47% of US smartphones are Android, most aren't researched
updated 03:30 pm EST, Sat January 21, 2012
iGR shows most Andorid phones bought without study
A new study from iGR has suggested that Android might be dominant in the US but that many of those buying weren't making a conscious choice for the platform. About 47 percent of the smartphone base in the country reportedly was using Android, but only 45 percent of those were knowledgeable about Google's OS and chose it by name. Another 27 percent picked their phones based on Google's reputation.
Recently tracked buying rankings were borne out by individual brand picks. Most chose Samsung, with US-native Motorola second followed by HTC and LG. Chinese brands still new to the US, Huawei and ZTE, were near the bottom.
iPhone owners reportedly made up 24 percent of the US base.
iGR's data can't be fully corroborated; it's not clear whether this is total ownership or recent buyers. Counting recent owners would more likely skew towards Android after the platform at least temporarily took over. However, it supports notions that a large number of Android buyers are picking the platform based on in-store factors, such as price, staff recommendations, and the initial appearance, over knowledge and loyalty.
TAGS :
iPhone, industry, Google, htc, Android, LG, Motorola, Samsung, ZTE, mobile phones, Apple, Huawei
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2008
DON'T FORGET
Sometimes people GIVE phones as a gift too.
Other times it is "Anti-Apple," but a BIGGIE is:
Android is "perceived" as cheaper, even when it isn't.
I didn't see these three topics covered.