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I had no idea AT&T's Android Market was so small

mnemonicj

mnemonicj

Android Enthusiast
Engadget has a post about smartphone wars and a chart that shows the market share of Android and the iPhone with the four major carriers. It is amazing to see AT&T's Android market share be the lowest, but no surprise. My theory is that AT&T held off on competitive Android phones until they lost the iPhone exclusivity. All along Samsung was saying that Froyo would be released at the end of 2010, which is what makes the Captivate competitive. AT&T knew Samsung's timeline all along and it is probably the only reason the Captivate came to AT&T, because other than the Captivate, the other AT&T Android phones suck! (IMHO)

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mnemonicj said:
AT&T knew Samsung's timeline all along and it is probably the only reason the Captivate came to AT&T, because other than the Captivate, the other AT&T Android phones suck! (IMHO)
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I'd agree with this. Heck, the only reason my Captivate is usable is the ROM I'm using. Without it I'd have gone back to the iPhone weeks ago.

It will be interesting to see how this balances out once a few thing happen over time:
  1. iPhone 4 launches on Verizon.
  2. Motorola Atrix releases.
  3. HTC releases an EVO-like phone for AT&T.
 
Android is available on all of the major US carriers and their phones are priced from cheap to expensive depending on the model. On the other hand, the iPhone has only been available on AT&T since it first showed up on the market. Once it begins to expand this year, you might see Android sales take a hit since a lot of users stayed away from AT&T. Add to that the possibility of Sprint and T-Mobile joining the expansion effort, you could see Apple take off once again.
 
All this means is the Iphone sells more than the Android phones. If it were Verizon it would be the same.
 
gcobb said:
All this means is the Iphone sells more than the Android phones. If it were Verizon it would be the same.
Click to expand...

Err no, Android sells more than iPhones actually. A LOT more per latest stats.

ATT was late to the game with Android phones but they are coming out swinging now with Infuse, Atrix, and Inspire. I saw like the whole AFC championship game was sponsored by the Atrix.

Over time we will see the bar change to more Android than iPhone on ATT as well.

It's kind of interesting how smartphones are a small part of the overall market though still, even though they get all the hype.
 
It would be nice if more manufacturers would market an unsubsidized, unbranded, unlocked android device and be done with buying thru the operator. That system is so dam rigged it's ridiculous. I for one would gladly spend upwards of 5 Benjamins for a good device of the sort, and keep it away from the ATT's, TMobiles, and Verizons of the world. Their only function should be to provide the cellular service..period. Does anyone remember the days when you HAD to buy your landline phone from Ma Bell? Buying unlocked, unbranded is all I've done since 2003 or so, but mostly with Nokia devices prior to this Captivate. It really sux to be involved with the operator for equipment-it took a lot to break Ma Bell of that...who knows what it will take for cell providers.

P.S....if this hijacked this thread...apologies
 
AT&T is catching up when it comes to them getting Android phones. Their market will expand over time. Just give it a little more time. As others have said, The Atrix, A new Galaxy S coming, and a few others coming later this year.
 
yea the other issue is up until the captivate at&t has never had good android phones but now the inspire, atrix, and infuse, are making it possible to have a great selection of powerful android phones on at&t
 
The actual reason that AT&T had little if any Android phones until just recently were the threats from Apple. A very controlling, dictatorial company, Apple put pressure on AT&T to not allow any Android phones in the stores. Apple is very paranoid.

Now that the iPhone is also going to Verizon the pressure has let up on AT&T and they are free to do what they do best, have the most phones of any carrier on a variety of platforms.

I find my Captivate as good as my Droid X, and yet the best phone for me will be the new HTC Inspire 4G from AT&T.

The 4G business is all a ruse at this point, as other than a few good areas that Sprint has, the speeds are hardly different than 3G, so that's not why I want the HTC.

My desire for the HTC stems from the larger display with a newer technology. I've seen a pre-production prototype and it's even brighter and clearer than the Captivate. A really impressive screen. Then it has the new Sense and integrates with the Sense UI Web site which is currently being updated. These elements will make it a very good phone.

