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Google is ever-so proud to announce that Android sales last quarter were more than those of Apple's iPhone. CEO Eric Schmidt 'let slip' that Android smartphone salesare now at 200,000/day. Wow! In IT Blogwatch, bloggers brace for fanboi flamewars.
Your humble blogwatcher selected these bloggy morsels for your enjoyment. Not to mention bizarre email...
(GOOG) (AAPL)
Ina Fried scribbled while Schmidt talked:
Google believes that some 200,000 new Android devices are being sold each day. ... Google CEO Eric Schmidt ... pointed to recent studies showing the growth of the mobile operating system outpacing even the popular iPhone.
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"The number was about 100,000 (a day) about two months ago. ... It looks like Android is ... incredibly phenomenal in its growth rate. ... It is improper to be skeptical of Android."
Tricia Duryee calls it "another significant Android milestone":
[It] follows recent analyst reports that estimate that the OS has outsold both Apples iPhone and RIMs BlackBerry in [the] U.S. for recent periods. ... it has yet to surpass the leader, Symbian ... [but] its clear it is getting close.
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If Google maintains [this growth] rate, within six months it will be shipping 460,000 devices a day to easily surpass Symbian. ... That cant be good news for Nokia.
But what about the phones, Seth Weintraub?
Schmidt attributed the recent surge to the Motorola Droid X. ... He also was excited about the Samsung Galaxy line which is being sold on all networks in the US and in over 100 countries, more than doubling Android's footprint. ... At the current rate, Google is selling 18 million Android devices a quarter. ... It is really incredible how fast the Android platform is growing. Remember, the first real Android phone to sell in big numbers ... debuted only eight months ago.
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Google makes exactly nothing on the sale of each Android phone ... [but he] said that they were making a significant profit on advertising against Android phones. He added that they also are making money advertising on the iPhone.
And Harry McCracken has independent data:
NPD, which covers the retail market, says that 33 percent of smartphones sold in the US in the second quarter ran [Android]. ... RIMs BlackBerries fell to second place, at 28 percent, and Apples iPhones had 22 percent of the market.
Todd Ogasawara notes that Motorola's branding folks should feel smug:
Despite all its success, most people can't identify with the Android OS. I always hear people refering to any Android OS based phone, such as the EVO, as a "Droid".
Meanwhile, John Brownlee apologizes for Apple's market share (or lack thereof):
Of course, making every smartphone an iPhone isnt Apples business strategy. ... A good operating system that can function on anything is going to outpace a great operating system that can only work on one device. Look at the history of Windows versus Mac OS.
But Mark Chubb preempts that:
Apple iPhone fans [would] probably tell you nothing can touch the iPhone as its the best smartphone available ... they wont have it that maybe another smartphone can take the iPhone crown, but then thats iPhone fanboys for you. ... Yes Apple has a huge fan base but theres a little smartphone operating system that is eating away at Apple dominance.
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Apple loyalists will say that Apple still dominate as the iPhone is just one smartphone whereas Android is many, but ... 200,000 devices per day soon adds up ... [and it] could overtake Apple. ... Watch out Apple as Android will soon be snapping at your heels.
Richi Jenningsis an independent analyst/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and security. A cross-functional IT geek since 1985, you can follow him as @richi on Twitter, pretend to be richij's friend on Facebook, or just use good old email: itbw@richij.com.
