The New Face Of Asian M-Commerce: Android Sells Five Times As Many Phones In 2011 As In 2010
Written by Frank HayesMobile-commerce sites, take note: Android phones are now outselling all other smartphones in Asia. On October 20, ABI Research reported that in 2011, Android will represent 52 percent of smartphones sold in Asian markets, up from 16 percent last year. (Combined with the 56 percent increase in Asian smartphone sales that ABI reported, that means a stunning five times as many Asian Android phones sold in 2011 as in 2010.) ABI also reported on Monday (Oct. 24) that, worldwide, downloads of Android apps now outpace those for the iPhone by 44 to 31 percent, although Apple users still download twice as many apps per phone.
That doesn’t mean iPhone use has fallen off a cliff—many of those Androids are likely lower-priced phones that are being snapped up by customers who can’t afford Apple’s price tag. But it does mean large numbers of M-Commerce customers will be using Android phones. That could actually make life easier for M-Commerce developers: With the market mainly split between spendthrift iPhone customers and more numerous cheapskate Android users, developers can decide who they want to target and how to make their mobile sites work well with either group—or both.
4 Comments | Read The New Face Of Asian M-Commerce: Android Sells Five Times As Many Phones In 2011 As In 2010
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October 26th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Seriously? Many Android phones cost more than the iPhone so your cheapskate comment reaks of bitter hatred toward an opposing platform!
October 27th, 2011 at 4:07 am
There are Androids that cost more than iPhones. But I am willing to bet that he is referring to the vast sea of Android phones here in China that sell from $50-$150 usd. I guess you have never been to any of the electronics market in asia, only your local best buy.
October 27th, 2011 at 6:29 am
A duopoly like apple/android isnt a bad thing. customers have choice but not so much choice that no app provider can service all of them.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:47 am
There is more to this than mobile phones as Android is heavily used in cheap tablets over in Asia for m-commerce. Sharp Corporation just recently released an Android tablet that supports NFC in Japan a few weeks ago for example.