Oh, and in addition, there is the new Unibody Aluminum construction. Once you see this phone you will know why I'm very eager to buy one.
 
shark974 said:
Err no, Android sells more than iPhones actually. A LOT more per latest stats.


Over time we will see the bar change to more Android than iPhone on ATT as well.

.
Click to expand...

If the iPhone wasn't going to Verizon I would have faith in this statement. But that move is going to shift the sale figures to a point where it will be a dead heat between iPhone and Android.

And "alot more per the latest stats" It all depends on what you believe. It is more closer than "alot more"

No, not an Apple convert just yet - I am playing with all three flavors right now - iPhone4, Captivate and HD2 with Android. But I am also a realist. Android needs to shape up because their market pales in comparison. I think Google's unhappiness with the market sales is good indication that nothing has improved with the "alot of more per the stats" sales Android has been seeing.

Right now, I don't see it improving. Quite honestly, I think MS is missing a great opportunity to push their solutions with both Apple and Android showing weaknesses in several areas.
 
Copronymous said:
I'd agree with this. Heck, the only reason my Captivate is usable is the ROM I'm using. Without it I'd have gone back to the iPhone weeks ago.

It will be interesting to see how this balances out once a few thing happen over time:
  1. iPhone 4 launches on Verizon.
  2. Motorola Atrix releases.
  3. HTC releases an EVO-like phone for AT&T.
Click to expand...

My opinion on your bullet items:

1. A big game saver on iPhone sales and will give Apple some breathing room on Android sales.

2. I am betting not much. Knowing Motorola they will do something to mess this up. Sorry, old Moto Q customer here so I have some personal issues to work out with Moto still.

3. Now that might actually make a dent. Heck, if they only picked up the EVO last year I might still be using an Android as my primary phone instead of the iPhone4. But HTC needs to get on the ball and make a jump in hardware specs. Their latest wares are lacking to say the least.
 
dario69 said:
If the iPhone wasn't going to Verizon I would have faith in this statement. But that move is going to shift the sale figures to a point where it will be a dead heat between iPhone and Android.

And "alot more per the latest stats" It all depends on what you believe. It is more closer than "alot more"

No, not an Apple convert just yet - I am playing with all three flavors right now - iPhone4, Captivate and HD2 with Android. But I am also a realist. Android needs to shape up because their market pales in comparison. I think Google's unhappiness with the market sales is good indication that nothing has improved with the "alot of more per the stats" sales Android has been seeing.

Right now, I don't see it improving. Quite honestly, I think MS is missing a great opportunity to push their solutions with both Apple and Android showing weaknesses in several areas.
Click to expand...

Saying Android needs to shape up is almost like telling Mercedes they're slacking. It's an OS, just like Windoze and *nix. Each Android phone doesn't do the same things the others do. The iPhone is stale in that it's WYSIWYG. Suggesting that M$ come out with another OS for mobile to take over the market is almost like suggesting they come out with an OS for computers that doesn't need service packs or upgrades. To assume M$ wouldn't have a weakness is weak in itself.

Everything needs time to come around. Not every GUI is the same. Not every vendor is going to follow the lead of the other. It's up to the customer to find what works for them. At this point and after having an iphone, the Android suits me to the tee.
 
dario69 said:
Quite honestly, I think MS is missing a great opportunity to push their solutions with both Apple and Android showing weaknesses in several areas.
Click to expand...

Swap "MS" and "Android" and it's still true. Windows Phone 7 might be the "latest new thing" but it's hardly the silver bullet that addresses all the problems in the other platforms. It has its own issues not present on the other 2.
 
More food for thought... This chart gives a better perspective of what has been happening. Iphone has been around a long time and has been relatively flat, but Android has only started to take off.

1281066192.usr681.jpg
 
Am I just a complete idiot or does the graph in the original post make no sense in the context of what you guys are talking about?? It's been a long day already..

Nevermind I get it. You're talking about the consumer market. Not the Android marketplace. Woops.
 
skramblr said:
More food for thought... This chart gives a better perspective of what has been happening. Iphone has been around a long time and has been relatively flat, but Android has only started to take off.

1281066192.usr681.jpg
Click to expand...

