Cell phones provide basic mobile functions such as making calls and sending text messages. Smart phones also provide the functions of a personal digital assistant, media player and camera. Android and iPhone are smart phone operating systems that have a large share of the mobile computing market.
Overview
The Android OS is made by Google, and the iPhone OS is made by Apple. These platforms have distinct differences in the types of people who use them and the applications they can run. AdMob is a mobile advertising company that conducted an opt-in survey of 963 smart phone users in February of 2011. This survey illustrates some of the differences between Android and iPhone.
Gender
Android users are more likely to be male than iPhone users. The AdMob survey showed that 73 percent of Android users are male and 27 percent are female. The iPhone users are 57 percent male and 43 percent female.
Age
iPhone users are almost twice as likely to be children as Android users. Users who are 17 years of age or younger comprise 13 percent of iPhone customers and 7 percent of Android customers. Users who are between 18 and 24 years of age comprise 12 percent of the customers for iPhone and 17 percent of the customers for Android. Users between 25 and 34 years of age comprise 21 percent of the customers for iPhone and 30 percent of the customers for Android.
Applications
Users of the iPhone are more likely to pay for applications than Android users. Fifty-one percent of iPhone users download at least one paid application per month compared to 21 percent for Android users. Users of iPhones average seven free applications per month and 1.8 paid applications per month. Android users average 7.6 applications per month and 1.1 paid applications per month.
Satisfaction
Smart phone users are generally willing to recommend their own brand, although iPhone users have somewhat more brand loyalty than Android users. The iPhone users willing to recommend their brand comprise 91 percent of all iPhone users. Android users willing to recommend their brand comprise 84 percent of all Android users.
Market
iPhone and Android users represent a potential market for other types of mobile devices. iPhone users are 6 percent likely to purchase an Amazon Kindle in the next six months and Android users are 5 percent likely to purchase an Amazon Kindle in the next six months. iPhone users are 16 percent likely to purchase an Apple iPad in the next six months and Android users are 6 percent likely to purchase an Apple iPad in the next six months.