it would provide you internet access via 3G and then uses data on your data package.

 

[YosemiteSam]

No it doesnt. I just downloaded an app called EasyTether. Then I had to install the same thing on my laptop and it works good.

One thing I saw with the Froyo update (at least for the Droid) is that it isn't going to support WiFi hotspot and tethering. LINK

Pretty upset about this..

My Nexus One has both tethering and HotSpot that came with the 2.2 update. When my wife and I are out and about she connects her iTouch to it. (her phone is a sidekick)

 

[theogt]

70+% of the people that bought the iPhone 4 at launch were upgrading from an older version of the iPhone. None of them would have been counted in this "new smartphone user" metric.

I don't think the trend is Apple losing ground, if you know what I mean.

And of course, there's this comparison of profit share (which is all that companies care about).

In other words, Apple alone has nearly twice as much profit share as all other mobile handsets combined (including Motorola, Nokia, RIM, etc.).

 

[Kangaroo]

Motorola is not the only company that makes phones for the Droid OS. My guess would be that HTC sells more phones with Driod on it than Motorola

 

[theogt]

Motorola is not the only company that makes phones for the Droid OS. My guess would be that HTC sells more phones with Driod on it than Motorola

The Droid is a Motorola phone. Android is the OS.

Also, FYI, Apple sold more cell phone units in the U.S. in the first two quarters of the year than any other manufacturer, including HTC, Motorola, RIM, etc.

 

[Kangaroo]

The Droid is a Motorola phone. Android is the OS.

The Article says Android Smartphones not just the Droid

 

[Vtwin]

The Droid is a Motorola phone. Android is the OS.

Also, FYI, Apple sold more cell phone units in the U.S. in the first two quarters of the year than any other manufacturer, including HTC, Motorola, RIM, etc.

The article is less about what handset manufacturer is selling more units and more about which OS is preferred.

Open source Android or locked down Apple.

 

[Vtwin]

:laugh2: 2.2 is going to be released for the Moto Droid this week. It is already out for some models.

Rooting is essentially being able to modifiy the OS to any way you want it and add some functions to it that may have been restricted before.

Tethering is when you use your phone as a modem practically. Anywhere you don't have WiFi for your laptop you could hook up your phone via bluetooth/usb and it would provide you internet access via 3G and then uses data on your data package.

Thanks for the primer. I've got some searching to do.

 

[YosemiteSam]

What is happening is all manufacturers are experiencing growth. (increase in shipped units) What is changing is market share. Android's market share is growing at such a fast rate that the market percentage of the other makers is shrinking even though sales are skyrocketing.

It was said that the iPhone experienced a 60% increase in sales, yet lost market share percentage due to Android. (up 886%) This wasn't from people switching from Apple or Blackberry to Android. It was from new smartphone customers.

It was noted that iPhone, Blackberry, and Android all had overall sales increase.

The biggest reason I believe Android is growing like gangbusters faster than the rest is the fact that it isn't limited to one carrier. Blackberry isn't either, but the simple fact is Blackberry is way behind in todays multimedia centric smartphone market.

 

[Dallas]

I just joined the 21st century last weekend with the purchase of a Samsung Captivate and a two year contract with AT&T. I chose the Captivate over the IPhone just because I didn't want to be tied down to Apple.

But you are tired down to ATT? You do know ATT locks that device and its Android apps down to its own authorized eula? It isn't as Android App friendly as you might think on the ATT network.

 

[casmith07]

600,000 people aren't lining up and crashing servers nationwide to preorder the latest Android OS-enabled phone.

Wake me up when a frenzy like that happens.

 

[YosemiteSam]

600,000 people aren't lining up and crashing servers nationwide to preorder the latest Android OS-enabled phone.

Wake me up when a frenzy like that happens.

They can't keep the HTC EVO or Motorola Droid X in stock from what I've been reading.

 

[Vtwin]

But you are tired down to ATT? You do know ATT locks that device and its Android apps down to its own authorized eula? It isn't as Android App friendly as you might think on the ATT network.

Like I said, I don't know WTH I am talking about. I relied on advice from users I know to make my decision. Most advised me that the Android system was more "friendly" and had more flexibility. All the salespeople in the store were on the Android OS except for one. She happened to be the one that helped me and she pointed me towards the Samsung and not the Iphone.

But again, I have no experience and am going on what I've been told.