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Seth Weintraub

Apple versus Google

With 27 apps per device, iPhone customers aren't likely to stray

21 comments

TAGS:apps, iPhone, loyalty
IT TOPICS:Macintosh & Apple, Mobile & Wireless, Personal Technology

Just like the purchased .AAC music libraries that kept traditional iPod owners from straying to other MP3 players, the iPhone's apps are likely to help Apple keep its touch device customers loyal to its products.

Apple announced the Billionth app downloaded this week and at the same time filed with the SEC that it had sold 37 million iPhones and iPod touches together. That means, on average, each device has around 27 downloaded apps. Some people haven't installed any, while others have maxxed out their iPhone with 144 applications (soon to be 172 with OS3). Most of us are closer to the 27 in the middle.

That is an average two screens of Facebook, Amazon, Skype, NYTimes, WSJ and Google Earth for every iPod touch and iPhone out there.

More importantly, there have been a lot of paid applications that won't go with users to the next smartphone platform. I say this as I contemplate moving to the Palm Pre or Android platforms next year (mostly just to escape AT&T, who charge way to much for substandard service). All of those paid applications and games won't be going with me if I leave. I guess I can keep them on my (what will be) old iPhone or get an iPod touch to keep these apps with me. But who wants to have two mobile devices?

When the ZuneHD comes out later this year, it won't likely woo many iPod touch owners who have a gaggle of games, utilities and other apps stuck on Apple's platform. Conversely, when Apple releases its new touch products later this year, current touch product owners will be able to take their apps with them.

It is similar to what a Windows user who is considering moving to the Mac platform is thinking. "I'll have to re-buy all of my applications". I don't think the average Windows user has installed 27 applications on their machine either. Up until this point, it has been a problem for Apple switchers, now this stickiness phenomenon will be an advantage for the company.

Me? As I said, I love my iPhone but I hate AT&T. It seems Apple is going to stay with the Death Star of Mobility for at least another year. What are the options for people like me?

When my plan expires in the coming months, I will either jailbreak my iPhone and go to Tmobile, who try harder but whose coverage/network isn't any better than AT&T, or drop my AT&T plan and get a Verizon/Sprint mobile hotspot and use a VoIP service for voice communications. I am leaning toward the latter, especially if Clear Wifi ever gets going on the East Coast.

This painful workaround illustrates how much I am stuck on the iPhone and its apps even though I detest the network that Apple has forced on me.

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What People Are Saying

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I can hardly imagine an

Submitted by iphonerulez on April 26, 2009 - 9:05 A.M.

I can hardly imagine an iPhone user just tossing away his/her iPhone loaded with apps and music just to get their hands on a Palm Pre or for that matter, any other handset. It's like loyal BlackBerry users that wouldn't give up their physical keyboards just to use an iPhone even if it might be better at doing other things. It good when a company can build up a base of loyal customers that will only leave if the products turn into crap. A missing feature or two shouldn't cause users to jump ship. With the Apple App Store in full swing it's going to be hard to pry iPhones out of people's hands who are just itching to download the next hot game for $5. Developers are just going to pour resources into developing games for the iPhone/iPod Touch platform. There is just so much money to be made for them if they hit the winning combination.
Apple's mobile platform is going to be hot, hot, hot. Not too much switching is going to happen with iPhone users.

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ATT coverage

Submitted by Anonymous on April 25, 2009 - 4:37 P.M.

I have to say that when I got my iPhone last August and switched to ATT I was very happy with the phone but not so happy with ATT.

On my 35 mile commute I could be fairly certain calls would drop in 4-5 places. 3G data would work in some places and edge in others. One side of my office building was edge the other 3G. For me, the phone only really worked on Edge. 3G was not a usable option.

However, since the beginning of this year I've seen a really big change. 3G is everywhere in my area. The dropped calls have greatly been reduced too. I only occasionally drop a 3G call now.

So I have to get ATT credit for trying in my area.

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Not a good measure

Submitted by jc on April 25, 2009 - 4:08 P.M.

I like my iPhone, and have about 30 apps installed on it. However its been about a month since I even opened one of them.

There hasn't been any killer app that has tied me to the platform. Just some games that provided passing amusement.

Mail, Safari, iPod is pretty much 100% of my iPhone usage. I would imagine the same is true for most people.

If a compelling alternative came out (one with an actual scroll wheel), I wouldn't hesitate to give it a try.

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Apple's marketing I guess

Submitted by epgomez on April 25, 2009 - 3:20 P.M.

Apple's marketing I guess are the best in the world. Even though iphone is not really that good, a lot of people are smitten by this good looking bad signaled crippled phone while the rest of the smartphones are already multi tasking with cool navigations, better browsers as compared to a lot of useless garbaged apps in the apple store.... and there are now billions of these downloaded. I guess the outside is what counts not the better functional quality inside for most americans.

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Why is the iphone not that

Submitted by happajay on April 25, 2009 - 11:39 P.M.

Why is the iphone not that good? Blackberry Storm is Junk...just ask anyone that has used one. All windows phones....junk! They are made by geeks for geeks with menus and crap organization. Though they list tons of features, none of them work well or easy at all. Current palm phones, outdated and junk. Android...pretty nice, but only sold 1 million phones so far. No user base, only people using them are techies, and multitasking kills the battery life. If you think the iphone has poor battery life, the G1 is crap especially if you multitask. So if you say all smart phones are better, which are you referring to. Is it the desk jocky business key with a tiny screen doing email and texting all day? 'Cause that is not the average Iphone user who wants a phone that is fun and easy. There are no more phones more intuitive and functional than the iphone. That is what makes it great. Brevity is the soul of genius!

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I have seen this comment

Submitted by cak on April 25, 2009 - 5:10 P.M.

I have seen this comment popup a lot now, there are a lot of people who just don't get the iPhone. They have clearly never used one, so they don't understand how much easier iPhone makes everything. To making calls, sending messages (and seeing the last few messages you have sent to the same person), to the best web browsing experience you get outside of a real computer. These same people are confused by digital watches, toaster (why not just heat the bread over an open fire), and fridges (just eat the food straight away).

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or maybe it's the Tech

Submitted by Longhorn on April 25, 2009 - 4:15 P.M.

You survey 100 iPhone users and I'd guarantee you about 70 of them have had favorable experience. 70% is incredibly high for consumer electronics. It may not have all the bells and whistles, but people still enjoy using it and that really eats you inside.

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