Android sales have surpased iPhone sales

Jstas

For realz, yo!

http://mobile.venturebeat.com/2010/05/10/google-android-outsells-apple-iphone-ranked-second-in-u-s-smartphone-market/

Google Android outsells Apple iPhone, ranked No. 2 in U.S. smartphone sales by NPD
May 10, 2010 | Devindra Hardawar


Smartphones based on Google’s Android mobile operating system have outsold Apple’s iPhone in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2010, according to a report by research firm The NPD Group. The data places Android, with 28 percent of the smartphone market, in second place behind RIM’s Blackberry smartphone market share of 36 percent. Apple now sits in third place with 21 percent.

NPD points to a Verizon buy-one-get-one-free promotion for all of its smartphones as a major factor in the first quarter numbers. Verizon saw strong sales for the Motorola Droid and Droid Eris Android phones, as well as the Blackberry Curve, thanks to its promotional offer. Verizon launched a $100 million marketing campaign for the Droid when it hit the market in November 2009, which likely attributed to strong sales in the first quarter as well.

NPD’s data comes from self-reported online consumer surveys — not actual sales numbers — which means there’s the potential for some difference. The firm has proven itself trustworthy with past reports generated from consumer surveys.

When we last looked at smartphone market share for the end of 2009, Android was gaining steadily. Given Verizon’s major push with the Droid, not to mention the buzz that the Nexus One generated (even if it didn’t sell like hotcakes), it makes sense that Android would begin to approach the iPhone’s numbers.

Apple also hasn’t announced a new iPhone product since the launch of the 3GS in mid-2009, and many buyers are probably holding out for the next-generation iPhone — which will debut in the next few months. The quick glimpse we got at the next-gen iPhone hardware via the Gizmodo fiasco certainly didn’t help sales either.

Now that might be attributable to the iPhone prototype leak last month but it still says something because the iPhone has outsold all competitors by a margin of almost 3 to 1. People might have backed off, waiting instead to see what the new generation will look like, do, cost and when it will be released before springing. But, the Android phones have had to have made a pretty big dent in sales in the last couple of months to be able to surpass that sales mark set by the iPhone. So there's some substance there even with Apple's recent unplanned publicity (or was it?).

Now, the GF got a Motorola Droid and I gotta admit, it's spiffy. I think I like Windows Mobile better just because of it's ease of integration with my home computing environment. However, comparing the flashy, whizz-bang stuff that keeps the masses occupied and mesmerized with blinky and shiny, I think I like the Android better than the iPhone's OS. It's faster, more responsive and less constrictive in what you can do. No DRM laden media files either. The only thing I think I would prefer is the ability to attach to network shares like Windows Mobile has the ability to let me do. It makes transferring media files so stupidly easy it's not even funny.

One thing is for sure, even just 3 years ago, the BlackBerry was top of the heap for technology and capability in your pocket. Look how far things have come since. BlackBerry needs to get on the game and improve the RIM OS as well as it's interoperability capabilities or they are going to be left far behind.


Oh and since HP now owns Palm, look for some crazy stuff coming from them. HP already has a line of capable and potent hand-held and "palm-top" computers. Integrate that functionality in to a smart phone sized platform and they will have a world beater on their hands. If they execute it right that is.

dorokusai

The iPhone is becoming less important day by day....awesome.

Willow

Jstas wrote: »

For realz, yo!

http://mobile.venturebeat.com/2010/05/10/google-android-outsells-apple-iphone-ranked-second-in-u-s-smartphone-market/




Now that might be attributable to the iPhone prototype leak last month but it still says something because the iPhone has outsold all competitors by a margin of almost 3 to 1. People might have backed off, waiting instead to see what the new generation will look like, do, cost and when it will be released before springing. But, the Android phones have had to have made a pretty big dent in sales in the last couple of months to be able to surpass that sales mark set by the iPhone. So there's some substance there even with Apple's recent unplanned publicity (or was it?).

Now, the GF got a Motorola Droid and I gotta admit, it's spiffy. I think I like Windows Mobile better just because of it's ease of integration with my home computing environment. However, comparing the flashy, whizz-bang stuff that keeps the masses occupied and mesmerized with blinky and shiny, I think I like the Android better than the iPhone's OS. It's faster, more responsive and less constrictive in what you can do. No DRM laden media files either. The only thing I think I would prefer is the ability to attach to network shares like Windows Mobile has the ability to let me do. It makes transferring media files so stupidly easy it's not even funny.

