News - Google Android Activations reach 900,000 a day

[HEXUS]

Andy Rubin denies rumours that he may be leaving the firm, quotes 900,000 as the reason.

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[Brewster0101]

Wonder what Apples figures are for monthly activations. :-P

[saltyzip]

This is indeed a triumph of opensource, long may it continue.

[crossy]

Google Android Activations reach over 900,000 a day

Hmm, that's the rough equivalent of the entire official population of London every nine days - which seems like a heck of a lot, if true. Or, to use a local (to me at least) that's the population of the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow buying Android phones every day.

The reason I'm casting doubts is because, if this is true, then how come that other surveys seem to suggest that Apple's market share is still increasing? Or are these new Android owners coming from other platforms, like Symbian and WP7?

Think I might count for two of those activations since I've still got my old Sony phone alongside my shiny new Samsung one.

[Infinite]

I think that figure is exaggerated, I believe an activation counts as a clean phone turning on for the first time. Which means that every time a person wipes their phone e.g. after they have loaded a new ROM, it will count as an activation. That means my old HTC HD2 must have done at least 50 "activations."

[crossy]

I think that figure is exaggerated, I believe an activation counts as a clean phone turning on for the first time. Which means that every time a person wipes their phone e.g. after they have loaded a new ROM, it will count as an activation. That means my old HTC HD2 must have done at least 50 "activations."

Sorry to disappoint you - but Andy Rubin's been quoted (last time I remember was in All About Android podcast) saying that new ROM's do not count as a "new phone". What AR has said is that they're counting individual handsets (via IMEI numbers?), so unless you've got some weird way of reprogramming those with your HD2, then you'll only count as 1 activation not 50. It's also been widely claimed that this is underestimating Android's coverage, since WiFi-only kit (PMP and tablets) aren't counted and the swathe of non-Google-Play-equipped kit also isn't counted. Although there's also been some talk that the "official" WiFi-only kit is counted. I'm confused.

EDIT: there's a discussion of this at http://www.androidguys.com/2011/06/2...vations-break/ where, interestingly enough, the number of activations is given as "over 500,000" - good growth for just under a year.

And 50 ROM's on an HD2 - you are a real experimenter! (or very bored).

[saltyzip]

The Chinese market is gobbling up Android, no doubt India is doing the same.

The Apple figures which are mostly touted are from three specific carriers who happen to be the only carries that sell the iPhone in the USA. So just because their figures are increasing it means didly squat and who is going to believe they are telling the truth anyway as it is in their interest to sell iPhones. They were screwed by Apple because they have to pay huge subsidies to Apple on each sale, meaning carries like Sprint won't make a bean on selling iPhones until 2015, that's assuming Apple stays popular amongst women, gays and non technophiles.

These carriers always sell more iPhones than Android as that is the only place you can buy them.

I saw a nice girl the other day with a Samsung Galaxy Note and I thought she was sub zero cool, way to go!

[crossy]

The Chinese market is gobbling up Android, no doubt India is doing the same.

Judging by the comments on the Sony and Samsung support forums, you're right on the money with India - Thailand, Singapore and the Gulf States also seem to be very eager to buy the new 'droid gear. Some of the Chinese stuff will also be "unofficial" (e.g. no Google Play) so those don't count towards the activation figures.

The Apple figures which are mostly touted are from three specific carriers who happen to be the only carries that sell the iPhone in the USA. [snipped] These carriers always sell more iPhones than Android as that is the only place you can buy them.

I did kind of wonder why the iPhone is pushed so hard in the US - just assumed that it was "home advantage" - the "Proudly Designed in the USA" effect.

I saw a nice girl the other day with a Samsung Galaxy Note and I thought she was sub zero cool, way to go!

Galaxy Note - nice - considered one myself, and (unlike the SIII that I eventually bought) it had a "good" advert - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei847kEKGW0. I just wished that Samsung UK was allowed to run these kind of adverts, rather than the wishy-washy touchy-feely crap that we get. With that GN advert I particularly like the bit right at the end, (but then again I'm easily amused).