Nathan Van Ness, Xerox Corporation
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job is keeping tabs on the trends that affect the market share of a given small-business product and/or technology. I always find it fascinating to witness the emergence of serious competitions between undisputed market leaders and growing threats. That’s especially true when a resulting market-share shift affects the perceptions of small-business owners shopping for productivity-enhancing technologies.
The Smartphone War: Android vs. iPhone
A recent Salon.com article discusses the impact of Google’s increasingly popular Android platform on Apple’s once-seemingly immovable position as the worldwide smartphone market’s leader. According to the article, in November 2012 the Samsung Galaxy S III, which runs on Jelly Bean, the latest Android operating system, surpassed Apple’s iPhone as the world’s top selling smartphone.
To me, the most interesting outcome of this nascent competition will prove to be the innovations that emerge from Apple and Google, two of Silicon Valley’s most deep-pocketed superpowers, as they continue their battle for market-share supremacy.
I recently bought the new Samsung Galaxy Note II, which also runs on Android’s Jelly Bean OS, and I absolutely love it. My primary reason for the upgrade was because my previous smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 710, ran on the Windows® Phone platform, which isn’t compatible with many of the apps I wanted to install, such as our very own Xerox PrintBack.
I’d love to hear your thoughts regarding the competition between Android and iPhone. Do you have a strong preference between the two, or are you a Windows Phone or Blackberry user? And, regardless of your preferred brand of technology, do you think a smartphone is a valuable small-business tool?
The i phone just makes sense. Smartphones are incredibly valuable in the business world. Absolutely essential
I am a long time I phone person, but recently purchased a Nexus 7 tablet. I really like the Android platform and am now leaning towards purchasing an Android phone. I think the big issue is whether people have significant iTunes catalogs of music and movies. If so, they will forever be committed to the i phone.
Uri and Zachary, thanks for your comments. I appreciate your input.
My Criteria:
Priority 1 : Security – susceptibility to virus exploits
Priority 2 : Ergonomics – keypad ease of use
Priority 3: Robustness and build quality
Priority 4 : MS integration apps
When an Android or Microsoft device scores higher than iOS on Priorities 1, 2 and 3, I’ll take a serious look.
Hands DOWN! iPhone. I had a Android and went to iPhone. I don’t know how I will ever like another operating system better. I am a Xerox employee with a BB work phone and I pray daily that we can go to iphones ASAP!!! I really don’t like the BB. Xerox is #1 in technology and it would really be great to hve the same technology for employees! 🙂