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7.09.2009

Smartphone Application Store Roundup (July 2009); iTunes Rules

by John Calian | Link to this article
Topics: | | | | | |

When Microsoft launches its mobile application store (date TBD), there will be six (6) application stores in production, representing the six (6) major mobile device operating systems: Apple OSX, Google Android, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Palm WebOS and Nokia Symbian. I have also included a store (website) run by Samsung. Just because.


Matrix of Application Stores, Mobile Operating Systems, Device OEMs, Billing mechanisms and US Wireless carriers:

*Announced and/or speculated relationship

The major similarities are that all the application stores cater to the individual operating systems and the devices that run them, the companies supporting the stores provide SDKs for the software developers, and the stores themselves are available on the handsets.

Of course, there are some major differences, and anyone following this industry knows that Apple is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Apple has over 25,000 applications available, Android Market claims 'in the thousands', and the rest? in the hundreds. It is clear that these other mobile application ecosystems needs to catch up in application volume, and they most likely will (especially phones running Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Mobile, since the install base is huge).

But, the one thing I point out is this: Apple has iTunes.

With the exception of Nokia, who does have a Windows only PC client to discover, download and manage applications, NONE of the other application stores are providing a PC/Mac client. This is a big disadvantage, as most consumers spend copious amounts of time using laptops and desktops, providing ample time to discover new and useful applications, and then immediately downloading (and PURCHASING) the applications right there and then.

There are companies such as Seattle's AppStoreHQ (www.appstorehq.com) that are attempting to make discovery easier for mobile applications, and gathering information on the apps is manageable, regardless of the device/OS ecosystem. The problem lies in the fact that AppStoreHQ can only provide discovery for all the Apps except for the iPhone Apps; only iPhone Apps has as method of purchasing online that is widely used. There is a strong disconnect between discovering a mobile application online and then proceeding to use the device for purchase. And of course, Apple has provided back-end software to ensure that your purchases on the device and on the desktop match up (you are not able to buy apps twice!).

Finally, to further illustrate why it has (and will maintain) the dominant position in the mobile application marketplace, iTunes already had a massive installed user base, so the transition to discovering and downloading apps for the iPhone was natural. No training needed. Now, go ahead and try to get a Blackberry app from the Blackberry App World. Let me know how it goes...

Note: I am going on a hunt to discover what percentage of apps are downloaded via iTunes versus on the iPhone itself. Drop me a line if you have info.


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2009 Mid Year Smartphone Assessment

by John Calian | Link to this article
Topics: |

The midway point of 2009 has come and gone, and its time for a bit of an assessment. At the beginning of the year, I (and many others) were saying 2009 was the year Google's Android would take off, Palm would release its savior and we all questioned who would remain relevant as Apple's market share grew (RIM, Nokia, Motorola?). Table after the fold shows which smartphone OEMs have devices at which US carriers.

Android has NOT taken off, though there are many handsets coming from various OEMs, including Motorola's attempt to save itself from obscurity. But, I still believe the best is yet to come, and 2009 still has six months left. The new HTC Android device looks like a winner (and reviewers are loving it).

Palm did release a kick ass phone and exceeded its expectations (150,000 sold in first week); though the hard part is that everyone is comparing it to the iPhone, which is not fair. Palm has simply proved that it can compete, and I do not believe we have started to see the results yet, and will not for many more months. It will take time to build out all the infrastructure needed to fully compete. The iPhone hit the scene and changed everything; the Pre hit the scene in the wake of the iPhone juggernaut, and everything pales in comparison. Note, the iPhone had one full year without the App Store...

Is Apple kicking ass? Yes, no questions asked.


Who is relevant: RIM has been kicking ass also, grabbing market share as its Bold and new Tour are making waves (positive ones); The Storm has had luke warm results, but shows that RIM is serious about touchscreens; Nokia still holds the lion's share of the marketplace, everywhere except in the US. Only AT&T is showcasing a Nokia smartphone, the E73; What has been one surprise is the LACK of news from the folks at Moto; an Android phone is supposed to be on the way, but very little is known as of today.

One last point here that is important: smartphones are quickly becoming handheld computes that make phone calls over wireless; netbooks are quickly becoming smartphones that run all types of operating systems (and wireless carriers are now selling, er giving away, netbooks). The point is that these devices are starting to bleed into each other, and we are all going to be holding small computers in our hands one day (if we don't already, and I'm sure most everyone reading this fits the bill).

All OEMs are getting in on the smartphone action: Dell, Garmin, Acer, Asus, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG, Huawei, and the list goes on.

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Handsets people are talking about:
Breakdown of which Smartphone OEMs have devices at the US Carriers



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7.08.2009

Palm Pre and Apple iPhone Sold by Same EU Telco

by John Calian | Link to this article
Topics: | |

News came online today the Palm Inc. is set to distribute it's new Pre smartphone exclusively via Telefónica SA, the EU wireless carrier that is the exclusive distributor of the Apple iPhone. (From PC World http://bit.ly/telefonica_palm_pre).

This is an interesting ploy by Palm, and begs the question of why would you line up your new iPhone-killer right next to the iPhone in Telefónica owned O2 shops in the UK? Its like lining up your new Porsche-killer right next to the Porsche Carrera GT2 in a showroom, expecting consumers who want a Porsche to buy yours.

My guess is that sales will drag in the EU for the Pre as consumers looking for an iPhone want an iPhone, not the next best thing. In the US, the Pre is sold exclusively by Sprint thru the end of 2009, at which time it is reported Verizon will be selling the Pre as well. This strategy at least presents smartphones in a segmented way. The other sane strategy would be to allow all carriers to sell a device... think RAZR.

Everyone views the Pre as the next best thing to the iPhone, and some hold out hope that the Pre will eventually go head to head with the Apple device. Palm needs to rev up its online marketplace for applications, the App Catalog, and needs to iron out some deficiencies such as battery life before it can really be seen as a true replacement of the iPhone.

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