I think I want an iPhone. Or do I? All the new touchscreen phones are confusing me. Still, since 2007 when Apple introduced its first iPhone, the sleek palm-sized computer that doubles as a cell phone has captured about 19 percent of the Smartphone market in the United States. While the iPhone has set many firsts in the cell phone market, it shares a common component with phones made by a competitor. The iPhone and Smartphones made by Korean electronics giant Samsung all run on the same Samsung-made processors (Crothers, 2009).
This common denominator has helped Samsung become a major player in the wireless market and set the stage for Samsung to launch an effort to follow in Apple’s footsteps. Samsung, one of the largest mobile phone providers in the United States, last month launched its own mobile applications store in Europe (http://www.samsungapps.com) with plans to expand to 30 countries through 2010. The apps are compatible with phones running the Symbian or Windows Mobile operating system (Kolakowski, 2009). Samsung opened its app store with about 300 applications and plans to expand to about 2,000 by the end of the year (Kolakowski). Samsung hopes its app store will help it capture a slice of the mobile-application pie that has been led mostly by Apple's App Store for iPhones and iPods.
Juniper Research estimates mobile application downloads will reach 20 billion annually by 2014 (Adhikari, 2009). Mobile data consumption continues to grow at a rapid pace, with data services now representing a quarter of total U.S. operator revenues, which topped $19.4 billion in the first half of 2009 (Ankeny, 2009). Wireless subscribers in the U.S., which now total 276.6 million, transmitted 740.3 billion text messages in the first half of 2009, about 4.5 billion messages per day (Ankey). With those kinds of numbers on the line, it’s no wonder Samsung and other mobile providers are doing what they can to increase their share of the ever-growing mobile pie. Now which one to buy???
References:
Adhikari, R. (2009, August 31). Samsung Leaps Into App Store Arena. E-Commerce Times. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/68002.html?wlc=1254969627.
Ankeny, J. (2009, October 7). U.S. mobile data revenues close to $20B the first half of this year . FierceWireless.com. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://www.fiercewireless.com/ctialive/story/u-s-mobile-data-revenues-close-20-billion-h1-2009/2009-10-07.
Averitt, M. (2009, October 7). Samsung Mobile Announces Comprehensive Commitment to Deliver Support, Innovation and Services to Enterprise Market. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Samsung-Mobile-Announces-bw-2158629657.html?x=0&.v=1.
Crothers, B., (2009, September 18). Samsung's 'Apple' Chip Rides iPhone Market Gains. Cnet.com. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10356877-64.html.
Jones, A. (2009, July 30). Samsung Launches Samsung Application Seller Site. IT Business Edge. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/community/news/mt/blog/samsung-launches-samsung-application-seller-site/?cs=34556.
Kolakowski, N. (2009, August 31). Samsung Application Store to Compete Against Windows Mobile, Apple App Store. Eweek.com. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Samsungs-New-App-Store-Looks-to-Compete-Against-Windows-Mobile-Apple-App-Store-782741.
I am an iPhone fan...but my husband, a Technology Coordinator, refuses to purchase one. He only uses the "phone" feature of the phone, so he doesn't want to pay for anything else.
ReplyDeleteHe does have a Samsung smart phone, but only uses the cell phone option...and rarely sends a text message.
I myself have a Samsung Touch Phone. I love my phone and use it as a computer, internet and phone. I keep track of my daily schedule and I would lost with out it. I think with it being the 21st century it is the only way to live. My husband however does not think this, he says I should not become so dependant upon my phone but of course I am the one who is on time and know where I'm suppose to be on a daily bases.
ReplyDeleteThe contract clock is ticking! Fourteen days and counting until I can joing the Apple Family. I currently have a Blackberry and while it has been good to me, I have been itching for an iPhone for months. Unfortunately, my contract will not be spent until November. So your question, which one to buy. If you are hip, cool, sassy and a technology trendsetter .... there is no question. iPhone. Just think of the applications at your fingertips. You can play a guitar, play ms. pacman, and, I am sure, end world hunger with this phone. Plus the new and improved version has a video camera.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to purchase my new phone. My contract on my regular phone expires in Feb. From my understanding AT& T are offering existing customers a nice rebate on the iPhone. So, count me in to one of the new age "techies"
ReplyDeleteYou definitely want an iPhone! I finally gave in and got one and I love it!!! It takes a little time to get use to it but is pretty user friendly! There are so many people with them that you can just ask a friend for help. Funny thing is that I would prefer a hard copy of the user manual rather than the online one(-: go figure... Sometimes it is just easier and faster to grab a book to get an answer or better yet more straight forward!
ReplyDelete