It’s always interesting to discuss smartphone competitors.
Distimo, a European mobile app market analyst, has produced some excellent research, showing the state of play regarding app market dynamics.
Smartphone competitors: Android vs iPhone
What’s most interesting about the results is that, while we tend to hear a lot about Apple’s success in delivering apps to iPhone and iPad users, it’s actually Google’s Android that arguably offers users the best value for money, with 57% of apps being free, compared with an average of around 25% for rivals such as Palm, Blackberry, iPhone and Windows phones.
While this might not necessarily be the most exciting news for developers, it is certainly a key piece of info for consumers choosing their next smartphone, and indeed with the latest version of Android also being touted as an all-round hit, I’d say that despite the recent high-profile launch of the iPhone 4, Google also has a rather enviable position in the smartphone game.
However, it should also be noted that, when it comes to paid apps, Nokia and Palm lead the way in terms of the cheapest average prices, while Apple is way out in front with the most expensive. Of course, while none of this counts for much unless we consider the quality of the apps (loads of free rubbish is not going to get anyone excited), it does provide consumers with some very handy info when choosing which smartphone suits their needs best.
All in all, hats off to Distimo for filling in with a much-needed analytical role in the emerging app market, especially since most high-street retailers currently undersell smartphone app capabilities with inadequate info.
