
So there! According to research firm Gfk, 84 percent of iPhone users plan on continuing with the platform while only 60 percent of Android users feel the same way about their own platform. Even more depressing news for RIM, only 48 percent of Blackberry users are loyal to that platform. These are some pretty drastic differences we’re seeing here.

Keep in mind, this is just extrapolated data. They only polled about 4,500 people from a pool of nine countries: the US, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Brazil, China, and Japan. Meanwhile, many, many millions of people use phones (both dumb and smart flavors). Statistics are a tough thing because they can so easily be exploited based on many factors including how the polling was done, how the data is analyzed, and how the conclusions are presented. Please, please take everything with a huge grain of salt.
For the sake of the argument, let’s just say that these numbers hold true. What do they really mean? Truth be told, I think it means what Apple has been saying all along: Controlling the whole user experience makes for a higher quality product and happier users. I’m sure Android will continue to sell well because there is a large number of people who don’t care about UX, and only shop based on price-spec comparisons. That’s just a section of the market Apple doesn’t care about though.
As the phone market continues to mature, I will be interested to see how user-happiness plays a role in repurchases. We’re still seeing an influx of first-time smartphone buyers jumping in these days. If someone buys an Android phone as their first phone, and they are part of the 40 percent, I wonder which phone they’ll go for next.
Source: Reuters


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If this is in the comments already, I missed it. I got tired of reading posts from trolls trolls and Apple fans who encourage them by responding with nerd rage. So forgive the repeat topic if that's what this is.
I wonder how many people in the "disloyal" Android section misunderstood the question and actually were referring to their handset maker. My first smart phone was a Motorola Cliq. I hated. Switched to my current LG Optimums and love it. And let's be honest, the average Android user isn't tech savy and doesn't really understand what they've bought. Likewise, I know very loyal iPhone users who have no idea what iOS is.
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LikeThe pie chart used fail to explain why the loyalty is different. It could be that iPhone is generally better than Android OR Android users are more objective when deciding on their next phone OR something else.
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LikeIts funny how they just let anyone post craps like this. If you look at last quarter, android have already more than double iphone in activations and sales. So how can one make such comment on brand loyalty? Let the numbers speak for itself when comes to sale and activations. One most notable statistic is that android continues to expand that lead, just as pc vs apple era. Please stay away from the "i" koolaid.
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LikeI'd argue the OS, since there's such a large variety of handsets.
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LikeHmmm, I'm one of those 18% who dared switch away from iProducts. Why, because I'm a left hander and the antenagate saga. Apple products, although quality (but still made in China regardless) are hugely overpriced for what you get. So kudos to all those loyal Apple fans prepared to pay whatever Apple decide to charge. Now what's that saying about a fool and his money.....?
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LikeThat some people prefer BMWs to Dodge Neons?
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LikeThat's right apple users are pets belonging to Apple inc :)
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LikeIt is in the TOS contract to be loyal if you are to be part of the cult of Crapple.
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LikeI love it the people who believe that brand loyalty is some kind of "cult." Like somehow Apple has such a brilliant marketing team that they can generate mind control.
The truth is somewhat less amazing. Apple has great brand loyalty for one reason, they understand usability and their target user base. And they develop hardware and software infrastructure that does things those folks will want.
Roland and like thinkers think Apple products are overpriced (sometimes) and he believes the Apple feature set is no better than a competitor.
But it's not really about feature set or price. I can get a Samsung tablet that looks almost exactly like the iPad and has most of the same hardware choices. But start playing with the tool and the user experience just seems wrong. Things load too slowly, the touch screen isn't quite responsive, the mail tool is laid out wrong etc.
It's like Samsung is a young guy who can imitate his father and put on the guy's clothes. But he doesn't have the life experience. Samsung just doesn't have the decades of experience with software and computer usability. And you don't learn it by shamelessly copying. You have to put yourself into your user's mindset.
Samsung and the others are real good at looking at a product and imitating it. But they just don't care about user experience. If they did, they WOULDN'T BE USING ANOTHER COMPANY'S OS, THEY'D HAVE THEIR OWN.
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LikeCustomer loyalty has everything to do with customer satisfaction. Sure, there's some hardcore Apple fans out there, and there's probably just as many hardcore Android fans out there, but the reality is that people remain loyal because they believe they're getting a better customer experience.
Out of curiosity, what kind of phone/table/computer do you have?
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LikeCurrently still rocking my Droid X running gingerbread, had to replace the battery after 2 years, but that was an 8 dollar, 1 minute fix. Unlike the un-easily-cheaply-replaceable battery in all Crapple stuff (planned that way to make you send it in, or what they really want you do do, replace it when it does die.) Screen is still bigger than anything crapple has even after 2 years. Think I will upgrade to a Google Nexus in the next few months....
My PC is a custom built Intel i970, 24GB mem, x2 - GTX 560 Video cards
running in SLI running Windows 7. Built the entire PC for under
$2000.00 and will blow the doors off any thing crapple has. Plus I can
play ANY game I want, not just the 10% of the hits that have been ported
to crapple. Can upgrade it when ever I wish, with whatever I wish, plus run Linux as well if
I want a Unix based OS.... No need however as Windows 7 is the shiznit.
My daughter had an Ipod touch 3rd gen (biggest POS I have ever seen) Was always locking up since the Christmas morning she got it, factory reset the thing more than a few times the first few months..... then stopped taking a charge after 4 month's. Sent it back under warranty, they refused to fix it as they stated it had water damage.... BS, never got wet, ever. Told her I would buy her a new one, just wanted the truth if it did get wet, she swore the thing NEVER got wet.... have since read that many people also have the phantom water damage that crapple refuses to do warranty repairs on. Evidently those moisture strips give false positives in high humidity climates.
Bought her a Zune HD to replace it, loves it..... never had a single problem with it in nealry 2 years. Got her a android tablet under the tree this year....
I'm glad if you sheep cult members like your over priced, locked, closed loop toys. I'll never own one again.
Crapple doesn't innovate, they litigate.
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LikeEver notice how the biggest "cult" whine-asses are Android users occupying Apple website's comment system? Yeah. Cult, indeed.
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Like"plays a roll"
plays a role
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Likewhoops. thanks.
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