One thing is for sure, even just 3 years ago, the BlackBerry was top of the heap for technology and capability in your pocket. Look how far things have come since. BlackBerry needs to get on the game and improve the RIM OS as well as it's interoperability capabilities or they are going to be left far behind.


Oh and since HP now owns Palm, look for some crazy stuff coming from them. HP already has a line of capable and potent hand-held and "palm-top" computers. Integrate that functionality in to a smart phone sized platform and they will have a world beater on their hands. If they execute it right that is.

http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/tradingdesk/archive/2010/04/27/analysts-weigh-in-on-rim-s-new-software-after-capital-markets-day-at-wes.aspx

bobman1235

My contract w/ AT&T is up in July, I'm seriously considering jumping to Verizon for the Incredible.

dkg999

My cell phone died and Verizon offered me a free upgrade to the Motorola Droid. I've only had it a day, but I have to say it's pretty impressive. About 2 yrs from now I'll have it figured out!

Demiurge

Now cell phones are a monthly expense on par with a modest cable/satellite TV package and high speed internet service combined.

These companies are raping you blind. Kudos to them though for capitalizing on the stupidity of the masses, who by and large have no need for such connectivity to justify such an expense.

I can more than afford it, but it makes zero sense to me to spend $80+ per month so I can waste more of my time playing with a phone and I'm someone who would benefit some from the increased connectivity.

Plans would be less expensive and include unlimited data if more people were wise enough to resist.

Oh well.

dorokusai

For every you.....there's 1000 not you Demi.

Jstas

Demiurge wrote: »

Now cell phones are a monthly expense on par with a modest cable/satellite TV package and high speed internet service combined.

These companies are raping you blind. Kudos to them though for capitalizing on the stupidity of the masses, who by and large have no need for such connectivity to justify such an expense.

I can more than afford it, but it makes zero sense to me to spend $80+ per month so I can waste more of my time playing with a phone and I'm someone who would benefit some from the increased connectivity.

Plans would be less expensive and include unlimited data if more people were wise enough to resist.

Oh well.

Says you.

My CrackBerry has several tools I use on a regular basis. I used to use my personal one more often at the race track downloading fuel injection maps and such but it has come in handy for me on more than one occasion. I have software on it that allows me to use it as a cellular modem. I have SSH clients on it to be able to reach network servers remotely also. I have productivity software and browsers and such as well. There is a 32 gig MicroSD card in my phone as well which allows me a considerable amount of storage space. I have an FTP Client on my phone and I can download documents from my home servers to my phone and transfer them via a USB cable to a printer or another computer. It's a handheld computer. It has entertainment value too. I watch movies, TV over the network, listen to music and play games when I'm waiting for things like trains or planes.

I'm plagued with two CrackBerrys though. One is my personal one, the other is my work phone. My work phone is integrated into my company's email system and I have the same clients and productivity software on it as I do on my personal phone. However, AT&T doesn't allow me to use the phone as a cellular modem so work has provided me with a Sprint Cellular Broadband card.

I use them both daily. They are rock solid reliable and workhorses and I don't think I could do the same things with the other options out the except for the Windows Mobile based phones.

My Sprint phone has an "Everything" plan on it and I recently got the charges reduced from $99 a month to $75 a month. It may be alot to you but I would have alot of downtime during the day without it. Being in IT, having this level of access in my pocket allows me to not be tied to a desk or an on-call queue because I can take it all with me. If there is a problem while I'm out living my life, I can fix it in minutes without having to impact my free time. That right there is worth the cost to me.

Oh and BTW, just because I choose to live in the 21st Century and leverage this technology to my advantage, it doesn't make me stupid. Even if you think I've fallen prey to some kind of conspiracy to rape me of all my money for a phone. Trust me, Sprint gets my money but I get my moneys worth out of Sprint too.

dkg999

I only have a cell phone, no home land-line phones, so I've eliminated about $100 in land-line expenses per month. I would much rather pay for cell phone and data usage than have cable TV. There's few things on cable TV that I watch or am interested in. My Roku box and Netflix subscription are much cheaper alternatives to cable TV. And while theoretically I do have an issue with having a $100+ monthly cell phone and data bill, the convenience factor is pretty high.

