IT Professionals

Can Android Defend Itself Against The iPhone?

Posted by on Mar 19, 2010 | 8 Comments

This article really struck me as interesting. With the first two ideas being completely over the heads of 99% of the populace as they’re not developers, I was happy to see points 3, 4, 6… well that was it, actually. three of the points made sense while the rest were complete bunk. Be open? Be Google? Use the Web? Seriously?

How about this: provide a platform that provides what the user wants. And to a large degree, it has been able to do this. As for marketing, that is really difficult as it’s an OS that needs to appeal to handset makers, not end users. The handset makers and eventually the mobile carriers are the gate keepers here. Wasting time with AdSense ads for the Nexus One is just dumb. No one outside of  the tech community has honestly even heard of it. And while most have heard of Android, they’ll be looking to whatever their existing carrier has to offer.

The best of the bunch, in my opinion, remains the Droid via Verizon. Good phone, better network (vastly) than AT&T. Subsidize the heck out of these phones and the rest takes care of itself. As for other models of Android powered phones, it’s very case by case. There is no clear magic bullet. But one thing is for sure: Google does not know marketing as the above linked article likes to think. No, it, like Microsoft, has a product people use. And it does its job fine. But unlike Apple, Google is not selling a “sexy experience.” Hence, why the iPhone continues to mop the floor with its competition.

[awsbullet:billy bragg wilco]

  • http://youtube.com/wilsontech1 Lamarr Wilson

    I’ve read articles from Techmeme this week that call the Nexus One a failure. Not selling that many doesn’t make the phone FAIL. It’s probably the BEST phone out there. Google has purposely not done a marketing campaign like the one done with the Droid by Verizon because they are testing this new channel. They also were genius in giving some YT partners Nexus Ones. Let them take care of the marketing. Just because a commercial doesn’t run regularly for something doesn’t mean it’s a failure. It’s how Google operates.

    I want to see a time where Google, Apple, and the rest say “forget the carriers” and just sell the phones themselves, and we can activate it wherever we want. The carriers hold up too much with updates (see what’s happening with the Droid), adding nonsense stuff (like AT&T is doing with their new Android phone, adding Yahoo crapware and their own crapware), etc.

    Android is the best platform out there, and the more freedom of choice there is, the better it is for everyone. :)

  • http://eddieringle.com Eddie Ringle

    In my opinion, it is Apple that is on the defensive, while Android is on the offensive. It is inevitable that Android will topple the iPhone platform. The Android platform can be tailored to any configuration, be it industrial, commercial, or consumer use, while the iPhone platform is just another OS with apps, just like a Blackberry or Palm device.

  • Pingback: Could the iPad Outsell the iPhone? ~ Chris Pirillo

  • Mike

    I will *NEVER* buy any PDA based phone if I have to marry any damn phone company.

    I *DEMAND* full unrestricted Wifi abilities, and absolutely no interference to any third party developer offering software. *Then* I’ll *think* about buying some bandwidth from a carrier. Carriers are a dime a dozen – and if they don’t agree with that – well then, I’m not buying. That simple.
    I strongly recommend everyone else start thinking like this too.

  • Josh

    I’ve asked several dealers which is the best carrier out there and several times I’ve heard its Verizon. I know a lot of people that would just like to drop their AT&T service no matter how cool the phone is. The network blows.

    I’m so with you Lamarr. They should sell phones and we should pick the network. Now we have sprint putting blackberry on the boost payment plan and running it on the sprint network. Also carriers like Metro PCS is getting bigger every year. I was hoping these guys would change the way contracts were done with the major carriers. Yet any change is slow from the big Network providers. There’s over billing and added disconnect charges that people just don’t want to lock themselves into with companies like T mobile and google. Google needs to add a early termination fee to the nexus one like I need a bag over my head(not to mention added early term fees from the carrier). Give me the phone and let me put it on a network like sprint with their new boost berry phone. I’d then buy the phone that people are ranting about. I just won’t do business with T mobile myself. They have hidden fees implanted everywhere it seems. At least from my previous experience with them.

    Google and apple should just sell phones in my opinion. They’d do much better then locking people into a company that cares nothing about customers or service or…

  • Theodore

    I agree with Eddie in the fact that Android, in time, will topple the iPhone. I also agree that the Nexus One was a marketing flop. I posted about it a few weeks ago (http://wp3.lockergnome.com/cellphones/2010/02/22/why-i-think-google-lost-out-on-the-nexus/). Not allowing T-Mobile to have any contact or involvement with the purchase, support or even the rate plan that was chosen hurt them tremendously. A commenter mentioned that it was a test by Google and they restricted it for control. In my opinion, that was a stupid move. They even went so far as to disconnect the support help number and force the customers to go to a forum, only later realizing how stupid that was and reopening the 800 support line. I can’t tell you how many people I spoke to who wanted the Nexus only to choose another Android phone like the MyTouch when they realized the hoops they had to go through.

  • Will

    I own an iPhone and I am not totally impressed with the product. When my two years are up, I will be looking forward to getting something more refreshing, customizable and just more fun to use. As far as what I have seen of Android and Windows Mobile 7, it’s good to know I have choices when I can finally take a sledge hammer on my old iPhone.

  • Randy Allen

    Eddie – “It is inevitable that Android will topple the iPhone platform.”

    And it is inevitable that the Zune will topple the iPod. Right! The iPhone isn’t just a phone, it a system with phone, Internet, apps, and music all neatly tied together by Apple and iTunes. Love them or hate them, they are way ahead of the game here and blew Microsoft, Palm, and Blackberry out of the water. Does AT&T suck? Sure. BAD SUCK! I think any carrier would have had the same growing pains when millions of new customers signed up and heavily used their data plans. The sad thing is AT&T hasn’t done a lot to alleviate the problems.

    Is iPhone perfect? Far from it, but then again, neither is Android. Developers have to release different versions of programs depending on which device and which carrier is going to be used. As a former developer, I can tell you this is a pain. Every change has to go to multiple versions, but maybe not all versions. It’s why we start to lose our hair and have that ferret-eyed look from too much caffeine during the last all nighter to get the latest version out the door.

    As for Window Mobile 7? Please! It’s another attempt by Microsoft to get into the game. Who cares? It can be another bottom feeder like Palm. It’s too little, too late. It’s like coming to the party after all the beer is gone and there are no single women left. They might as well have stayed home.