Android OS is currently winning the worldwide smartphone battle. Currently 64% of devices sold have the Android platform for Q1 of 2013. To get a comparison let’s compare Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS 6 to the Android Jelly Bean platform.
Apple iOS 6
Apple iOS 6 is a closed source code operating system available as a free wireless upgrade on your iPhone, iPad or iPod. Some of the 200 features include maps, Siri (voice automated assistance), Facebook, shared photo streams, FaceTime, phone, mail, safari and the accessibility option.
Android OS
Android 4.2 is an open source code operating system available on a multitude of smartphones and tablets from different manufacturers. Some of the features include using one tablet for multiple users and the ability to display your phone image on a larger screen. You can also beam photos and videos wireless with the Android Beam function. For photographers you can take pictures with the photo sphere camera and share on Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)+. A smart keyboard is included with gesture typing and many more Apps similar to Apple make this a versatile operating system.
As you can see both platforms have a lot in common. The pros for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the multitude of apps and products available. The pros for Android from Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is the affordable price point of their products and the open sourced OS.
Affordability
For consumers who dislike mobile phone contracts Google offers the Nexus 4 at the retail price of $309.00 for the 8GB version no contract. The Nexus 4 is relatively inexpensive compared to the Apple iPhone 5 that retails from $699.00 – $899.00 no contract. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) have great products with consumers being loyal to their favorite brand.
SAMSUNG ELECT LTD(F) (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) utilizes the Android platform in its mobile phones and tablets. Samsung accounts for 491.4 million smartphones sold worldwide from 2011 to Q2 2012. Nielson reports 54.9% of US mobile phone owners possess a smartphone. Smartphone ownership reached 45.3% in Canada at the end of 2011. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) the premier provider of telecommunication information Samsung dominates the Western European phone market with 41% of mobile phones shipped.
The Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android OS is extremely popular due to its Linux based operating system that is open sourced. Google is definitely going after Apple’s market share in the mobile market.
Apple Stats
This news is not to discount the popularity of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). The Cupertino, California company reported a net profit of $9.5 billion for Q2 that ended March 30, 2013. This year 37.4 million iPhones were sold for Q2 compared to 35.1 million last quarter in 2012. iPad sales were 19.5 million compared to 11.8 million in the same quarter.
I myself have been a Mac user for the last six years and will be replacing my MacBook to purchase the new MacBook Air with flash storage technology.
“Once you buy a Mac you never go back.”-Robert Palmer
New innovations and products presented by this company are eagerly anticipated by consumers who are not averse to standing in line overnight for new Apple products.
Iconic Tech Companies
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) are great companies worth owning. Strong revenue and profits for these companies have been consistent. The strength of Apple and Google is their focus on software not just hardware. If you have last year’s tech you can still benefit from the updated software OS versions that are sent out as free upgrades. Samsung, Apple and Google are three companies that recognize the future of computing is mobile technology with all the power of a desktop computer in your hand.
Robert Palmer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Google. Robert is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
The article Apple iOS vs. Google Android originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Robert Palmer.
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