I think this chart if of new phone buyers, not current phones used. If you had a chart of current phone usage, iPhone and Android would be much closer because Android just overtook iPhone late last year.

EDIT: Yeah, these Neilsen charts show what I was saying:

New Buyers
smartphone-os-nov2010.png


Current Market Share
smartphone-os-nov2010-2.png
 
Android is still quite young. It offers so much because it's open and it's yours to do with as you like, it will become very dominate in time. All the signs are there now. Give it another six months and suddenly it will be an undeniable threat to iOS.

The only true lure of the iPhone for most is it's ease of use, and being perceived as "cool". As Android matures it will be easier to use and far more fun. Just wait & see.

Nothing lasts forever, slowly the luster will wear off the iPhone as Android becomes the superior OS it's capable of being.
 
Aatos.1 said:
The only true lure of the iPhone for most is it's ease of use, and being perceived as "cool". As Android matures it will be easier to use and far more fun. Just wait & see.

Nothing lasts forever, slowly the luster will wear off the iPhone as Android becomes the superior OS it's capable of being.
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Sorry, but there are other "true lures" other than the ease of use and "cool" factor. Honestly, the Android has more cool factor if you ask me only because the iPhone is so mainstream. Cool is about going against the mainstream - my opinion at least.

The other real "lure" of the iPhone and one that will keep Android at the same level or less than superior than iOS is the app store. The Android app store just plain sucks a$$ compared to iOS. Until Google makes significant changes to this Android will never surpass Apple. It just won't.

Remember the old adage - "It's the economy, #$#$" by Carville - talking politics, not calling any Android user #$#$ here. But it applies here as well really, "Its the apps, plain and simple". Cool wears off, ease of use to some degree wears off because Android has taken some cues from Apple and WinMo to make the ease of use pretty much a wash. The decider will be the apps. Google recognizes this now - whether they can catch up is another story.
 
LOL..cool is going against the mainstream? That only lasts until the "cool" IS the mainstream..then it flip flops...on and on..the only "cool" thing is what works for you..and screw what anybody else thinks. If an Iphone user thinks it's cool-even tho it's mainstream for now..so what...all this android talk is getting a little old as far as I'm concerned. The flashing..ROM stuff etc is alienating the day to day user IMO.
 
dario69 said:
The other real "lure" of the iPhone and one that will keep Android at the same level or less than superior than iOS is the app store. The Android app store just plain sucks a$$ compared to iOS. Until Google makes significant changes to this Android will never surpass Apple. It just won't.
Click to expand...

Well, you can now go to a website on your PC, browse the Android Marketplace on your desktop, then when you find an app you want you can push-install it onto your phone. Let's see the Apple App Store do that.

On Android you can also shop for, purchase and download MP3s directly from your phone without using a PC. On iPhone, you have to use iTunes on a connected computer.

Apple doesn't have all the advantages. One of the biggest advantages Apple has is in brainwashing the masses into thinking there's only one way things can/should be done. Explain to an iPhone fanboy that it could actually be possible to purchase songs directly from their phone without using an app on their computer and their head might explode.
 
sremick said:
Well, you can now go to a website on your PC, browse the Android Marketplace on your desktop, then when you find an app you want you can push-install it onto your phone. Let's see the Apple App Store do that.

On Android you can also shop for, purchase and download MP3s directly from your phone without using a PC. On iPhone, you have to use iTunes on a connected computer.

Apple doesn't have all the advantages. One of the biggest advantages Apple has is in brainwashing the masses into thinking there's only one way things can/should be done. Explain to an iPhone fanboy that it could actually be possible to purchase songs directly from their phone without using an app on their computer and their head might explode.
Click to expand...

Oh, I am not debating the control aspect of Apple versus Android. Any Apple fan defending Apple's approach is just brainwashed as you put it. Just like Android fans saying the Android market isn't fragmented or the Android market is on par with the App store - app to app.

My point is the number of quality apps on the Apple app store just blows away what we see on the Android market. I own both phones, I see what is offered on both fronts. It is like night and day. If it wasn't for the app support I would find it much more difficult to stay with Apple and their "total control" business model. Well, the apps and the battery life. My iPhone is still blowing my Cappy away as far as battery life is concerned.
 
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