Assignment 4-1

Android vs. IPhone

            Today’s technology advanced and fast paced society requires the same out of our communication needs.  Nearly everyone has some form of a cell phone and in 2010 23% of them had “smartphones” (Kellogg, 2010).  In this smartphone category there are Blackberry, IPhone and Android devices.  Over the last couple years Blackberry has lost ground in the battle for smartphones with once devoted Blackberry users turning to either the Android or IPhone markets.  Both Android and IPhone have seen an estimated 2% increase among users (Kellogg, 2010).

            Android and IPhone devices provide the user with basically the same options and are locked in a “smartphone war” against each other.  So what’s the difference and why are users so particular on either Android or IPhone?  This question is hard to answer, but a few key points from surveys taken during purchases and voluntary response polls give us a little incite.

            Android users tend to be slightly younger and tend to have a lower education/income level than IPhone users (Kellogg, 2010).  Android phones tend to be less expensive with newer phones such as the HTC line being new in the higher priced new to their market.            The IPhones tend to have a high purchase price that may be influencing the statistics a little.  Per the Nielsen Company statistics, Android users are 70% likely to purchase another Android device compared to 80% of IPhone users who would purchase another IPhone (Kellogg, 2010).  As of 2010 IPhone users outnumbered Android users 3 to 1 and where very open to trying the Android systems.  Currently Android and IPhone are running neck and neck. 

            One key difference outside of any surveys or polls is that of their operating systems, downloadable Apps and typical usage.  Android and IPhone both offer an “app” store.  IPhones Itunes is compatible with the phone and IPod systems making it more popular than the amazon/search engine format of the Android system.  Also, Android users tend to do more file-transfers and ringtone/wallpaper downloads while IPhone still holds strong in actual music and game play (Kellogg, 2010).

            It will be interesting to see where the battle between Android and IPhone takes us.  What will be the next generation of ‘smartphones’?  Whatever it turns out to be, it will more than definitely be a creating of the battle between these two.

References

Kellogg, D. (2010, June 4). IPhone vs. Android. Retrieved June 8, 2011, from NielsenWire: http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/iphone-vs-android/