Toxis

So blackberry and android based phones are selling more than one phone on one carrier? Wow. I'm not impressed. If apple had numerous phones or at least was available on all carriers, see how this would turn out then. Not a crackberrg fan but I do like the droid. I just like the conveniences of all the accessories for my iPhone. Docks at work to listen to my music, a cable that plugs into my oem car radio, etc... I have mine unlocked and jailbroken and it's a thousand times better than my buddies who all have the stock rom iPhones.

Jstas

Toxis wrote: »

So blackberry and android based phones are selling more than one phone on one carrier? Wow. I'm not impressed. If apple had numerous phones or at least was available on all carriers, see how this would turn out then. Not a crackberrg fan but I do like the droid. I just like the conveniences of all the accessories for my iPhone. Docks at work to listen to my music, a cable that plugs into my oem car radio, etc... I have mine unlocked and jailbroken and it's a thousand times better than my buddies who all have the stock rom iPhones.

Settle down Macboy, it wasn't a jab at Machumpers nor was it meant to impress any of them. Then again if ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas now wouldn't we? Mac routinely commits market Harakiri by not allowing licensing and artificially capping their market through strong-armed business deals. They come out with something they think is fancy, pass around the kool-aid and everybody drinks up. Then, the rest of the market comes out with something equal or better, on a cheaper price point and Mac gets left in the dust until it comes up with the next "big" thing. Like tablet PC's. 'Cause, like, you know, those haven't been around for a decade or anything. :rolleyes:

All I wanted to do was share something that I thought was interesting. Not just because the iPhone is facing new and stiffer competition but because the technology that the rest of the world seems to enjoy is finally getting in to the hands of Americans and you don't have to sign your life away to AT&T to get it either. That fosters competition which stimulates growth and advancements which, last I checked, was a pretty good thing.

Amherst

Demiurge wrote: »

Now cell phones are a monthly expense on par with a modest cable/satellite TV package and high speed internet service combined.

These companies are raping you blind. Kudos to them though for capitalizing on the stupidity of the masses, who by and large have no need for such connectivity to justify such an expense.

I can more than afford it, but it makes zero sense to me to spend $80+ per month so I can waste more of my time playing with a phone and I'm someone who would benefit some from the increased connectivity.

Plans would be less expensive and include unlimited data if more people were wise enough to resist.

Oh well.

Perfect Analogy!

Said thirty years ago if people would just not pay extra for hbo with their cable it would become free on short order. But nooo, everybody had to have it now and the cost of service has risen how many times over.

virtualdean

Then, the rest of the market comes out with something equal or better, on a cheaper price point and Mac gets left in the dust until it comes up with the next "big" thing. Like tablet PC's. 'Cause, like, you know, those haven't been around for a decade or anything. :rolleyes:

Last year I bought a IMac 418.. I Love it but it didnt inspire the "we are not worthy" genuflecting so many Mac folks have.
Im in the 'tronics dept. I see a young man staring at a video being played on the lastest IMAC with the bigass screen. I know that look. I had it for a week deciding whether or not to buy my imac. I casually walk up and say..U might as well give up and get it...Once you look at it for more than a minute your hooked!
He says, "What? the Imac? I looking at a demo on it for the new IPAD! Its cool!
Me, I'm not a gadgeteer..I don't see the attraction. I say to him...but,,isnt that just another kind of notebook laptop? Yeah, he says...but its an apple!
i sure hope there are people like him around when I get around to selling my IMAC!

dkg999

When it comes to cable TV, HBO, cell phones, smartphones, etc. if it's not worth the expense and you don't derive equal or greater benefit from it, don't buy it. It's not like these are government mandated things you have to buy. I know people who live very nicely and have no cell phone, no cable/satellite TV, no internet, and are probably all the better for it. Me, I just chose to make a different choice with my priorities.

Demiurge

Jstas wrote: »

Says you.

My CrackBerry has several tools I use on a regular basis. I used to use my personal one more often at the race track downloading fuel injection maps and such but it has come in handy for me on more than one occasion. I have software on it that allows me to use it as a cellular modem. I have SSH clients on it to be able to reach network servers remotely also. I have productivity software and browsers and such as well. There is a 32 gig MicroSD card in my phone as well which allows me a considerable amount of storage space. I have an FTP Client on my phone and I can download documents from my home servers to my phone and transfer them via a USB cable to a printer or another computer. It's a handheld computer. It has entertainment value too. I watch movies, TV over the network, listen to music and play games when I'm waiting for things like trains or planes.

