4 ms·

In my opinion, this will either slash the current price of Android phones or slow down Android growth considerably. I just can't help but to think, if I were a

by dpcan 16y ago

In my opinion, this will either slash the current price of Android phones or slow down Android growth considerably. I just can't help but to think, if I were a non-geek consumer, and it was the same price to walk out of the store with an iPhone over a Droid - I know I'd choose iPhone. Does the Droid have a silver-bullet marketing point that I'm missing, or is it all over for Android?

code_duck 16y ago
If people wanted an iPhone, they could have just gone to AT&T and bought an iPhone. While this will probably reduce sales of Android phones through Verizon, I certainly don't think it means it is 'all over'. I agree prices may drop on Android phones, and manufacturers may have to step up their game a bit more especially in terms of software. With Android phones you have a choice of prices, different hardware configurations including physical keyboards, easily replacable batteries, expandable memories (i.e. buy a 32GB card for $50 vs. paying Apple an extra $100) and not least, the freedom to run whatever software you choose. While some nice things like game emulators are available for Android, though, it's true that iOS has a wider range of software for now. Another issues is that many people are turned off by the Apple brand, for one reason or another. HTC, Samsung and Motorola have some impressive offerings of their own, hardware wise, and I'm sure they'll continue to sell plenty of phones.
- Anechoic 16y ago
  If people wanted an iPhone, they could have just gone to AT&T and bought an iPhone. My sister really wanted an iPhone but she absolutely did not want to switch from VZW (she travels a lot and voice calls are a priority), so she got a Droid. The Droid has been good enough, but she's been asking me about iPhone on Verizon ever since the rumors started; a couple of weeks ago when the rumors started to heat up, she told me she was going to switch. (the fact that her 13-month-old Droid is essentially considered "obsolete" in terms of being able to buy accessories locally helped her decision). I know anecdotes aren't data but I doubt she's unique in this regard.
  - code_duck 16y ago
    That's a good point, that people may be bound by contracts already, yet looking to buy a new phone. I'm sure I'll buy a new phone or two by the time my two year contract is up with Verizon in 2012. As a mobile developer, though, I was already going to buy an iPhone 5 and a Nexus.
  - Lewisham 16y ago
    I know anecdotes aren't data but I doubt she's unique in this regard. Yes, my experience is the same. Don't discount the power of free minutes for calling inside your network. If all your friends and family are on Verizon, not only do you worry about your phone bill going up, but the network effect of everyone else saying their bill will go up too is intense. I've been trying to change networks for years, but my wife has always successfully talked me out of it, not because of my contract (which would go down on T-Mobile) but because hers would go up so much it would be a net loss (she likes to talk to me, which I guess is a good thing :) )
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
enjo 16y ago
Android is perfectly capable of competing on it's own merits. The idea that the iPhone is the phone to end all phones is a very HN-centric idea. Android has been competing quite favorably with the iPhone in hundreds of other markets that lack carrier exclusivity. I think they'll be just fine. Don't forget that there are going to be LTE capable Android devices long before (apparently) we see an iPhone version.
- AlexMax 16y ago
  "Android has been competing quite favorably with the iPhone in hundreds of other markets that lack carrier exclusivity." I always thought that Android was a second-class citizen in places where the iPhone had been out for a while with no carrier exclusivity. Do you have data to the contrary?
- tdfx 16y ago
  Android is great. The branded, bloated crap that Verizon sells on their Android-based phones is awful. Apples to apples, the pure Android experience is very comparable to the iPhone. But comparing the products as they are delivered to consumers, the iPhone has a huge advantage in that Apple refused to let the carriers ruin the user experience.

by dpcan 16y ago

code_duck 16y ago

If people wanted an iPhone, they could have just gone to AT&T and bought an iPhone. While this will probably reduce sales of Android phones through Verizon, I certainly don't think it means it is 'all over'. I agree prices may drop on Android phones, and manufacturers may have to step up their game a bit more especially in terms of software. With Android phones you have a choice of prices, different hardware configurations including physical keyboards, easily replacable batteries, expandable memories (i.e. buy a 32GB card for $50 vs. paying Apple an extra $100) and not least, the freedom to run whatever software you choose. While some nice things like game emulators are available for Android, though, it's true that iOS has a wider range of software for now. Another issues is that many people are turned off by the Apple brand, for one reason or another. HTC, Samsung and Motorola have some impressive offerings of their own, hardware wise, and I'm sure they'll continue to sell plenty of phones.

Anechoic 16y ago
If people wanted an iPhone, they could have just gone to AT&T and bought an iPhone. My sister really wanted an iPhone but she absolutely did not want to switch from VZW (she travels a lot and voice calls are a priority), so she got a Droid. The Droid has been good enough, but she's been asking me about iPhone on Verizon ever since the rumors started; a couple of weeks ago when the rumors started to heat up, she told me she was going to switch. (the fact that her 13-month-old Droid is essentially considered "obsolete" in terms of being able to buy accessories locally helped her decision). I know anecdotes aren't data but I doubt she's unique in this regard.
- code_duck 16y ago
  That's a good point, that people may be bound by contracts already, yet looking to buy a new phone. I'm sure I'll buy a new phone or two by the time my two year contract is up with Verizon in 2012. As a mobile developer, though, I was already going to buy an iPhone 5 and a Nexus.
- Lewisham 16y ago
  I know anecdotes aren't data but I doubt she's unique in this regard. Yes, my experience is the same. Don't discount the power of free minutes for calling inside your network. If all your friends and family are on Verizon, not only do you worry about your phone bill going up, but the network effect of everyone else saying their bill will go up too is intense. I've been trying to change networks for years, but my wife has always successfully talked me out of it, not because of my contract (which would go down on T-Mobile) but because hers would go up so much it would be a net loss (she likes to talk to me, which I guess is a good thing :) )

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

enjo 16y ago

Android is perfectly capable of competing on it's own merits. The idea that the iPhone is the phone to end all phones is a very HN-centric idea. Android has been competing quite favorably with the iPhone in hundreds of other markets that lack carrier exclusivity. I think they'll be just fine. Don't forget that there are going to be LTE capable Android devices long before (apparently) we see an iPhone version.

AlexMax 16y ago
"Android has been competing quite favorably with the iPhone in hundreds of other markets that lack carrier exclusivity." I always thought that Android was a second-class citizen in places where the iPhone had been out for a while with no carrier exclusivity. Do you have data to the contrary?
tdfx 16y ago
Android is great. The branded, bloated crap that Verizon sells on their Android-based phones is awful. Apples to apples, the pure Android experience is very comparable to the iPhone. But comparing the products as they are delivered to consumers, the iPhone has a huge advantage in that Apple refused to let the carriers ruin the user experience.