3 ms·

Articles like this one exist precisely because the network of potential users is already well established. The G1/Android market may exist and might be quite go

by j2d2 17y ago

Articles like this one exist precisely because the network of potential users is already well established. The G1/Android market may exist and might be quite good, but I only know one person with one and know many with an iPhone. I find it hard to believe my experience is unique.

andyking 17y ago
That's at present. But while there'll only ever be one iPhone, probably stuck on one network, Android has the potential to be available on devices of all shapes, sizes and price points. And while at present, Android is exclusive to (the pretty poor in the UK) T-Mobile, any network can commission some Far East handset maker (HTC, Huawei etc) to make them an Android device. Potentially, we have the situation we've had in desktop computing for years; anyone can put together a PC and stick Windows or Linux on it, only Apple can make a Mac. It'll be interesting to see which strategy wins out in mobile. (I had a Symbian device for years. Never again. I'm waiting for Android-powered phones to become widespread then switching.)
- ubernostrum 17y ago
  Don't underestimate the (negative) impact hardware will have on the market for Android applications. This isn't like the desktop computing world, where even a low-end Dell box will run most software people care about; the low end for mobile devices consists of millions of ludicrously-underpowered handsets. Telcos love these because they're incredibly cheap (see: "sign up for a family plan and get five phones free!"). But from a developer's perspective, these devices are a terrible platform: even if you write an application that can run on a low-end handset, you probably can't turn a profit from it since the prospective customer is someone who, by definition, is willing to forego useful/interesting features to save a bit of cash. So any successful business around Android applications will probably have to target the higher end of the market. But that end of the market is: 1. At a price point -- in terms of handsets and voice/data plans -- where people start to think "if I'm already paying this much, why not just go ahead and get an iPhone?", and 2. So much smaller in terms of handset and carrier choice that the average person probably won't be swayed by arguments about handset and carrier choice. And that's without getting into the problem of writing applications which can run across even the limited spectrum of higher-end handsets: maybe you've got a touch screen and maybe you don't, maybe you've got on-board wifi and maybe you don't, etc.

by j2d2 17y ago

andyking 17y ago

That's at present. But while there'll only ever be one iPhone, probably stuck on one network, Android has the potential to be available on devices of all shapes, sizes and price points. And while at present, Android is exclusive to (the pretty poor in the UK) T-Mobile, any network can commission some Far East handset maker (HTC, Huawei etc) to make them an Android device. Potentially, we have the situation we've had in desktop computing for years; anyone can put together a PC and stick Windows or Linux on it, only Apple can make a Mac. It'll be interesting to see which strategy wins out in mobile. (I had a Symbian device for years. Never again. I'm waiting for Android-powered phones to become widespread then switching.)

ubernostrum 17y ago
Don't underestimate the (negative) impact hardware will have on the market for Android applications. This isn't like the desktop computing world, where even a low-end Dell box will run most software people care about; the low end for mobile devices consists of millions of ludicrously-underpowered handsets. Telcos love these because they're incredibly cheap (see: "sign up for a family plan and get five phones free!"). But from a developer's perspective, these devices are a terrible platform: even if you write an application that can run on a low-end handset, you probably can't turn a profit from it since the prospective customer is someone who, by definition, is willing to forego useful/interesting features to save a bit of cash. So any successful business around Android applications will probably have to target the higher end of the market. But that end of the market is: 1. At a price point -- in terms of handsets and voice/data plans -- where people start to think "if I'm already paying this much, why not just go ahead and get an iPhone?", and 2. So much smaller in terms of handset and carrier choice that the average person probably won't be swayed by arguments about handset and carrier choice. And that's without getting into the problem of writing applications which can run across even the limited spectrum of higher-end handsets: maybe you've got a touch screen and maybe you don't, maybe you've got on-board wifi and maybe you don't, etc.