Can Android keep up with the iPhone?
By Dave Jeyes
In the first few months after their release, the iPhone and Android G1 gained the same amount of market share of mobile browsing. Now the Android G1’s growth has started slipping from the iPhone’s pace in its sixth month, calling into question the long term viability of Android.
While mobile browsing share isn’t as important to handset makers as actually selling the phones, it’s a telling indicator of how usable a phone is. The iPhone and Android G1 are possibly the two most mobile Web-friendly phones created to date.
The iPhone revolutionized surfing on a mobile device when it launched back in June 2007. It was the first touch-friendly phone with a really powerful Web browser and a ton of screen real estate to play on.
Most other mobile browsers are light years behind the iPhone in terms of supporting JavaScript and for viewing sites intended for the desktop. Android stepped into the spotlight by offering a similarly powerful browser wrapped in the banner of open source.
Now that Android is starting to slip from the iPhone’s market share grabbing spree after its launch, analysts are starting to question whether it stacks up. Android started slipping from the iPhone’s pace in month six and isn’t likely to catch up in the near term as you can see in the figure below.
![clip_image002[7]](http://tech.blorge.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/clip-image0027.gif)
However it would be unwise to count Google out in any market or to underestimate the power of open source technology. The iPhone runs a proprietary operating system that will never grow outside of Apple’s own line of phones.
As a free and viable mobile operating system, Android is already starting to build a buzz among mobile handset makers. In fact, Google is expecting to see anywhere from 18-20 phones launch running Android in the second half of this year alone.
While Android is not the tremendous leap forward that the iPhone was upon its introduction, it has more potential uses and applications since it is completely open, without controls on applications and has the potential to be used on other devices such as netbooks.
Overall the future success of the Android operating system relies on consumers. If you were to buy a phone this year, which one would you get?
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June 2nd, 2009
It will be a better comparison after the next version is out. iPhone 2 basically just added features other phones had for years. How the hell do you release a device like that with no voice dialing as a standard feature?
The iPhone is a great device, but I prefer a physical keyboard, swappable battery and a MicroSD slot. I tried to wait until the next round of Android devices hit, but snagged an HTC Touch Pro as an interm move.
Still a great time to be a smart phone user.
June 3rd, 2009
Agreed in terms of keyboard and a full feature set. The rumor is that iPhone 3.0 may have basic voice recognition and a keyboard would make it really sweet.