Globally, 65% Of The World's Smartphones Use Android. iO/s 20%. Still Want To Do A Douche Bag iO/s Only App Launch?

source; e-consultancy

Look Apple fanboys, before any whine at me... Apple makes great hardware and they have a strong place in the tablet and smart phone market place. I want to see them continue to compete fairly and be in this space, as this keeps Google and others on their toes. Yes, my preference is Android but this post is not to bash Apple, as usual with me my goal has always been about having and giving customers a fair choice.

Giving choice always wins in the end. (What's App's $16bn is available on EVERY platform and then some). Walled gardens like iTunes have some places in this digital world, and for a time they will be successful. However, it's a prehistoric strategic path to me and clearly the majority of the world agrees with choice as one aspect of their purchasing of smartphones and tablets;

"Android use has climbed from 27% in 2012 to 65% in 2013. An even more impressive figure is the 270% increase in Android use since the end of 2011." 

Choosing to control anything entirely is a death knell today. Niche is here, and the fragmentation of everything began many years ago. Being brave and managing aspects of your product where you allow choices; export your data, customise your O/s, delete some apps you don't want, skin your phone, are all ways to offer choice. Walled gardens and being locked in to one platform, one browser, one design, one skin, apps you can't delete or proprietary phone chargers are going the way of the Dinosaur. Fast.

For many the iBlinkers are still on, particularly here in Australia, the US and Canada, but that is changing rapidly. The smartphone and tablet market are now all like it or lump it, Android dominant. That also means Google products; Search, Google+, YouTube are even more pertinent to your strategic success.

"Android also rules for tablet users, with 53% using Android tablets, compared to 40% using iOS."

Simple mobile app/mobile strategic principles;

1. Ensuring your sites pages and content work on all major devices, browsers and platforms
2. If making apps,always offer a choice of access on at least two app platforms
3. Launch apps at the same time wherever possible, don't lock out customers or keep them waiting
4. Stop being a desperate douche bag and launching i/Os only apps. Yes we get you lust over your iPhone, and that's wonderful, but it's about the customer, not you

Of course billions of dollars are at stake, and sadly the pride of some companies too. Increasingly as things heat up for what's left of mobile market share, the customer will be even more caught up in exclusive, device and platform only apps.

When it happens to you, make sure you make the right choice.