by Kevin Coupe
PC Magazine published a study the other day suggesting that there are some demographic trends evident in who buys what smart phones.
According to the story, “31 percent of women wanted to buy an Apple iOS device next, followed by 22.8 percent interested in a Google Android device. Among men, 32.6 percent were interested in an Android purchase while 28.6 desired an iOS phone ... Apple iOS was the most desired choice in every age range apart from one: 35-54 years olds. In this age group, more people preferred upgrading to an Android phone (27.4 percent) than an iOS device (26.3 percent).”
(The iPhone and Android phones combine to dominate the market, preferred by 35 percent and 28 percent overall, leaving other competitors in the dust.)
The good news for the smart phone industry: “29.7 percent of U.S. mobile phone users own a smartphone now, the highest recorded figure to date.”
Speaking as a guy who (full disclosure) a) owns and loves his iPhone, and b) no longer is in that 35-54 demographic group (sigh!), I find this information interesting - especially the part saying that smart phones currently own almost a third of the US mobile phone market. What this says is the the application business is where the action is ... and that both retailers and manufacturers need to pay very close attention. Many applications are specifically designed to create transparency...and that affects how retailers and suppliers are perceived by consumers.
There will be some, of course, who will engage in “real men use Android phones” rhetoric ... but that misses the point. People use technology that works for them, and there increasingly will be new and user-friendly technology that oozes relevance, and creates greater competition in the marketplace, which in turn will prompt the development of yet newer and more relevant technology. That’s good for everybody, even at it creates new challenges for business.
PC Magazine published a study the other day suggesting that there are some demographic trends evident in who buys what smart phones.
According to the story, “31 percent of women wanted to buy an Apple iOS device next, followed by 22.8 percent interested in a Google Android device. Among men, 32.6 percent were interested in an Android purchase while 28.6 desired an iOS phone ... Apple iOS was the most desired choice in every age range apart from one: 35-54 years olds. In this age group, more people preferred upgrading to an Android phone (27.4 percent) than an iOS device (26.3 percent).”
(The iPhone and Android phones combine to dominate the market, preferred by 35 percent and 28 percent overall, leaving other competitors in the dust.)
The good news for the smart phone industry: “29.7 percent of U.S. mobile phone users own a smartphone now, the highest recorded figure to date.”
Speaking as a guy who (full disclosure) a) owns and loves his iPhone, and b) no longer is in that 35-54 demographic group (sigh!), I find this information interesting - especially the part saying that smart phones currently own almost a third of the US mobile phone market. What this says is the the application business is where the action is ... and that both retailers and manufacturers need to pay very close attention. Many applications are specifically designed to create transparency...and that affects how retailers and suppliers are perceived by consumers.
There will be some, of course, who will engage in “real men use Android phones” rhetoric ... but that misses the point. People use technology that works for them, and there increasingly will be new and user-friendly technology that oozes relevance, and creates greater competition in the marketplace, which in turn will prompt the development of yet newer and more relevant technology. That’s good for everybody, even at it creates new challenges for business.
- KC's View:
