Why iOS Adoption is so high vs Android is so low

Every year we get new operating system for both iOS (from Apple) and Android (from Google / Android) with some additional updates as sub-version to fix any issues. iOS 9 is due this falls, iOS 8 has already been adopted by iOS devices over 85% since it’s launch last year. Similarly Google had launched Android Lollipop last November and it’s adoption rate is still below 20%.

Globally Android system is used more than 80% but when it comes to being up to date iOS takes huge step forward. Let’s see advantages of having latest operating system on your mobile before going into why iOS is adopted so quickly and why Android takes years to be current on all devices.

• New Features: With every new version for iOS and Android, we get tons of new features to improve how we operate the smartphones and make the device smarter than before. Be it some new photo feature or speed of operation. When you don’t have latest version of OS then you are missing great deal of operational efficiency for your device
• Security features: cyber security is very important to all and OS providers make sure they are keeping up to date with latest security features to avoid any issues from potential invaders. To get those all up to date security features, you need latest mobile operating system
• Version optimization problem: For developers to develop new apps, they need to optimize to the particular operating system, to target majority of the devices they need to cover all major OS in use. If there are more version out there it gets more complicated and messy to optimize the app for UX.

So why iOS adoption is staggering over 85% and Android below 20%?

• End to end control: Apple has end to end control over the iOS devices – iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch versus Android being open system and used widely by almost all other mobile manufactures. Open system nature leaves Google with very less to none control over those devices
• Distribution system: With end to end control Apple push their latest OS on devices at once and have it on all devices. iOS devices remind the users to install the latest OS to keep up to date. Android has complicated process, once Google launches the latest Android OS it goes to manufactures, manufactures customize it as needed, test on multiple platforms and then it goes to carrier for their testing and adoptability. Whole process depends on individual phone manufacturer, carrier and at the end user to get latest Android OS. Google controls nexus series Android launch but that’s mere 2-3% of phones globally. In short, lengthy process takes more time and some cases ages to get latest Android system on all devices.
• Scale: iOS devices are limited compared to vast variety for Android devices. As stated earlier there are more than 80% android devices Worldwide compared to less than 20% iOS devices.

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App for Small business – Benefits

Average consumer are spending more time on the mobile than web, that means it’s time for businesses also to look beyond the just website. When we talk about moving from web to mobile, it’s just not replicating the website in the form of app. With App there are great features businesses have access compared to website. Here are some benefits.

Small Business – The young girl buys bread in shop

24 X 7 Consumer access to your App: As everyone carries their mobile with them, they have access to your app all the time. They can access your app anytime and would be able to request for service or book appointment at their convenience.

Push Notification: This is major. You would be able send customized notification to your customers for any offers, updates. For consumer they would know about the special events or offers and take advantage of it. It’s win-win for both.

User friendly: Now almost everyone is used to (or for that matter prefer) abstract, to the point information on small screen instead of long stories on website. Having interactive, simple, easy to access User interface is key and beneficial for app.

Special offers: With Push notification you would be able to send offers and also have them available on your app for certain time period as required.

Having fun: As your customers are able to interact directly with your business it’s good for everyone to build relationship and provide better service. You can have contest or polls through your app.

Basically having app for small business and taking advantages of its benefit adds value to your business from branding as well as revenue perspective.

Native Mobile Apps are preferred over Web version

People are spending more time on their phone than PC and there is practical reason behind it. Mobility and ease of use on the go. Smartphone sell has surpassed PC long back and usage also increased drastically in last couple of years.

Trend shows there is huge usage for games and social apps but as like web in early 2000’s apps are going towards the transformation and there would be increased usage in productivity, utilities apps in coming days.

Infographic source: http://www.go-globe.com/blog/mobile-apps-usage/