Android This Week: Android Passes Palm; Backflip Crippled; Sense to Nexus One
Android adoption by consumers in the U.S. is growing at an astounding rate, according to numbers released this week by comScore. Not only did the Google platform’s market share surge 153 percent from October to January, but it surpassed that of Palm’s webOS for the first time ever. Equally impressive is how Android market share is now almost half that of longtime competitor Windows Mobile.
AT&T become the final major carrier in the U.S. to carry at least one Android phone with the launch of the Motorola Backflip, but early users of the device are reporting that it has been crippled compared to other Android phones. AT&T has removed Google search from the Backflip and replaced it with search from Yahoo, which is more than a little ironic considering Android is Google’s own platform. There are also a dozen special AT&T apps that perform many of the same functions as integrated Android apps, and these special apps are not removalble by the owner. Finally, AT&T has disabled the ability for Backflip owners to download apps from anywhere other than the Android Market.
Google promised the Nexus One would be going to the Verizon network this year, and this week, some eagle-eyed folks uncovered proof that it is indeed getting close to release. The Verizon information indicates the Nexus One will only be sold online, similar to the T-Mobile version of the phone. Most interestingly, the new Verizon information clearly indicates that its version of the phone will run the HTC Sense interface. Sense is considered a good addition to the Android interface, and the original Nexus One shipped without it.
Well, the numbers are missing a key factor. PALM has two platforms WebOS and the PALM OS. Comscore should give the split to really compare APPLES to APPLES comparison. PALM’s webos was released mid year. Though PALM stopped making Windows phones but there are boatload of Centros out there. Android regardless will gain. It will be interesting to see how long it will take to catch up with APPLE.
This GUY keeps making WORDS capitalized as if he had an AXE to GRIND with ANDROID because he likes PALM and APPLE more and is a CRANKY little FANBOY.
Cheer up, emo geek!
Android is really good – both in idea and execution.somehow I think media and blogs are not giving Android its due! Android is well on its way to become No.1 or No. 2 shortly. What’s coming in the way is Google’s lack of aggression in pushing Android -Google should push Android aggressively like Apple thinking that the company’s success solely depends on Android becoming the most important mobile platform in the world!