10 Reasons Why Even the iPhone Can't Stop Android's Rise
10 Reasons Why Even the iPhone Can't Stop Android's Rise
With the
launch of Motorola's Droid smartphone, Google's Android operating system is
officially on the mobile-platform map. It has been around for a while, of
course, but until now, most people shopping for smartphones had little
knowledge about its existence or the value it provides. It was, for the most
part, an unknown entity.
But it certainly isn't anymore. According to most calculations, Motorola sold
250,000 Droid smartphones in the phone's first week of availability. Not only
is this the most successful launch of an Android phone to date, Motorola has
said it expects to sell 1 million Droid phones by the end of 2009.
That's no small feat. Although the iPhone still reigns supreme in the
marketplace, Droid has ushered in a new era in the smartphone business. No
longer is the iPhone the only viable touch-screen device on the market. Thanks
to the help of the Droid, Google's
mobile platform is now in front of a mainstream audience. It's becoming a
household name. And not even the iPhone, with all its popularity and might in
the mobile market, can stop it. Here's why:
1. Design matters
There's something that the Droid, the MyTouch 3G and several other
Android-based devices have that so many other touch-screen devices don't: a
nice design. A quick
glimpse at the Droid tells you much of what you need to know about the
device: It satisfies today's mobile users' requirement for a design aesthetic. It
has a sleek finish, a physical keyboard for more accurate typing and a large,
vibrant screen. It's a beauty. And consumers know it.
2. The law of numbers
The iPhone might lead the pack, but it's only a single device that's
available via one carrier. Android is a different entity altogether. Rather
than get into the hardware game, Google has decided to offer its software to
vendors, so it can be found on multiple carriers and several devices. Over
time, that could help Google capture more market share as Apple continues its
own, single-carrier model with the iPhone.
3. Apps, anyone?
One of the major reasons why the iPhone is so successful is its
applications. With over 100,000 applications in the App Store, it's leading the
way in third-party software. But Google's Android platform comes in second. It
may only have a fraction of the apps Apple's platform does, but the list is
growing. And as more consumers start picking up Android-based devices, you can
bet that mobile developers will migrate to Android with them. Expect far more
apps in the Android Market sooner rather than later.
4. Touch screens galore
Although traditional phones like the BlackBerry Tour are still selling
well, it's the touch-screen device that carries the day when customers look for
new phones. Like the iPhone, Android-based devices have that market covered.
The Droid, like several other Android devices, features a touch screen that
reacts well to human touch. It's responsive, hand gestures are quite easily performed
and, for the most part, the experience is better than that of many of the other
touch-screen devices (although not the iPhone) on the market. That means
something to customers.
Android Winning Carrier, Consumer Allies
5. Google understands the consumer
Whether or not companies like Microsoft,
Research In Motion and Palm really understand the consumer is up for debate.
Their smartphones haven't been able to capture the kind of market appeal that
Apple's has. But Google is right there with Apple as a
company that fully understands the desires of the consumer. It
"gets" consumers. Nowhere is that more evident than in the design and
functionality of Android. The platform is simple, but useful. It's a fine
alternative to the iPhone.
6. What else is there?
Android's rise in the mobile market might have much to do with Google's
strategy, but the competition also contributes. Aside from the iPhone, there
simply isn't another platform that can compete on any level with Android.
Palm's software is subpar. Microsoft's Windows Mobile is still an also-ran.
Even RIM's touch software doesn't compare. At this point, only Apple or Google
are providing viable solutions.
7. Developers aren't happy with Apple
Apple's application-approval process is abysmal. Several big developers
have had their apps rejected, causing them to rail against Apple and its
procedures. It has also contributed to some developers moving to other
platforms, including Android, to make their software available to users. The
only thing stopping those developers was the size of Android's installed base.
With the success of Droid and the promise of far more Android phones to come,
those issues with Apple could push many more developers to Android, making
Google's platform even more compelling.
8. Open source is essential
The major
difference between the iPhone and Android software is open source. Google
allows vendors and third parties to modify Android as they wish to create a
unique alternative to the many other Android-based devices on the market.
Apple, on the other hand, offers a closed platform that only it modifies. This
might seem rather inconsequential, but there are several benefits to open
source, including
the possibility of better security, more robust offerings from developers
with fresh ideas and a faster refresh cycle. It will help Google in the future.
9. Google projects brand appeal
Everyone knows Apple. But few people know whether or not Samsung or LG can
provide a viable mobile experience. They don't even know if RIM can take on
Apple in the cell phone space. But Google, like Apple, is a trusted household
name. By attaching its brand to Android, Google has a leg up on the
competition. Consumers know which company built the software they're using.
They know they can trust it. That matters.
10. The carriers want competition
Google's growth in the mobile market hasn't all been its own doing. Some of its
success can be attributed to Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile. Those two carriers
were snubbed by Apple and the iPhone. They needed a device to get behind to
make it clear that there was an alternative to the iPhone on the market. They
found that in Android phones. In the process, they are marketing Android-based
devices to capitalize on the touch-screen craze. It's working. And it's helping
Google soar in the mobile space.
Watch out for Android. It's quickly becoming a major force in the mobile
market.