I'm plagued with two CrackBerrys though. One is my personal one, the other is my work phone. My work phone is integrated into my company's email system and I have the same clients and productivity software on it as I do on my personal phone. However, AT&T doesn't allow me to use the phone as a cellular modem so work has provided me with a Sprint Cellular Broadband card.

I use them both daily. They are rock solid reliable and workhorses and I don't think I could do the same things with the other options out the except for the Windows Mobile based phones.

My Sprint phone has an "Everything" plan on it and I recently got the charges reduced from $99 a month to $75 a month. It may be alot to you but I would have alot of downtime during the day without it. Being in IT, having this level of access in my pocket allows me to not be tied to a desk or an on-call queue because I can take it all with me. If there is a problem while I'm out living my life, I can fix it in minutes without having to impact my free time. That right there is worth the cost to me.

Oh and BTW, just because I choose to live in the 21st Century and leverage this technology to my advantage, it doesn't make me stupid. Even if you think I've fallen prey to some kind of conspiracy to rape me of all my money for a phone. Trust me, Sprint gets my money but I get my moneys worth out of Sprint too.

It would help if you'd read my post before you react. Here's the key part you missed:

"...who by and large have no need for such connectivity to justify such an expense."

Kex

Demiurge wrote: »

Now cell phones are a monthly expense on par with a modest cable/satellite TV package and high speed internet service combined.

These companies are raping you blind. Kudos to them though for capitalizing on the stupidity of the masses, who by and large have no need for such connectivity to justify such an expense.

I can more than afford it, but it makes zero sense to me to spend $80+ per month so I can waste more of my time playing with a phone and I'm someone who would benefit some from the increased connectivity.

Plans would be less expensive and include unlimited data if more people were wise enough to resist.

Oh well.

Interesting comment IMO. It reminds me of the cost of premium broadband and TV service here compared to some European countries or Japan (we generally may more for less). I especially agree with the part in bold.

Concerning the Droid. I've played with it a bit, and it's a nice phone in many respects. The virtual keyboard was impressive IMO, vastly superiour to those on larger screen GPS devices from Garmin or TomTom, for example. It still just does not match the "cool factor" and design perfection of Apple devices IMO.

Demiurge

dorokusai wrote: »

For every you.....there's 1000 not you Demi.

I know that, and its unfortunate, because its a big part of the financial problems many people have.

I knew my comments were going to generate many knee-jerk response, as if I'm somehow opposed to great technology. Anything but. The point is that any time/expense these phones save weighted against the costs to take full advantage of them are far beyond the needs of most people who own them.

Key word: MOST (not all).

Would I love to buy the Incredible from Verizon (my carrier)? Sure, my 'New Every Two' is up as of a month ago and I had it in the virtual cart in the on-line store that day. Then of course I find that my $45/mo plan requires a $29.99+ data plan to go with with it.

That's $75.00/mo. before all the fees and taxes, which probably bring me to $80.00/mo.

Being in business, such a phone would serve my needs far better than most, but even I can't justify the expense because the NEED factor is far, far less than the WANT factor.

I know you work(ed) for VZW, and I appreciate Verizon or any company charging as much as they can for their products and services, but then I wasn't bitching about Verizon or any other carrier.

I'm bitching about your average idiot consumer who puts wants over needs on NECESSARY items (a phone) and helps keep these prices inflated.

bobman1235

If you want to compare it to something like cable / home internet, on a pure "number of hours used" basis I use my iPhone far more hours than I use either my home internet or home cable. And I watch a lot of TV / use the Internet at home a lot. But my phone is always on me, and is used all day long. So the amount of content you're being provided compared to cable may not match up, BUT from a "worth it to me" standpoint I find the cell phone bill much more palatable than the cable bill.

leroyjr1

I-Phone rocks !!!!

Just wanted to throw that out there...

MacLeod

I upgraded to a Droid Eris and flat out love it. Does internet almost as well as my desktop, outstanding 5 mp camera, countless FREE apps and best of all has the best reception of any phone I've ever had for $80. When Apples stuff gets much less expensive and you can actually use something other than Apple apps and accessories, I'll give them a try. But for now they're just too overpriced for what you get.

I'm fast becoming a huge fan of everything Google.

Huck344

For those droid owners out there, I had an email question. I've read that it is very difficult to sync droid's email with outlook. Is that true? My Storm contract is up and have been thinking about moving away from Blackberry.

