Rather than pushing truly innovative products, US service providers take the path of least resistance. That is, they simply sell into their marketing departments’ perception of existing demand, i.e.: “Oh, you liked that? Well, here’s more of the same with slight improvement.” So, what do they see as the latest and greatest? That would be iPhone (because Mr. Jobs will insist) and Android (because it’s VZW’s best-seller, by far). Moreover, Android gets a boost from consumer interest stemming from all of the recent publicity about Android passing Nokia.

Rather than pushing truly innovative products, US service providers take the path of least resistance. That is, they simply sell into their marketing departments’ perception of existing demand, i.e.: “Oh, you liked that? Well, here’s more of the same with slight improvement.” So, what do they see as the latest and greatest? That would be iPhone (because Mr. Jobs will insist) and Android (because it’s VZW’s best-seller, by far). Moreover, Android gets a boost from consumer interest stemming from all of the recent publicity about Android passing Nokia.

Rather than pushing truly innovative products, US service providers take the path of least resistance. That is, they simply sell into their marketing departments’ perception of existing demand, i.e.: “Oh, you liked that? Well, here’s more of the same with slight improvement.” So, what do they see as the latest and greatest? That would be iPhone (because Mr. Jobs will insist) and Android (because it’s VZW’s best-seller, by far). Moreover, Android gets a boost from consumer interest stemming from all of the recent publicity about Android passing Nokia.

Rather than pushing truly innovative products, US service providers take the path of least resistance. That is, they simply sell into their marketing departments’ perception of existing demand, i.e.: “Oh, you liked that? Well, here’s more of the same with slight improvement.” So, what do they see as the latest and greatest? That would be iPhone (because Mr. Jobs will insist) and Android (because it’s VZW’s best-seller, by far). Moreover, Android gets a boost from consumer interest stemming from all of the recent publicity about Android passing Nokia.

First, why are you so emotionally invested in either iOS or Android? You are a simple layman, just a sheep to either company.

Second, your opinions are simply that: ill-founded opinions which you passionately express as facts in order to reinforce your emotional connection to either company.

Oh how the intelligent people who actually develop the hardware, software, and marketing strategies must laugh at such petty arguments. I’m just a PhD in math who finds you all interesting and entertaining :-p

It is very obvious then that a models with multiple competing manufacturers using the same OS is more beneficial to the end user, and is much more stable (not affected by the performance of any individual player). A possible drawback, which has been blown out of proportion from the outside, is fragmentation of the system. Having common standards and coding applications to work across a range of hardware efficiently deals with this problem.

John Sancrant

This is where you’re terribly mistaken. Netflix is working like crazy on an Android client. If you look at developer survey results published in the press, most devs agree Android is a better long-term development bet compared to iOS – they see Android scaling big just like everyone else in the industry.

The overall concept extends to PMPs and smart appliances also. Consolidating around a common OS infrastructure with companies adding their special sauce on top.

Basically, the Android steamroller continues to get bigger. Check back in 2015 to see where iOS vs Android total device penetration is at.

1. AT&T is the worst carrier for Android in the US and has been for a while. Lackluster phones, low promotion, and pretty much non-existent OS updates. AT&T might even be one of the worst worldwide in terms of tier one telco operators carrying Android, but trying very hard not to do much with it or fuel its success as a revenue generator. They didnt get crazy about Android until iPhone exclusivity loss loomed, and even then they talked not that much about Android publicly, but instead went crazy with low prices on iPhone pricing particularly on refurbs to lock people in as much as possible before losing exclusivity.

Basically, using AT&T as an example of consumer preference of iOS vs Android is extremely dubious. A carrier that was pushing $99 iPhone 3GS refurbs hard and underpromoting the rest of an Android lineup comprised of the weakest and least appealing handsets of all the US carriers, all priced higher than refurb iPhone options, is clearly an example of a carrier desperate to not only hold on to high-ARPU iPhone customers and capture more of them, but also not trying to do much with Android until iPhone exclusivity is gone.

2. As the others pointed out your perspective is very US-centric. You would do better looking around the world where the iPhone has not had exclusivity for quite some time – AT&T was the last exclusive carrier. As such, in a more freely open market where multiple carriers have iOS and Android options, while iOS has the lead in installed base due to having been around longer, everyone agrees Android is poised to overtake over the long run due to simple scale. And unless something insane happens, this is pretty much guaranteed – you have one phone maker versus the collective of LG, Samsung, Sony, HTC, Acer, Asus, Moto, and so on – some of whom own parts of the supply chain feeding Apple’s phones. Most of these makers make phones hitting several price bands – Android availability from cheap to expensive is what it means. There’s only one price band that Apple serves – the high end. And there are a lot more run of the mill customers than there are high-ARPU elitists. So when low-end LG Android handsets move like crazy it should be a sign.

