Ever since they hit the market, Android phones have been coming on strong to carve out their own niche in the always expanding mobile device technology industry. When cell phones first became popular, they were utilized as extensions of our home or office based land lines. Thanks to cells, we could make calls anywhere — provided there was a signal. Those first phones where the size of bricks. Today, that same technology is the size of a deck of cards with a lot more software packed into the phone. Now our mobile phones also have direct access to all that the Internet offers. It’s as if we are carrying around tiny computers in our hands.
The popular tracking firm Nielsen showed that last year Android phones captured an impressive 32% of the sales, squeezing BlackBerry and Apple in a struggle for second place. Aside from an intense marketing campaign, one of the reasons for Android’s apparent success is their embracing of open source software for their operating systems. By using these types of applications, Android is able to slip into already established customer bases and capture them by offering the same type of downloadable applications.
This is also allowing other phone manufacturers to get into the Android business. Tech companies like Samsung and HTC are making their own versions of Android phones by using the open source operating system. All of this means more choices for consumers. Each phone has it’s own dedicated fan base, but with the ability to carry your mobile phone number with you to your next phone, switching devices has never been easier.
By last count Blackberry was still in command of the user based market with 31% followed by Apple with 28% and Android holding on to 18%. But as with anything that has to do with technology, those numbers are destined to change.