Android Users Apparently Not Using Their Handsets Often
Google literally pulled a rabbit out of the hat with their Android mobile operating system. Ever since the mobile OS got some traction and took off, it has only grown from strength to strength. Currently, Android is the most widely used mobile operating system around the world, and it has been in this top position for a while now. Android app training classes are also in demand owing to the huge requirement for Android apps.
However a closer look at some of the mobile usage statistics shows that Android users don’t use their handsets for the purposes they are designed for-in this case it’s wireless network access. Does this mean that Android buyers are just buying their phones for show, and not using its total features? Let’s take a closer look.
Biggest Competitor
There is no doubt about the fact that iOS is the closest and the biggest competitor of the Android operating system. If you look at the number of handsets, which use Android, and the number of handsets that use iOS, Android because of sheer numbers, dominates. According to the numbers collected by Gartner, Android phones made up 70% of the total smartphone market. Apple’s iOS phone occupies a measly 21% of the smartphone market now. However, the internet data trends paint a very different picture altogether.
Internet Usage Statistics
Net Applications, a web based company, tracked close to 40,000 websites in the month of March, 2013. The company logged a total of close to 160 million visits in the last month alone from mobile devices. This data showed that an excess of 61% of these 160 million visits were surprisingly, from iOS devices. Only 33% of the traffic was from Android devices. Comparing the number of Android devices that are actually in use today, this number is a very small amount of what is expected from Android users.
The company also managed to gather data for the Wi-Fi usage in flights. In these stats, iOS devices made up 84% of all the mobile devices, which connected to the flight’s Wi-Fi network. The number of Android users who connected to the flight’s Wi-Fi network was surprisingly very low.
A leading video streaming company, GoGo, logs a reportedly record figure of close to 200 million video users, who are unique. This company also reported that the number of Android users, who stream their video, is not even half of the number of iOS users, who use their video streaming site.
Reasons behind This Trend
If you are a budding Android developer, and are taking Android training classes to develop your Android app coding skills, do not be alarmed. This trend can be logically explained. Firstly, the majority of the iOS phone users fall in the category of 18-30 years. The users, who belong to this age group, literally run their lives using their phones. So, it is only natural that they form the majority of the total number of users who use in-flight Wi-Fi, or use their mobile device for accessing the internet.
Android Users Tend to Use Data Network
Another reason why iOS users access the Wi-Fi more is that, most Android users tend to use their data network compared to iOS users, who prefer to use the Wi-Fi network. In most of the underdeveloped countries, 3G has not yet taken off. So, one can forget the speeds of 4G LTE completely. This is the reason why Android users tend to have very small durations of internet usage. But, iOS users on the other hand, prefer lengthier internet usage sessions.
Google Can Rest Assured
Low internet usage numbers are no reason for Google and its associates who manufacture devices for Android phones to worry. The Android market is as dominant as ever and it will continue to be the most dominant mobile OS (operating system) in the market. Google can take a few steps to ensure that their mobile users stay logged on to the internet through data or Wi-Fi for a longer period of time. But there is nothing that can be done directly. As of now, Google is still the world leader in the mobile market.
Facebook Phone Becoming a Reality?
Mark Zuckerberg has time and again stressed that he doesn’t want to put his company into the hardware market. But, there have been some reports of Facebook announcing a new type of ‘Facebook Home’ that can run exclusively on HTC phones. We do not have any more details regarding this, but if Facebook does enter the mobile market, it will be interesting to see its strategy and approach.
If you are looking for IT training for Android make sure you check out Firebox IT Training! https://www.fireboxtraining.com/android
Please Share This Knowledge With Others!
George says
There is no doubt that Android programming is in demand, but what worries me is recent emergence of websites or apps that are WYSIWYG or push button / drag and drop interfaces which create mobile apps. So in essence, apps that create apps may be threatening the job market for mobile app developers. I wonder if this is a legitimate concern or just paranoia.
Judy says
I tell you what I would love to learn: how to develop Android game apps. If you examine what most people use their Android mobile phones for, if you just watch your frfiends (or join in with them), you will see that most persons play games. There is a huge demand for better, more elaborate and more fun games. If you have a knack for gaming, this is the business to get into.
Marie says
I am so out of date that I don’t even have a smart phone yet but I have been looking around for one and researching all the different types lately and I have to admit that a lot of my friends like the Android but the iphone is also very popular as well. This article has helped me possibly make up my mind as to which one I will go with, thank you.
Charles says
There is no more obvious sign of Android’s popularity than when Facebook unveiled its most ambitious attempt yet to enter mobile computing without a phone of its own, introducing a new app that replaces the home screen on some Android smartphones.
It’s called “Home,” the new software lets users comprehensively modify Android to prominently display their Facebook news feed and messages on the home screens of a wide range of devices – while hiding other apps. Chuck
Thomas says
I actually never heard of the Apple iOs phone – if that is what it is. I thought all they manufactured is the i-phone, but I suppose it should not surprise me, since Sony, for instance, manufactures several brands of electronics and Toyota makes several brands of automobiles. In any case, it is clear to me that this is good news for aspiring and existing Android developers.
Ken says
In a poll of over 320,000 smartphone and tablet users across six countries – many in the United States – research found Android handsets to be the champions of the major mobile markets. In the United States, four different Android handsets finished ahead of Apple’s iPhone 5.
Perhaps the lowered expectations of the less expensive handset gave it a boost by boasting surprisingly good results for owners.
Ken
Judith says
When the iPhone came out, it was the only smartphone anyone wanted, because there had never been anything like it. It was the first smartphone. Step forward a few years, and Apple is losing to Google at least in sheer numbers of phones being sold. What happened? People without money happened. The split between the ever-pricey, ever-coveted, newly chambered iPhone and everything else is glaring.
Ralph says
You have a great blog post here and I am shocked at how popular the Android is even after the Iphone came out. I am really liking the windows phone though and wonder on a scale between the three which one is the better phone and which one has the better review. Thank you for all the information that you have posted here I hope you will post again.
Theresa says
I have been looking into the smart phones because I feel I need to get one with my job. I love the ideas that Android has and it just so happens I can upgrade to one of these for free with my cell phone company so I guess that is what I am going to do after reading this post. This was very helpful, thanks.