Android is continuing to scale due to its ability to service different levels of the mobile customer base, and more of them than iOS.

I believe iOS will have a brief impact on Verizon but over time, it will level off. With a smartphone lineup comprised of low end to high end LTE-powered android handsets, the single iPhone is going to have a limited long term impact.

It will also be interesting to monitor how the balance shifts at AT&T now that they are going insane on Android (12 devices this year) to pull the revenue wagon now that they cant count on exclusivity to suck the blood of their iPhone customers.

The choices is part of the problem im not buying Android… It creates both hardware and software fragmentation… this is stopping big name developers/companies to develop apps for the platform (like Netflix)…

Can anyone explain me, how are you locked to a specific carrier? When the contract ends you can change carrier don’t you? Or they offer you a much better deal so you have to stay?

The numbers are mine looking at NPD sales figures, public device shipment reports, and daily activation rate to which iPhone still has aound 50k more a day than ANdroid. SO yes Android is climbing but it has not actually passed the iPhone or RIM in actual installed base world wide.

I have never been impressed with the bland UI of iphone (just a bunch of icons) compared to HTC Sense or any of the other widget enabled UIs on android.

You’ve not sourced your data, so it’s a little difficult to actually discuss. Obviously we’re not all comparing apples to apples, since these types of stats can be US only, Worldwide, OS specific, Device specific, Smartphone specific, etc. How about a reference?

I might dispute your figures, since AdMobs and Net Applications have reports based on unique devices that access their systems, and the info does not match your figures.

For example, as of June 2010, Android was at 27% worldwide market share. IOS was at 40% across all devices. Later data has shown android as growing but I don’t have it infront of me to quote so I won’t attempt to quantify. Let’s be sure we’re all comparing apples to apples. It’s so easy to start giving and getting weird results since there’s different ways to count this stuff.

For the record though… the prior user was correct, when Jobs reported on total market share at a recent public event, he used figures which included all IOS devices… not just the Iphone

At present, that’s not the Iphone, but who knows in a year? It’s true though, that apple annoys me at times with overcontrol, and that might impact the decision, but it won’t be the sole motivating factor.

TBH, the only thing that would tempt me to an early purchase, would be a galaxy tab type device that could actually be used as a phone as well. I was horribly disappointed when the tab disabled phone use in the USA, and decided to pass on it. I don’t particularly want the bulk of an ipad, or to have to carry a phone AND a pad everywhere. 1 device please. kthxbye

If you want to buy a cheap used Verizon Android on ebay…wait for a few days after the Verizon iPhone goes on sale!

Android is activating over 300K devices a day right now. If the merely continues (most expect it to grow) it will be over 100M new devices this year.

I guess what I’m saying is that iPhone to Verizon will be good for Apple and Verizon, but for Android, already outselling the iPhone pretty significantly world-wide, its probably just a speed bump.

Another small note is that AT&T will probably actually offer a flagship Android handset now – and actually advertise it. Right now they have the worst Android handset lineup and only have really terrible ads for it. So there is a small amount of good news for Android to go along with the larger negative (for Android) news.

Now that you made me think about it, why isn’t this article about The Impact of the Verizon iPhone on iOS’s Growth instead? It’s clearly rooted in the assumption that for the iPhone to continue to rake in huge profits, all other phones must fail…

One iPhone, no more accessories to buy, I already have an iTouch.

I’ll be good to go with the iPhone.

I’m a long time Verizon customer and iTouch owner. I have been looking forward to getting an iPhone, but I refused to switch to AT&T to get it.

I know a few people with Droids….not very impressed, neither are they, so I have avoided them…finally I have a reason to buy a smartphone.

Now, AT&T has admittedly acquired a bad reputation on the Internet (I have no personal experience so I don’t judge), but I don’t think it can be THAT bad… and if it IS, they why did Apple partner with it in the first place?

Additionally, I believe that we have already seen the majority of demand for iPhone in those iPhone users already on AT&T. I believe that the supposed pent-up demand for iPhones on Verizon doesnt really exist. If you wanted an iPhone, you’ve had a couple of years now for your Verizon contract to be up and make the switch to AT&T.

I think that not taking into account those factors is contributing to an unreasonable expectation of high iPhone sales once the iPhone is released on Verizon. I think the low level of sales is going to surprise a lot of people.

I also think Android devices, which have caught up to iPhone in terms of features, will continue to grab an ever increasing % of market share.

So I was referencing smart phones only to which Android is still number 3.

Android is being calculated ONLY for Google enabled smartphones. Who knows how many other Android enabled devices are out there. As more device types are being introduced, pmp, tablets, netbooks, etc. . . Apple’s iOS will find itself with the same market share Mac has. . . ~8% . . . at least it’s the “high end device” category where Apple can price gouge and make huge profits.