Today is, it turns out, a very slow news day. It comes to something when you’re top headline story is about Google’s market share increasing, which isn’t the most exciting topic for a Friday, but it’s news, so hey. So, yes, it seems that Android’s market share in the USA has increased, according to comScore, shooting up 4.3 points. Which is, like, wow, man.
The big casualty, as a result of that, seems to be Microsoft, because Windows Mobile’s market share fell by 4 points.
Of course, Android fans will be quick to jump on this as being the sign of Microsoft’s imminent demise, but while that isn’t in the slightest bit true, it might well be the sign of Windows Mobile‘s imminent demise. Because, y’know, it’s being replaced by Windows Phone 7 Series, which is a completely different beastie altogether, as Microsoft themselves will be the first to tell you. What it definitely does mean, though, is that in America, Android usage is definitely on the rise.
And why might that be? Well, there’s probably lots of reasons, from its kind of, sort of, quasi-open source nature (open source except for the bits Google don’t want you to fiddle about with), through to the massive hype behind the Nexus One, right up to (possibly) Apple’s draconian (in some people’s views) control over the iPhone platform. However, I reckon there’s a different reason, in terms of actual phones, because sales of the Nexus One are, apparently, levelling out. So, what I reckon is a big factor in the rise of Android is the Droid, or as we know it over here, the Motorola Milestone.
But then, that should come as no surprise to everyone who remembers I said it was phone of the year, in 2009…
Y’see, over in America, the Droid seems to have really captured the public’s imagination, and while on paper the Nexus One is more powerful, that doesn’t necessarily make it better. And even if it did, that wouldn’t necessarily make it more popular. So, yes, I reckon (in America at least), the Droid/Milestone is very probably one of the big reasons why Android’s taken a load more market share.
You just watch Microsoft steal it back (and then some) with Windows Phone 7 Series…
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