The Android vs iPhone wars are at an interesting point. Apple is making huge strides with its early-mover advantage while Android’s much-hyped but slow-burning start tests the nerves of developers and supporters.
Is this going to be Mac vs PC in reverse? Surely, much as we love the wonderful things Apple is doing, we don’t want to hand the prize over to one company again.
This battle is being fought on two fronts. One is the gadgets themselves. The other is the all-important marketplaces for applications and content that surround them. While we have our own fears about Google’s market power, at least the Android market is open and the Android platform is open source.
This article in TechCrunch from US Whitepages VP of Mobile Kevin Nakao looks at these emerging Android marketplaces and the opportunities around them and should help settle the nerves of early Android supporters.
Nakao admits their own Android app results are pretty mediocre when lined up against the iPhone — just 17% in fact. But he points to several good reasons why this will change, sooner rather than later. Among his points:
- Unlike the iPhone with its single Apple-owned store, the Android marketplace is open. There are more app sellers with more flexibility in what they can offer and how quickly they can get apps and content to the market. This will be good for innovation, says Nakao, and offer more purchase options for consumers.
- Google’s market strategy means Telcos will step up to the plate and offer integrated carrier billing to Android marketplaces. This has the potential to drive revenues strongly as consumers respond to “low friction” purchasing and subscription offers, one of things that Apple, of course, already offers.
Nakao makes several other useful points to support his case. While he uses US market examples, this is a trend that will play out very quickly around the world.