Android spanks Apple iOS in sales as fanbois hold out for iPhone 5

[afv011]

Global sales of mobile phones fell year-on-year by 2.3 per cent to 419 million devices in the second quarter of 2012, according to numbers from Gartner today. Smartphones accounted for 36.7 per cent of all mobe sales, up 42.7 percent on the same three-month period last year.

On the operating system front, Google's Android extended its lead as the world's single most popular mobile phone platform, 64 per cent, while Apple's iOS - as found in the iPhone and iPad - is pretty much static at 18.8 per cent.

Source

[kennyc]

I saw this, but do you really think it's from people holding out? Or just the movement of the market...which is what I think.

[RainingLemur]

I think it's a little of both. But, we all know that once the next iPhone comes out, we're going to see more articles on the "massive surge" of iOS stuff being sold.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I saw this, but do you really think it's from people holding out? Or just the movement of the market...which is what I think.

It's a little of both or more accuratly you are both talking about different effects. Android continue to outgrow Apple because the smartphone market continues to grow and Android is picking up more first time users than Apple is.

Apple sales might be dropping because folks are buying Android* devices but I think it's more due to folks holding out for the iPhone 5. After all Apple did warn investors that sales will continue to decrease until they release the iPhone 5.

[*] Samsung and HTC have really stepped up the game and are selling lots of phones. I know HTC is suppose to be struggling but everywhere I look in my neck of the world I see folks sporting the HTC One X device.

[afv011]

I also agree it's a bit of both. On one side, some people are genuinely waiting for the next magic thing out of Cupertino, whereas others may see the appeal of having a larger screen now, or LTE, or a cheaper smartphone option, or a device they can tinker with, or any of the myriad of options available on Android.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by =X=

[*] Samsung and HTC have really stepped up the game and are selling lots of phones. I know HTC is suppose to be struggling but everywhere I look in my neck of the world I see folks sporting the HTC One X device.

I saw an article about the Taiwanese government considering stepping in and helping HTC out - apparently they represent a large percentage of the country's exports, and the drop in sales has been felt in the country. I hope this is a temporary dip, we need HTC to push Samsung forwards, and vice-versa.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by afv011

I saw an article about the Taiwanese government considering stepping in and helping HTC out - apparently they represent a large percentage of the country's exports, and the drop in sales has been felt in the country. I hope this is a temporary dip, we need HTC to push Samsung forwards, and vice-versa.

That helping hand is purely political. A relatively small company like HTC obviously represents but a tiny fraction of Taiwan's enormous exports. But the boss of HTC came out very strongly in favor of the government during the recent elections and the government wants to keep this industry alive. And all this help amounts to is officials making public statements urging people to buy HTC instead of Samsung. Of course, in a democracy that means that many people now definitely will NOT be buying HTC devices.

But I would like to mention that when I visited Taipei a few days ago, going by train and public transportation I saw a total of 5 iphones only! It was a sea of HTCs and Samsungs. This was a marked contrast to my experience about 1 year ago when it seemed as if everybody and his dog had an iphone.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by afv011

I saw an article about the Taiwanese government considering stepping in and helping HTC out - apparently they represent a large percentage of the country's exports, and the drop in sales has been felt in the country. I hope this is a temporary dip, we need HTC to push Samsung forwards, and vice-versa.

HTC has been very innovative.
One of my sons who is really into the greatest and newest swears by HTC. His biggest complaint is no one can receive his 3D photos.

(What can I say?)

[afv011]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

That helping hand is purely political. A relatively small company like HTC obviously represents but a tiny fraction of Taiwan's enormous exports. But the boss of HTC came out very strongly in favor of the government during the recent elections and the government wants to keep this industry alive. And all this help amounts to is officials making public statements urging people to buy HTC instead of Samsung. Of course, in a democracy that means that many people now definitely will NOT be buying HTC devices.

But I would like to mention that when I visited Taipei a few days ago, going by train and public transportation I saw a total of 5 iphones only! It was a sea of HTCs and Samsungs. This was a marked contrast to my experience about 1 year ago when it seemed as if everybody and his dog had an iphone.

Here's the info I read:

HTC is having a bit of a rough patch on the financial side, and Taiwan's Central Bank Governor Perng Fai-nan has asked the government to step in and offer an assist, saying the smartphone manufacturer's financial status is "of vital importance to the islands' gross domestic product" according to the Commercial Times.

