So, in fact, it is quite difficult to state what part of a smartphone is more important for a user ֠a hardware one or a soft filling. But it seems that Google has taken a wise decision and instead of trying to repeat the strategy Apple is applying ֠i.e. full assembling of a gadget, it has decided to produce just one part of it and excel at it.
If we analyze the market in general it will be clear that nowadays Google occupies one of the leading positions leaving behind Blackberry, webOS and Windows Mobile. Of course, partly all that is not because the Android platform is so good, but because the mentioned mobile operating systems suffered from a range of management errors of judgment.
For example, it took RIMӳ executives lots of time to launch a complete upgrade of the quite obsolete OS. Only releasing the renowned Blackberry Torch has the company managed to reach and combine all the functionalities which had already been typical of Android and Apple phones for quite a while.
What concerns webOS, quite a successful mobile platform has been strangled by some shortsighted marketing decisions taken by Palmӳ executives. No wonder, the OS can have another chance on a tablet produced by HP.
At the moment the Android market share is gradually rising, which is caused not only by quite a solid range of functionalities Froyo is suggesting. Quite similarly consumers are influenced by ranks of really great Android phones hitting the market, such as HTC Evo, Motorola Droid and many others. Itӳ a simple matter of great numbers. While Apple can deliver one phone once a year, there are about 5-8 Android phones coming which promise quite more freedom of choice to a consumer. Moreover, almost every carrier in the U.S. is now supporting multiple Android phones, which for Apple, stuck with AT&T is impossible.
Another factor solidifying the market position of the Android platform is a great level of loyalty among users. According to some research, only 1 out of 5 Android users will possible choose another smartphone platform when choosing his or her next phone. In comparison, for Blackberry these numbers are completely different: just 42 percent of its current users want another BlackBerry, others would like to shift either to iPhone (29%) or to some Android phone (21%).
The only thing the Android platform needs now is an elaborate scheme for those application developers which want to make money on apps, i.e. following Appleӳ pattern and creating a good monetization policy to interest third-party developers. In fact, the content is a driving momentum for smartphone users and neglect this aspect would be a serious error of judgment.