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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Power of Mobile

Mobile has already changed the way we interact, transact or more over live life in recent years. Already we are using many apps in day-to-day life to do interactions, banking transactions, communication, transportation and many more. This is still starting and witnessing upward trend. Few features which are making difference and continue to change the way we do things today.

1. Users Physical Location: This is something that provides the developer to know where exactly the user is at given point and customize the service accordingly. Be it getting Uber / Lyft cab where you are or when you are outside Starbucks getting an alert for app service. Apple’s iOS 9 provide exact service at that given place at given time. I listen to audio books on Audible while driving to office. When I’m inside car and even before I start, my iPhone automatically provide option on-screen to start the Audible app and it’s ready for my use with just one click. Similarly there are hundreds of services currently using location features. With Hurricane Erika approaching florida, Weather apps are sending alerts with exact required details. There would be hundreds of important apps which will be built around this feature
2. Push Notification: This gives tremendous powers to push important notifications to the users. It’s customizable to the extent of individual level. Say if this is used in marketing context, brands can send unique offers to each given user depending on that users details. Mostly this feature is used for important updates only as if there are unnecessary notifications, users usually turn the notifications off for given app. so there is caution tale attached for marketers. My Fitness app, Runkeeper send me push notification if I don’t run consecutively for 3 days. It’s personalized notification, just like a reminder, event-driven. Most of the apps use this features along with location feature as together it becomes deadly combo.
3. Automated, behind the curtain task: This is something like automating your life or removing boring or sometime important activities. Its like particular app or your mobile in-built feature itself perform something even without you opening the app or using mobile. For example, When you reach office, your mobile automatically sends the notification to your dear ones, or may be in emergency you are able to send details to predefined someone on click of button. It can be used for any other chores. IFTTT App does a lot of these activities with predefined conditions.

In overall with combination of multiple features mobile apps are solving day-to-day life problem and even helping to improve the lives.