The Android Takes Over

We live in a generation, where having cool stuff matters. What I mean by this, is that you don't want to be that guy walking around school with a flip phone or something lame, you want to be like everyone else and have an iPhone or BlackBerry...right? Wrong, according to recent data, the Android has surpassed the BlackBerry as the most popular smart phone market. Androids, make up 31.2% of the market, while BlackBerry is 30.4% and the iPhone is 24.7%. As I read about the Android taking over the cell phone industry, I was shocked.

According to the article I read, there were are many reasons as to why the Android has surged into first place in the last six months. First, unlike the BlackBerry or iPhone, the Android does not charge for its mobile operating system. What this means, is that many smaller cellular providers such as T-Mobile, BoostMobile and Alltel are able to have their own versions of the phone for free, as opposed to the millions of dollars it costs them to deliver BlackBerry and iPhone service. Not only does the Android's availability help it reach millions of more customers, but because Google (they created the Android) offers lucrative rebates, the phone can be close to free when if you sign up for a long term contract. Another major reason for Android's surge is simply the name behind the product, Google. In today's world, certain product names hold weight with consumers, and when people see the Google name, they know they will be getting a hi-tech and reliable device. Also, because nearly everyone in the world is familiar with the Google operating system, they are more inclined to buy a device that won't require much of a learning curve.

One of the most important reasons for the Android's recent takeoff is its unparalleled App. store. Something that many iPhone users have complained about is that there are far too many applications that provide the same service, and that many of the applications are not even useful. The Android, has taken strides to limit which applications make it to their market, by reviewing each of them to ensure uniqueness. Also, almost all Android applications are free, while nearly all of the 300,000 iPhone apps. go for a dollar a piece.

Citations: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/03/08/android.top.smartphones/index.html?iref=NS1

http://www.thebluntblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/google-android-htc-g1-vs-iphone-3g.jpeg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o85xQbPN1o