Google Nexus One vs iPhone sales? No contest

 

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By Hani Megerisi

Posted on 16 Mar 2010 at 16:57

Sales of Google's Nexus One phone in the US have paled in comparison to the iPhone.

After 74 days, the Nexus One has sold an estimated 135,000 units, according to mobile analytics firm Flurry. By that point in 2007, Apple announced it had sold a million iPhones.

Roughly 80% of apps downloaded by iPhone and Android devices are embedded with Flurry analytics software, the firm said, which allowed it to collate the sales figures.

“There’s a number of reasons for it,” Peter Farango, Flurry’s vice president of marketing, told PC Pro. “It’s only available online not in retailers. Also, T-Mobile [the sole operator for the Nexus One in the US] is a very small provider here.”

The main thing these guys need to fight for is third party developer support...If you have 10,000 apps it turns your phone into a swiss army knife of functionality and entertainment

Price is another factor, with an unlocked Nexus One costing $529 before any voice or data plans are added. “It’s expensive, you have to buy it sight unseen and it was released after the holiday season,” added Farango.

The fact that the Android-based Motorola Droid marginally outsold the iPhone over the same 74-day period proves that Google's OS isn't to blame for sluggish sales of the Nexus One. “There was no traditional marketing campaign in the US for it [the Nexus One], only online," said Farango. "Now, if you take the [Motorola] Droid, Verizon put a $100 million ad campaign behind it.”

Robot-like design

Huge marketing budgets aren't the only reason Google's been left trailing. “I think one thing people don’t give credit to Apple for is their idea of taking art, technology and user experience and melding it into one," said Farango. "It’s a work of art and has functionality and sex appeal. Whereas the Droid looks like a utilitarian robot.”

“Android is an OS, it’s not a phone. It relies on phone developers being able to make an awesome handset to challenge the iPhone”.

The iPhone's vast array of apps has also contributed hugely to its success, he claims. “The main thing these guys need to fight for is third-party developer support. Apple has shown people that this isn’t just a phone it’s a computer that happens to make calls. The biggest part of it is the applications.”

“If you have 10,000 apps it turns your phone into a swiss army knife of functionality and entertainment.”

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