PhantomOG

Demiurge wrote: »

Plans would be less expensive and include unlimited data if more people were wise enough to resist.

I agree with you 100%. Up until a few months ago, me and my wife's phone lines together totalled $64 and change including tax. Last year, we decided to get new phones and add text. This meant "upgrading" to a new plan with more minutes (still the minimum offered) even though we never went over before, and adding 250 texts per line (cheapest way available). Now our bill is $86 and change including tax. This includes a 12% discount on the primary line.

$22 a month extra just so we could send each other 30-40 texts a month (we have yet to go over 250). Yes, I find texting convenient in certain situations. However, I think its an absolute ripoff compared to what I was previously paying.

I've looked at the Incredible and sure I would love to have it and be able to get on the internet in situations where it is convenient. However, there is no way in hell I'm paying and extra $30 a month per line for that small convenience.

All this talk about recession, health care costs, unemployment, mortgages/bankruptcy... hell, it seems like everyone and their dog can afford an iPhone and the $100 a month bill to go along with it. And to do what? Poke each other on Facebook? Follow Ashton Kutcher on Twitter? I'm only 30 but I feel like an old geezer....

LessisNevermore

@phantom,

{Standing ovation}

Kex

LessisNevermore wrote: »

@phantom,

{Standing ovation}

Yeah ... I enjoyed that too! There was a whole movement of protest in some European countries, apparently, about texting charges. It costs the network almost nothing, but they charge silly rates for them nonetheless.

I personally love texting, for various reasons, but I will never do it, for as long as the recipient has to pay to receive the message. I find that stupidly rude to send somebody a text message when they may have to pay to read my "thought for the day". If I have to bear the whole "cost" that the operator feels needs to be paid, then so be it.

wayne3burk

I have an LG Flip open phone, my daughter texts me... and i call her back .

I use verizon because AT&T plain sucks.

I dont have a land line because i wont pay verizon twice - and extra for long distance (which is effectively free with a cell phone)

if the iphone wasnt locked into AT&T, the droid wouldnt have a toe hold anywhere.

my 3 cents worth

wayne

Huck344

wayne3burk wrote: »

if the iphone wasnt locked into AT&T, the droid wouldnt have a toe hold anywhere.


wayne

If the rumors are true, then Verizon will be getting the iphone. Apparently, Apple is trying to get out of it's 5 year exclusivity contract with AT&T due to it's poor ability to deal with the extra traffic.

Demiurge

PhantomOG wrote: »

All this talk about recession, health care costs, unemployment, mortgages/bankruptcy... hell, it seems like everyone and their dog can afford an iPhone and the $100 a month bill to go along with it. And to do what? Poke each other on Facebook? Follow Ashton Kutcher on Twitter? I'm only 30 but I feel like an old geezer....

I agree with your whole post, and I too just hit 30 years old last week. I consider myself more tech savvy than even most people my age. In the same breath, I also value the money I earn. To piss it away to this degree for the sake of being on top technologically doesn't make any sense to me (and yes, I spend plenty on personal entertainment).

As you know, all of these cell phone carriers have every right to charge as much as they can get. The number of people who have a legitimate use for the capability of these phones isn't anywhere near enough to support the $70-$80 (often much more) that they charge. The only reason they can get away with it is because there are a of a lot fools without a need for such capabilities who pony up that kind of dough. A fool and his money are soon parted, as the saying goes.

This is America, though, and people should spend their money however they want to if they can afford it. I'm still free to criticize what I see as stupidity. I think so many people have truly become addicted to texting, logging on to the internet to check e-mail/websites, that they lose all reason when it comes to such things.

When are these plans too expensive for the average American? $150/mo.? $200/mo.?

I wonder if any of those people checked out a loan amortization schedule on what an extra $100/mo. towards the principal would do to their mortgages. It shaves several years off mine. I guess being able to get on Facebook while you're taking a dump at Quiznos is a higher priority.

exalted512

I pay less than $60/month with t-mobile for my Nexus One.

I absolutely love it and would hate to have to a day without it.
-Cody

polkatese

Cody, didn't you have AT&T Tilt last year?

exalted512

Yup. I had it for 2 years which ended in February of this year. Switched to T-Mobile and got the N1 when my contract with AT&T went out.
-Cody

polkatese

Gotcha. I had mine for a year. I like most about it except MS Mobile and call quality.