As an Android phone user, I'm thrilled to see the rapid adoption of open source platform smartphones in the marketplace. It seems like every week there's a new report that Android is overtaking Apple's iPhone as the phone of choice for today's consumer. It wasn't that long ago, however, that the iPhone was said to be cornering the smartphone market. So, what's behind
the change?
Strength in numbers - One possibility is that the FOSS community finally has a smartphone they can stand behind, since the iPhone doesn't prove to be very popular with those who don't want to support Apple products or philosophy. The sheer number of people in the open source community who pounced on a phone with the a platform that's near and dear to their hearts may be enough to drive sales numbers through the roof.
New is fun - It's no secret that geeks love to try new things. Tweakable open source phones are a new phenomenon in the marketplace and anyone who loves to tinker with software would be naturally drawn to a smartphone designed to indulge their whims. Sure, iPhones can be jail-broken, and many people go that route, but Android phones let users get under the hood and change things up without the messiness of voided warranties and painful bricking. Android phones let hobbyist hackers alter their phones without all the fuss.
Choices, choices - Another reason for the success of Android phones is simply that there are just so many to choose from. In the U.S., only AT&T is contracted to sell iPhones while virtually all cell phone carriers sell at least one Android smartphone. Simple math dictates that the volume of different Android-based mobile devices means more of them will find their way into the hands of consumers.
People love free - There are a metric ton of apps for the iPhone, but the majority of the good ones cost money. Ninety-nine cents here or there isn't a big deal, but dozens of paid apps add up over time. The Android Market has a huge array of free apps that are really useful and that no doubt appeals to consumers when deciding which type of smartphone to choose.
It's tempting to view the popularity of Androids phone as an indication that they are inherently better than the iPhone. In the end, it boils down to what a consumer wants their smartphone to do and how much of a hands-on approach they want to have in order to make the device do their bidding. It's great to see an open source-based mobile device have its day in the sun, but it's important to cast a critical eye on why that might be the case. That way, the FOSS community can effectively support Android and other open source mobile platforms like MeeGo and Symbian as they come to market.
Android... The power of open source
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