Source

[HansTWN]

Well, afv011, that was a public statement issued by a politician --- you haven't learned not to place any trust in those? Formosa Plastics, Hon Hai Precision (the parent of Foxconn), TSMC, USMC, Asus, Chi Mei, Pou Chen, etc are all much bigger. To name just a few. Not to mention the thousands upon thousands small and medium sized machinery makers which are the backbone of the economy and put together account for a very big portion of the export value. You can easily look up the statistics, HTC produces but a fraction of a percent of Taiwan's exports. But HTC does have a special status as a company making consumer products with its own brand. However, if it was only about saving one of those, and not about politics, why aren't they talking up Acer?

Let me just say that HTC have really pissed off a lot of locals. To translate it into American politics, during the last election campaign early this year the boss of HTC said something like "don't vote for Obama, he is a dirty socialist and will destroy the economy".

[afv011]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Well, afv011, that was a public statement issued by a politician --- you haven't learned not to place any trust in those? Formosa Plastics, Hon Hai Precision (the parent of Foxconn), TSMC, USMC, Asus, Chi Mei, Pou Chen, etc are all much bigger. To name just a few. Not to mention the thousands upon thousands small and medium sized machinery makers which are the backbone of the economy and put together account for a very big portion of the export value. You can easily look up the statistics, HTC produces but a fraction of a percent of Taiwan's exports. But HTC does have a special status as a company making consumer products with its own brand. However, if it was only about saving one of those, and not about politics, why aren't they talking up Acer?

Let me just say that HTC have really pissed off a lot of locals. To translate it into American politics during the last election campaign early this year, the boss of HTC said something like "don't vote for Obama, he is a dirty socialist and will destroy the economy".

I read the info from a tech website (androidcentral), not a political website. I just quoted what was said in such website.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by afv011

I read the info from a tech website (androidcentral), not a political website. I just quoted what was said in such website.

Well, I understand (I also forgot to put the smiley behind my remark above). You had no way to judge the accuracy of that statement. In any case androidcentral was just quoting some politician. HTC is not looking very good at the moment, that much is definitely true.

[Dopedangel]

HTC is in a tough place because samsung manufactures its own devices. Is one of the biggest manufacturers of most of the components in a smartphone. So they bring out any and all the new tech to their main phones as soon as possible and make it very hard for others to compete as Samsung is 6 months ahead of the rest of the Android OEMs.
I think that's is one of the reasons even Google went with Samsung for its Nexus phones.
I don't think people have to worry about stagnation in Android even if Samsung is the only one left standing as Samsung is competing with Apple so is still going to push the limits where ever possible. Android main growth now will come from India, Indonesia, China, Brazil where I don't think apple will grow much more as its devices are simply put to expensive for most of the people. Android went from almost nothing to over 50% in china.
I live in Singapore where 90% of the people used to use Iphone so much so that under many contracts Telcos were giving it for free to get users. About a year ago In a group of 10 people 9 used to have a smartphone and 7 or 8 would be iphone. Now its 4 samsungs 4 Iphone 1 some other brand. Most of the people using samsungs have a GS3 or Note which is huge hit among the older generation.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

HTC is in a tough place because samsung manufactures its own devices. Is one of the biggest manufacturers of most of the components in a smartphone. So they bring out any and all the new tech to their main phones as soon as possible.

I'm not alone when I say the HTC one X is a better phone than the SG3. Many phone pundits say the HTC is a better device, it has a superior screen, design and usability. Why Samsung is killing HTC is because they have focus, great marketing, and karma.

Many folks might have forgotten the Carrier IQ incident but I don't think they have forgotten how they felt having HTC spy on them. I don't think they ever recovered after that incident.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by =X=

I'm not alone when I say the HTC one X is a better phone than the SG3. Many phone pundits say the HTC is a better device, it has a superior screen, design and usability. Why Samsung is killing HTC is because they have focus, great marketing, and karma.

Many folks might have forgotten the Carrier IQ incident but I don't think they have forgotten how they felt having HTC spy on them. I don't think they ever recovered after that incident.

HTC have done some great phones. Back in 2010, they were really the go-to manufacturer for Android phones. They did a great job with the Nexus 1 and the follow ups, but they sort of lost focus in 2011 and were swamped by Samsung. They've done a great job with the One series, but again, Samsung has come stronger and, though the X has some points over the S3, Samsung has done an incredible marketing job and has now a brand name that is helping them sell their offerings. I sincerely hope HTC can pull it together and come up with more compelling devices; there is already rumours of an upgraded X to be announced in the coming months, maybe that'll be the beginning of their comeback.