Apple Insider released a report citing recent research showing that while iOS 
devices make up 43 percent of the mobile device market they account for 71 percent of all mobile traffic. iOS has been gaining on Android at the expense of Research In Motion- Apple’s mobile device market share has inched upward, while Android has held relatively steady.
While the difference in online use is remarkable, I don’t find it to be all that surprising. Anecdotally I can attest to iPhone users simply doing more with their devicess; both professionally and casually. Whether it’s gaming (my workplace is in the throes of Draw Something) or work-related (more physicians are using an iPad to access patient charts instead of relying on cumbersome laptops or slow and inconveniently located hospital workstations) those that I see on a daily basis use their devices for a wide variety of tasks. I have yet to seen an Android tablet in a professional setting, and the Android handsets I see are typically used as phones or snapshot cameras, with few to no extra apps even installed.
The reasons behind the discrepancy in online presence are difficult to concretely define. I’d argue that Apple’s unified and curated app store is an advantage, even if it does screen out apps that users would like to have. Having the ability to quickly and easily offer updates and bug fixes is another competitive advantage. Ultimately, I think the primary reason is the focus Apple has placed from the first iPhone’s release on the user experience. Make a device focused laser-like on the customer’s experience and the customer will be more likely to use it. Android has been able to offer more cutting edge components (multi-core processors, LTE connectivity) but without a user-focused environment you’re left with a device that suits power users only.
What are your experiences or opinions? Share them with me in the comments section!
