Yesterday NPD released a report suggesting Android phones were gaining market share over the iPhone.
Apple has decided to respond to the survey with their own facts down playing Androids share of the smartphone market. Natalie Harrison told The Loop, "This is a very limited report on 150,000 US consumers responding to an online survey and does not account for the more than 85 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide." What is interesting is that she included the numbers for the iPod Touch in with the iPhone. The two do run the same OS but the iPod touch is obviously not a a competitor to the Android devices.
Natelie went on to say, "IDC figures show that iPhone has 16.1 percent of the smartphone market and growing, far outselling Android on a worldwide basis. We had a record quarter with iPhone sales growing by 131 percent and with our new iPhone OS 4.0 software coming this summer, we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon."
The IDC report that Apple is referring to also shows that HTC is up 73% and Motorola is up 91%, both are manufactures of Android based phones. Combining the two would suggest the Android market is up 164% over Apple's 131% sales growth.
The Android OS also has the advantage of being available on multiple carriers and multiple handsets. The iPhone is the only device running its OS and is only available through AT&T in the United States and will remain so until at least 2012.
Comments (63)
ReplyIs that by manufacturer or by OS? Because HTC and Motorola do not manufacture only Android phones - HTC also sells Windows Mobile phones, and Motorola has their own OS as well, as well as making devices like the Sidekick Slide.
Is that by manufacturer or by OS? Because HTC and Motorola do not manufacture only Android phones - HTC also sells Windows Mobile phones, and Motorola has their own OS as well, as well as making devices like the Sidekick Slide.
It's a play at apple for throwing out numbers that are not relevant.
Dear Steve,
The iPod Touch is not a phone, so you don't get to count it against the phone sales of competitors.
Just keeping you honest, amigo. 8)
No, but come on, its the funnest iPod ever! Sure that counts for something /s
- Buying a ton of games and then the tilt sensor stops working two weeks after the warranty ends = not fun
- Not being able to use the Pandora app and chat on AIM at the same time = not fun
- Youtube app only plays some videos = not fun
- DRM = not fun
- Paying $10 to enable copy+paste = not fun
All of which happened to mine.
It's a play at apple for throwing out numbers that are not relevant.
Why, someone else pointed out in the other thread that Android was featuring on MP3 players.
If the stats include these as Android devices I see no reason for apple to not include the Touch.
Why, someone else pointed out in the other thread that Android was featuring on MP3 players.
If the stats include these as Android devices I see no reason for apple to not include the Touch.
Two wrongs make a right in your world, I see.
Why, someone else pointed out in the other thread that Android was featuring on MP3 players.
If the stats include these as Android devices I see no reason for apple to not include the Touch.
The android is an MP3 player but the ipod touch is not a phone.
Did you read the article ? Steve didn't say anything ...
now that's funny. when competition heats up thats when you hear the leader dissing the competition. hang tight people. i'm curious to see how WP7/Zune combo changes the scene. not expecting anything major overnight, but I hope some decent share goes to WP7 eventually
LOL!!!
LOL!!!
This is unnecessary. I cannot wait for a phone to compete with the iPhone, Android, Palm Pre, etc, that also has Zune Pass and developer tools I can take advantage of. Plus the phones are going to be great without bloatware like at&t stripping features or the Sense UI, glad it's going to be all managed by Microsoft and little by those third party companies.
You are just one person out of the human race, many people cannot wait for this OS including me. 
This is unnecessary. I cannot wait for a phone to compete with the iPhone, Android, Palm Pre, etc, that also has Zune Pass and developer tools I can take advantage of. Plus the phones are going to be great without bloatware like at&t stripping features or the Sense UI, glad it's going to be all managed by Microsoft and little by those third party companies.
You are just one person out of the human race, many people cannot wait for this OS including me. 
WP7 is going to be just as watered down as the iPhone.
WP7 is going to be just as watered down as the iPhone.
and android...
and android...
are you serious or just trolling?
There aren't any PMPs (non-phones) that are running Android? If not, why not? Seems like a logical product to compete with Zune HD and iPod Touch.
There is.
See Archos 5 IT.
See Archos 5 IT.
I thought that runs MAEMO?
I thought that runs MAEMO?
Incorrect. It runs Android.
And Maemo 5 is the last version of Maemo. Maemo is merging with Moblin and creating MeeGo.
yea funny as hell apple is attempting to bash the numbers ! just like a spoiled child SCREAMING when they get there toy taking away
+1
Jobs has always been someone who couldn't take it as well as he dishes it.
I guess that's what they mean by butthurt
android scares stevie boy! i bet he secretly owns a android device too... ya know for testing!
