More Hardware Options Are Always Nice

Although Apple has done a better job of getting hardware to customers with its three iPhone options and two iPads, Android is still far ahead. There are literally hundreds of products available for customers who want to run an Android device. And many of them work quite well.

The idea of open source is often forgotten when determining Android’s value, but it’s an important consideration, nonetheless. Because Android is open-source, vendors can create their own experiences on top of the operating system. Some enterprising users can modify Android to customize their own software experience. It’s a great thing that Apple doesn’t tolerate.

Although Apple has steadily increased the availability of its iPhone and iPad, the company is far behind Android when it comes to carrier availability. Any carrier—major or regional—is carrying Android devices. In many ways, Android is about choice and options. And that should matter.

Near-field communication, achieved primarily through Google Wallet and data transfers, is something that has been a huge selling point for the Samsung Galaxy S III. However, Apple’s iOS doesn’t support near-field communication or mobile payments. It’s a huge omission.

With Google’s latest Android Jelly Bean launch, the company delivered something sorely lacking in iOS: multiple user support. That means that one person can log in to the handset, log out and then allow another person to get in without changing anything on the previous username. Multi-user support might not be a huge selling point, but it’s one that matters to many customers—especially enterprise users.

There was a time when the App Store was the supreme marketplace for mobile programs. But now that Google Play’s growth has skyrocketed, that offering is about even with Apple’s. So, don’t expect to find anything in iOS that doesn’t have its own Android alternative.

Speaking of apps, Apple has been criticized for having too much control over what’s acceptable and what’s not allowed in its App Store. Although Google does vet apps in the Play store to some degree, its policies are by no means as onerous. In other words, you’ll find many more apps in Google Play that you won’t necessarily find in the App Store.

Although much of the attention in the technology industry focuses on the cult-like love people have for Apple, it’s important to point out that there are many people who will not buy a product from the company under any circumstance. If a customer happens to fall into that category, it’s an obvious decision, isn’t it? Choose Android.

Price matters in the mobile space. That’s why Apple is selling three iPhones that range from free to $399 with a two-year contract. However, in the Android ecosystem, there are far more price points for customers to chose from. There are free Android-based handsets, but there are also products on sale for $50, $100 and $200. High-end products might hit $300. Android delivers broad choices for customers looking for the right price.

If all the other reasons aren’t enough to get you to opt for Android, perhaps you should consider this: The operating system is running on products other than tablets and smartphones. Android is now available in cars, refrigerators and several other products. More importantly, Android devices can easily communicate with others. So if you want a truly connected living environment, Android delivers.