Apple released its very first iPhone back in 2007. It is well known that this was the smartphone that changed the whole game. Three years later, the winning tablet, the iPad, was unveiled before our eyes. It fair to say that Apple revolutionized the smartphone and indeed, the mobile industry. There are reports that Google had to redesign their Android prototype (which resembled a QWERTY blackberry) after they saw the first iPhone. Okay! but with all that, the question to ponder is this: will that reign last much longer?
Seven years after the first iPhone, Apple and Samsung are the major players in the smartphone industry. Over the years, they have sued each other in multiple law suits concerning patent infringement. It appears that instead of focusing on innovations, much of the focus was put into suits and countersuits to justify who invented this and who has to pay for that.
Despite all this, Google's Android has gone on to become a real threat to Apple's iOS. The former accounts for nearly 80% of global smartphone sales. Last year Apple came up with their so called budget iPhone, the iPhone 5C. Well, it's cheap when compared to the iPhone 5S or iPhone 5 but not cheap enough for emerging markets such as Africa, Asia or South America. In the Android world, competing budget droids with comparable specs to the iphone 5C are way cheaper. In Tanzania, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini costs $400US while the iPhone 5C costs $524US. The 5C is the only cheap Apple option while for Android, there are phones much cheaper than the S4 mini.
Some days ago, an article titled "Apple is falling behind in a smartphone game" was published on Mashable. It also contained some statistical data showing the shipment of smartphones. Apple shipped 153.4 million in 2013, up from 135.9 million in 2012. On the other side, Apple's biggest rival, Samsung, shipped 219 million and 313.9 million in 2012 and 2013 respectively, 43% growth while the growth of overall market comes at 38.4%. You can clearly see how Samsung is taking up the market, and that's because of Android I can tell!
If things continue this way, there might come a time when the Cupertino tech-giant would be phased-out of the smartphone business. As unlikely as it sounds, BlackBerry more or less met a similar fate. Apple prides itself on not making products for the junk market, it aims at consumers who are willing to pay premium prices. That may be well and good but the landscape is changing yet again. Budget phones of today are very capable devices with pocket-friendly prices. The best example being the Motorola Moto G. Even HTC has realised that there is a lot of potential in the budget end of the market. Hence the arrival of models like the Desire 300, 500, and so on.
But Google's Android isn't the only rival to Apple's iOS. Microsoft's Windows Phone is beginning to grab a noticeable portion of market share. Indeed, at the end of 2013, Windows Phones were more popular than iPhones in Latin America. We have seen the launch of the Sailfish powered Jolla Phone also gain some popularity in Europe. This shows how emerging platforms are making headway at levels of the market that Apple is somewhat dismissive of. The Cupertino giant should reconsider its rationale before it's too late.
Recently, Steve Wozniak has suggested that Apple should consider making Android phones. He seems to be pessimistic because he sees the future of Apple in a market that wakes up to new innovations and advances everyday. A lot of people want mobile devices that are capable and cheap. Apple's answer to this was the iPhone 5C. It's a half-hearted and almost aloof response. The 5C isn't cheap. To quote user TJDET in Issue 107 of Engadget's (now defunct) DISTRO magazine, "The cheap iPhone you have been looking for is on Craigslist… it’s been there for a while now.”
Seven years after the first iPhone, Apple and Samsung are the major players in the smartphone industry. Over the years, they have sued each other in multiple law suits concerning patent infringement. It appears that instead of focusing on innovations, much of the focus was put into suits and countersuits to justify who invented this and who has to pay for that.
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| iPhone 5C in variety of colors |
Despite all this, Google's Android has gone on to become a real threat to Apple's iOS. The former accounts for nearly 80% of global smartphone sales. Last year Apple came up with their so called budget iPhone, the iPhone 5C. Well, it's cheap when compared to the iPhone 5S or iPhone 5 but not cheap enough for emerging markets such as Africa, Asia or South America. In the Android world, competing budget droids with comparable specs to the iphone 5C are way cheaper. In Tanzania, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini costs $400US while the iPhone 5C costs $524US. The 5C is the only cheap Apple option while for Android, there are phones much cheaper than the S4 mini.
Some days ago, an article titled "Apple is falling behind in a smartphone game" was published on Mashable. It also contained some statistical data showing the shipment of smartphones. Apple shipped 153.4 million in 2013, up from 135.9 million in 2012. On the other side, Apple's biggest rival, Samsung, shipped 219 million and 313.9 million in 2012 and 2013 respectively, 43% growth while the growth of overall market comes at 38.4%. You can clearly see how Samsung is taking up the market, and that's because of Android I can tell!
If things continue this way, there might come a time when the Cupertino tech-giant would be phased-out of the smartphone business. As unlikely as it sounds, BlackBerry more or less met a similar fate. Apple prides itself on not making products for the junk market, it aims at consumers who are willing to pay premium prices. That may be well and good but the landscape is changing yet again. Budget phones of today are very capable devices with pocket-friendly prices. The best example being the Motorola Moto G. Even HTC has realised that there is a lot of potential in the budget end of the market. Hence the arrival of models like the Desire 300, 500, and so on.
But Google's Android isn't the only rival to Apple's iOS. Microsoft's Windows Phone is beginning to grab a noticeable portion of market share. Indeed, at the end of 2013, Windows Phones were more popular than iPhones in Latin America. We have seen the launch of the Sailfish powered Jolla Phone also gain some popularity in Europe. This shows how emerging platforms are making headway at levels of the market that Apple is somewhat dismissive of. The Cupertino giant should reconsider its rationale before it's too late.
Recently, Steve Wozniak has suggested that Apple should consider making Android phones. He seems to be pessimistic because he sees the future of Apple in a market that wakes up to new innovations and advances everyday. A lot of people want mobile devices that are capable and cheap. Apple's answer to this was the iPhone 5C. It's a half-hearted and almost aloof response. The 5C isn't cheap. To quote user TJDET in Issue 107 of Engadget's (now defunct) DISTRO magazine, "The cheap iPhone you have been looking for is on Craigslist… it’s been there for a while now.”
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