Why is it funny? Apple is doing what it is suppose to do as a company. Reassure its stock holders that it is still going strong. Amazing how many people fail at knowing what the purpose of the public faces of a company is suppose to do. If he didn't come out and talk crap about the competition, just like the competition does, people would think the company doesn't have a backbone. What is funny is how many people here really think the Balmer, Jobs or anyone else actually writes half of these responses. Someone else does it for them. These people are just figure heads. Get a grip on the business world and stop making yourself look so ignorant.
+1111
Why is it funny? Apple is doing what it is suppose to do as a company. Reassure its stock holders that it is still going strong. Amazing how many people fail at knowing what the purpose of the public faces of a company is suppose to do. If he didn't come out and talk crap about the competition, just like the competition does, people would think the company doesn't have a backbone. What is funny is how many people here really think the Balmer, Jobs or anyone else actually writes half of these responses. Someone else does it for them. These people are just figure heads. Get a grip on the business world and stop making yourself look so ignorant.
oh did a fan boy get his panties all bunched up lol
oh did a fan boy get his panties all bunched up lol
Wow great come back. You totally countered what I said. I am just annoyed that people on Neowin seem to not get the difference between a business opinion and a personal opinion.
If its android phones why is apple accounting for iPod touches?
+1
Because it's the Apple/Jobs Spin machine on wash/cycle/rinse the facts mode.
Good point. Though it is impossible to determine how many people purchase iPod touches as PDA's to compliment their existing feature phone which has a much lower monthly cost than a smartphone. It isn't all like Apple's comment might make it seem. But it is possible that there are people who buy an iPod touch instead of and Android phone (or iPhone, BlackBerry, etc.) because of its one time fee and no monthly costs.
You can blame them when that's the only mode they have.
padding the numbers lol
The Google vs. Apple stuff is getting old. C'mon Microsoft get in the game already.
by the looks of wp7 it's game over.
by the looks of wp7 it's game over.
Still people throw away the plafform on just seeing the screenshot :-) you need to have a hand's on experience on it..
I think its kind of dumb to say that android is beating out the iPhone OS because there's only ONE iPHONE! And there a bunch of other phones running android not just one phone. Their talking as if the iPhone OS is running on other brand phones. This is just dumb to me, I don't even know why Apple would bother to reply.
I do think it's silly to compare all Android phones to two models of iPhone (3G and 3GS). Compare one Android phone to the iPhone or compare all Android OS devices and compare all iPhone OS devices. But you're right, Apple shouldn't have responded. Let the competition do what they're doing and you do what you're doing.
I do think it's silly to compare all Android phones to two models of iPhone (3G and 3GS). Compare one Android phone to the iPhone or compare all Android OS devices and compare all iPhone OS devices. But you're right, Apple shouldn't have responded. Let the competition do what they're doing and you do what you're doing.
This is probably why they had included the iphone/ipod touch figures. As they felt it was relative to the market share. (all devices running said OS). Since, that is in-fact what this article (well, prior article suggests)
This is as if somebody said:
"I think its kind of dumb to say that Windows is beating out OSX because there's only A FEW MAC COMPUTERS! And there a bunch of computers running Windows. Their talking as if OSX is running on other brand computers. This is just dumb to me, I don't even know why Apple would bother to reply."
I do think it's silly to compare all Android phones to two models of iPhone (3G and 3GS). Compare one Android phone to the iPhone or compare all Android OS devices and compare all iPhone OS devices. But you're right, Apple shouldn't have responded. Let the competition do what they're doing and you do what you're doing.
They replied because of the stock holders need reassurance. It wasn't just another baseless claim that means nothing in terms of sales.
I do think it's silly to compare all Android phones to two models of iPhone (3G and 3GS). Compare one Android phone to the iPhone or compare all Android OS devices and compare all iPhone OS devices. But you're right, Apple shouldn't have responded. Let the competition do what they're doing and you do what you're doing.
They should be comparing iPhone OS phones to Android OS phones. Including PMP devices when making phone sales comparisons doesn't make any sense. Lets face it, Android is on top because Google went after all carriers and opened their platform up to users and developers. Apple is still stuck with their marriage to ATT, and has been arrogant when it comes to software freedom on their iPhone device.
I do think it's silly to compare all Android phones to two models of iPhone (3G and 3GS). Compare one Android phone to the iPhone or compare all Android OS devices and compare all iPhone OS devices. But you're right, Apple shouldn't have responded. Let the competition do what they're doing and you do what you're doing.
It is the choice of Apple to restrict their OS's growth compared to an OS like Android, if they can't take fair comparisons (for example, phones marketshare with iPhone OS vs Android OS), then they should open up their software.
