State of Mobile Part I: Android

Examining the surface of the mobile space, the untrained eye will declare Android's platform the clear winner that is poised to take over the entire market. In this post, I will seek to open your eyes to some of the realities that might question the huge monster that is Android's dominance on the mobile space.

First important point to note! No one but Samsung, has being doing exceptionally well at running Android. Samsung’s current Android market share now stands at 46% (and growing). That's almost half of every Android device sold. Samsung’s closest competitor- HTC has been experiencing a downward spiral spanning into months. 

Source:BGR

They are hoping that a strong lineup in 2013 will bring them back from dismal numbers quarter after quarter. We have to face the fact also that Samsung is currently spending more money on marketing than anyone in today's market. Nobody within the Android’s Eco-system can match Samsung's dollar at the present moment. All signs point to Samsung’s market upward growth. Why is this important? Read on.

Source: Imore

Second point of interest: Amazon. Amazon has shown the world how to beat Google at its own game with their broad Eco system being used as a leveraging tool. Amazon has found success by taking Android (a free OS) stripping it of all things Google and replacing them with Amazon services. "Billy Button works for nothing?"

Third point of interest: Tizen. What is Tizen you may ask, well it’s the product of a partnership between Samsung and Intel to bring a new OS which offers the same, open source standards, flexibility and power as Android.  Tizen has built in an Application Compatibility layer which makes Android app portability easy! A dangerous reality since Samsung  has announced they will be releasing Tizen powered phones in 2013!

Let’s bring it together! Samsung has been spending a crazy amount of money to create what Apple has been enjoying for years, Brand loyalty! (Very Important!) To check if it’s working, think about this for a second, how many of you reading this post can't wait to see what Samsung brings to the table with the Galaxy S4; I'm guessing a lot of us! An even further test will be how many of us actually own or would like to own a “Galaxy S3” or Note II? Adding more to the puzzle, Amazon is enjoying success stealing Google's hard labor, why shouldn't Samsung follow suit by stealing App developers for their own OS Tizen? They have the leverage of loyal followers which can be very enticing to developers! I'm sure the folks at Samsung will love to have complete control over Hardware and Software!

Is Android still that unbeatable beast in your mind or are there now cracks in your reality?

Look out for Part 2 where I take on Windows Phone!

-Maurice John