For The First Time Ever, Android Is Beating iOS In Web Usage

Android as the operating platform would appear to be all over the place if reports are to be believed. The most recent report from a reputed data compilation agency has pegged the use of Android to be much higher than the iOS. That in many ways is a significant victory for this platform. Net Applications, the one which came out with a report diligently measures traffic on the web spread across more than 150 million monthly visits. It reported that more than 44.5% of web traffic came from Android devices as opposed to just 44.19% from iOS gadgets. This was for the month of July.   Android Mocking No Longer Valid The CEO of Apple may have to eat humble apple-pie. He had after all been mocking the emergence of Android tablets citing nobody uses them. He went on to suggest they could be languishing in the warehouse or buried deep in somebody’s drawer at the bottom. With web traffic now to the Android much higher than iOS for the very first time since these two operating systems began the race; the writing is on the wall. Android users are indeed seeking and enjoying better engagement with their gadgets.

So What Should Apple Do?

There is no reason for it to get worried as its iPhone sales are registering double digits year on year. However, it needs to look out for an exodus of developers who might prefer the android platform and that will definitely erode its consumer base. The iOS becoming a second preference platform is certainly something that the company would not like. There are already some signs about developers losing interest and Apple needs to act quickly to prevent this from becoming a major embarrassment. The data revealed above is indicative of the growing preference of users for Android. That is being reflected in the handset devices being launched by majors like Samsung and LG as well. They have been coming out with new launches in countries like India and China. Local players like Micromax in India and Xiaomi in China are busy introducing newer Android variants of handsets.

Apple Struggling With Upgrades

This proliferation of newer handsets and Android preference comes on the back of Apple struggling to implement some much needed hardware upgrades to gadgets like the iPad. That may be one of the reasons for its sales dropping. Android on the other hand has been coming out with upgrades on a more regular basis. Though all upgrades continue to present some niggling problem or the other, there is a strong perception among consumers that Android is more proactive and a consumer driven platform.

 Google Needs to Address Compatibility Issues

The only grouse of consumers against Android updates is the absence of compatibility of newly launched handsets with upgraded Android versions. Though Apple enjoys the edge with more than 90% of their gadgets running latest iOS 7 software, Google can turn the tables quickly if it can address compatibility issues. The much awaited Android L is expected to iron out these issues adequately.