That's like comparing just Dell's sales to Apple's when getting data on Windows OS vs OSX, all you are doing is skewing it in Apple's favour by cutting out 80-90% of Windows devices.
Yes I'm sure if Apple opened it up they would sell more. But the comparison wasn't a particular Android phone compared to the iPhone. It was all Android OS phones compared to the iPhone and not all iPhone OS devices
That's like comparing just Dell's sales to Apple's when getting data on Windows OS vs OSX, all you are doing is skewing it in Apple's favour by cutting out 80-90% of Windows devices.
Correct again. Apple chose to sell the iPhone exclusively to ATT. But how does that make comparing all Android OS phones to the iPhone and not all devices running iPhone OS a fair comparison? Apple has never (as far as I've seen) compared the iPhone OS market share to one particular phone. You will see them compare to all RIM phones, WinMo phones, etc. Not a particular phone. I think the comparison of Windows and OS X are fair. But if you compare Dell's sales to Apple's, then you certainly don't take into consideration Windows' market share. Do you?
Iphones been out for how long ? and WHOS fault is it apples locked it out
A contract is a contract, two people would be involved. I don't believe just Apple would be at fault. Can you blame AT&T for locking this sucker down tight to their infrastructure. Shii will hit the fan once it's open. And AT&T will more than likely lose a lot of customers.
A contract is a contract, two people would be involved. I don't believe just Apple would be at fault. Can you blame AT&T for locking this sucker down tight to their infrastructure. Shii will hit the fan once it's open. And AT&T will more than likely lose a lot of customers.
Android will catch Apple. I even own some apple products and an iPhone and i can say that Google's OS with HTC sense is a far better product then the iPhone. The only thing apple has going for it is it is an iPod other than that their OS on the iPhone is a joke.
I was able to see BOTH phones side by side because my two friends have iPhone 3G and Android 2.1 respectively. And in my opinion, Android was faster and more responsive. After seeing with my own eyes, in the future, I am getting Android.
So I am not surprised that Android is fast getting popular than iPhone.
So I am not surprised that Android is fast getting popular than iPhone.
I run Android 1.6 and I love it, can't wait to get ahold of 2.x when I upgrade. I've always enjoyed the Android platform. I think Apple has created a great product. But, I've had no desire to own one. Simply because I never purchased anything on iTunes.. That was my reason.
I don't think that 'speed' will have any effect on sales. I think it's because the majority of current customers can keep their carrier and pick up a phone will similar characteristics, and finding it's a remarkable device (functionality, speed, apps) leading to more word-to-mouth sales... in other words, go android.
The biggest issue apple has is that its One form factor for the hardware and one carrier which is not all that good and expensive plans for it. You can get an Android phone on almost all the carriers and in almost any form factor that you could want so it will grow and be more apealing to people in the long run. I am running a Hero with 2.1 on it and it is smokin' fast and is just a better expierence over all.
The one carrier that it is offered on is the fastest with the most coverage in my area and also the cheapest. Guess I got lucky though because iPhone is still the only phone on the market that is capable of meeting my business and personal needs which boils down to being able to sync easily with both my Windows PC at come and my Mac at work which is something the droid phones fail miserably at doing.
I'm still using a 500 years old Nokia 3310. When I'm away from home, I'm almost unreachable and no I don't need to tweet and surf the net while outdoors. I actually talk to people face to face. Yep, I was born in the stone age and some say I'm still there! As long as I can open a beer, you can all stuff your fancy-schmancy phones - see if I care
You are using a piece of crap. After a piece of crap, there were phones. After phones, there were smartphones. After smartphones, there were mobile computers with phone functions. Thats more or less where we are at now.
lol, I love all these "What does apple have to say about this?" type of stories that have been coming out lately, it really makes apple look really bad.
Apple is a bunch of *******s...really...are they that stupid? The article posted a couple days ago said that the Android surpassed iPhone in THE UNITED STATES...not world wide...and they are including the iTouch? Ummm ok....and its Apples fault it limited its phone to one hardware design and on one carrier.
Sounds to me like Apple is a little scared and spewing out what it can to make itself still look good in front of their "followers"
i think apple is just scared because there is almost a fully working port of android for the iphone now. android has taken the market by storm with no signs of slowing down at all. the best thing is, it's open source. the only other competitor i see making a comeback is webos and they need to release the source code on that to even make a dent.
thanks apple, all the facts your just stated about the article make it more legit.
Even Apple itself admits 40% of the iPhone OS market is just iPod Touches if we looked at Google vs Apple for just phones Google would be far ahead.
so they are comparing sales of one device against a bunch of different devices with same OS? its stupid