The Mobile Application Rush: Is the iPhone Really Leading the Way?
Written by Eleanor Baird (contact - e-mail) -- November 20th, 2008 |
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The Apple iPhone’s Application Store is considered an innovative step forward in creating a true convergence device. Although mobile apps are not new, from the T-Mobile G1 to the Blackberry Bold, everyone is hopping on the bandwagon.
But are iPhone owners really interested in mobile applications any more than other Smartphone users, or is it just hype? To find out, I looked at some survey data from Compete’s new Smartphone Intelligence product.
Source: Smartphone Intelligence
- Smartphone owners are more likely to bypass applications altogether: 34% of Smartphone owners have not added an application to their phone, versus just 7% of iPhone users.
- iPhone users are more likely to have added a number of different applications to their device: 72% had more than five applications on their phones, compared to only 23% of other Smartphone owners.
So why are iPhone owners adding more applications? It may be partly who they are; the device attracts young, tech savvy consumers. But part of the application appeal may be how easy it is to find and add them to the iPhone. Google and Blackberry are now both trying to emulate Apple’s App Store success with their latest Smartphones by opening their operating systems up to developers and creating their own marketplaces.
But will non-iPhone users eventually embrace applications to the same degree? Quite possibly. As Smartphone customers replace their devices, they’ll be looking at a variety of new models featuring convenient applications marketplaces and a diverse collection of content from many developers. Bigger screens and wi-fi connectivity, which make both entertainment and information-related applications richer, will likely become standard in high-end phones.
The evolution of the mobile phone into something more than just a communications device will reach a whole new level. But for now, the iPhone is leading the applications rush.
To learn more about Smartphone Intelligence, join us for a free webinar this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. EST. To register, click here.
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November 20th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Just read in the LA Times that Disney is going to offer a mobile application in partnership with Verizon which will help visitors to their parks find attractions and wait times in lines at the rides. Article also says that the app raises some questions about privacy issues. Wonder if someone has done a survey of all these apps to see how many could possibly infringe on users’ privacy.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
Ease of install is one reason, another is simply that the quality of the best iPhone applications is significantly better than anything available on other platforms - although the app store has it’s share of fillers. At their best - with games titles like Super Monkey Ball - they are comparable with handheld games console games costing 3 times the price.
Now people outside the software development industry tend to see all development platforms as roughly the same, probably because the dominance of Windows makes the computing world appear flat, but phone platforms vary enormously. Apple and Microsoft have the advantage in this respect in having a lot of experience in producing tools for software developers - and the key thing people are realising is the strength of the iPhone and similar are that they are software devices that can be improved after manufacturing.
The longer term question is what happens after the gold rush - looking at the average application price and sales, the current market looks unsustainable (at least for commercial, rather than hobbyist developers). In some ways it’s similar to the early days of home computer software in the early 80s (many producers, few hits).
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December 6th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I do think iPhones are a great way to run your apps. The google phone is the next big thing
December 6th, 2008 at 7:08 am
December 6th, 2008 at 7:09 am
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December 24th, 2008 at 8:37 am
You are right John. I also think that iPhones are a great way to run application.
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:41 am
Nokia has made the cut with their fabulous Ovi store and so far as applications are concerned they are not far behind what with their Calling All Innovator contests throwing up some real gem of applications to be used on Nokia phones. These sure are exciting times for mobile developers
April 8th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
hi, thanks
April 13th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
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