Right now it seems every company wants to build an iPhone app. Yet given that 60,000 Android phones ship every day, one has to wonder how much longer Apple will have a lock on shiny object syndrome du jour (image by Andrew Mason).
That’s roughly 5.4 million a quarter, and the numbers continue accelerating to rivalingl iPhone shipments. Android shipments will only continue increasing as we see more devices hit the market. Further, globally carriers have now come to recognize Google Android’s presence as a tour de force.
Rather than open up it’s operating system, or allow manufacturers to license the Apple OS, or even releasing a new phone, Apple seems to be relying on reactive techniques. The word Android has been banned from applications being developed for the iTunes store.
Whether or not a mobile application fits into your strategy is one thing. A second evaluation critique for communicators now must include platform.
Unless Apple does something drastic quickly, it’s likely to find itself second in smartphone OS shipments by year end. That means Android applications will become the hot platform. Given the saturation of applications (more than 100,000) that are already in the Apple store, Android may be a quick way to generate mobile traction by being first. At least in the near term.
I was this close (picture fingers being held VERY close together) to buying an iPhone last week when a friend steered me in the direction of the Motorola Milestone, which had just launched in Canada. I’m so glad I bought that one instead.