Report: iPhone has "commanding lead" on Web
Here's some news that should brighten Steve Jobs' day.
The Web metrics firm Net Applications issued its first survey of the mobile search market overnight Sunday, and Apple's (AAPL) iPhone emerged with what the report describes as a "commanding lead." (link)
As Net Applications measures it — a big caveat (see below) – nearly 2/3 of Web searches conducted on a mobile device in the month of February were made from an iPhone.
The other contenders had only thin slices of the mobile Web search pie — although according to this analysis, Android and BlackBerry are rapidly gaining market share.
"This does not mean that iPhone web browsing is shrinking," the report notes, "because the overall market is growing rapidly." (link)
Google's (GOOG) Android is singled out for having grabbed more than 6% of mobile web browsing in less than five months. Others came in with comparable shares — Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Mobile had 6.91% and Nokia's (NOK) Symbian 6.15% – but they've been around much longer. The stongest contender among the also-rans with 9.1% was an OS you don't hear much about: Java ME, a subset of Sun Microsystems' (JAVA) Java platform popular among developers for creating games and other applications for cell phones.
Research in Motion's (RIMM) BlackBerry share in this survey is so small it is consigned to the catch-all "other" category.
How can this be, given that there are a lot more BlackBerrys out there than iPhones?
Part of the answer is that it's easier to surf the Web on an iPhone. But a more important reason emerges from Net Applications' description of how the survey was conducted:
"Our mobile share methodology measures share for browser capable mobile devices. This means the mobile device must be able to render HTML pages and javascript. Visits to WAP pages are not included." (link)
WAP (for Wireless Application Protocol) was the Web browsing standard for BlackBerries and other mobile phones – famously dismissed by Steve Jobs as the "baby Web" — until the iPhone came along and offered a Web browser with HTML and Javascript.
In other words, Net Applications is judging the race for mobile Web dominance using the rules set by the iPhone.
Net Applications’ monthly surveys have long been controversial. Although the firm has a fairly large data base — it samples browser data from more than 160 million monthly visits to websites operated by its clients — it describes the results as "market shares," a term usually reserved for share of market as measured by revenue or unit sales.
But Net Applications does provide a consistent methodology by which to gauge browser and operating system trends. (See Ars Technica's "Making sense of Mac market share figures," published just last week.)
Net Applications' mobile browser report is available here.
Preliminary results from the same survey show a small drop in Mac OS X's Internet share. But that's another story. See Apple's Net share slipped in February.
All mobile web devices were created equal. At some point in the future we will stop comparing our devices and realize that mass collaboration makes the Internet what it is.
oh well excuse you mister the iphones SO much better. You have your own oppinion so don't say anything that everyone should agree, my mommy got a blackberry for free and we cant afford no iphone so mister pleez! just cuz you think that don't mean the rest of this world does. uhuh amen. and no im not black or ghetto. i'm someone you don't need to know about who gets fiesty when you insult her right to think. yeah. go shoot your foot.
oh well excuse you mister the iphones SO much better. You have your own oppinion so don't say anything that everyone should agree, my mommy got a blackberry for free and we cant afford no iphone so mister pleez! just cuz you think that don't mean the rest of this world does. uhuh amen. and no im not black or ghetto. i'm someone you don't need to know about who gets fiesty when you insult her right to think. yeah. go shoot your foot.
This article may be a bit biased, but i have both a blackberry through work and an apple iphone of my own, and you blackberry lovers need to get over it there is no way the blackberry can compare to the capabilities of the iphone. not just ability but speed in processing, the blackberry just cant cut it.
This article may be a bit biased, but i have both a blackberry through work and an apple iphone of my own, and you blackberry lovers need to get over it there is no way the blackberry can compare to the capabilities of the iphone. not just ability but speed in processing, the blackberry just cant cut it.
WAP 2.0 is basically HTML web browsing like a PC in a phone. That has been been in mobile phones for many years before the iPhone was release. I know well since I have worked in the development of WAP Gateway systems for all those years..
WAP 2.0 is basically HTML web browsing like a PC in a phone. That has been been in mobile phones for many years before the iPhone was release. I know well since I have worked in the development of WAP Gateway systems for all those years..
WAP (for Wireless Application Protocol) was the Web browsing standard for BlackBerries and other mobile phones – famously dismissed by Steve Jobs as the “baby Web“ — until the iPhone came along and offered a Web browser with HTML and Javascript.
Not true at all. Windows Mobile devices had the capability for HTML and javascript since at least Windows Mobile 5 (ca. 2005-2006). This capability was available with multiple browsers (Pocket IE, Opera, NetFront).
Another problem with the survey methods is that many Windows Mobile users spoof their user agent string so that servers think they are desktop IE 6. This is because many webstes force mobile browsers to the WAP page (like cnn.com).
WAP (for Wireless Application Protocol) was the Web browsing standard for BlackBerries and other mobile phones – famously dismissed by Steve Jobs as the “baby Web“ — until the iPhone came along and offered a Web browser with HTML and Javascript.
Not true at all. Windows Mobile devices had the capability for HTML and javascript since at least Windows Mobile 5 (ca. 2005-2006). This capability was available with multiple browsers (Pocket IE, Opera, NetFront).
Another problem with the survey methods is that many Windows Mobile users spoof their user agent string so that servers think they are desktop IE 6. This is because many webstes force mobile browsers to the WAP page (like cnn.com).
It will be very interesting to see what these numbers look like one year from now. As of today, iPhone is clearly better than G1 and Storm, but it is the unforeseen new phones that may turn the market upside down.
It will be very interesting to see what these numbers look like one year from now. As of today, iPhone is clearly better than G1 and Storm, but it is the unforeseen new phones that may turn the market upside down.
The other contenders had only thin slices of the mobile Web search pie — although according to this analysis, Android and BlackBerry are rapidly gaining market share.
“This does not mean that iPhone web browsing is shrinking,” the report notes, “because the overall market is growing rapidly.”
How can you grow market share by only gaining more users? Market share is a percentage.
The other contenders had only thin slices of the mobile Web search pie — although according to this analysis, Android and BlackBerry are rapidly gaining market share.
“This does not mean that iPhone web browsing is shrinking,” the report notes, “because the overall market is growing rapidly.”
How can you grow market share by only gaining more users? Market share is a percentage.
PED, when you get a chance, ask the NetApps people what the difference is between Mobile Browser Market Share and Mobile Browsing by Platform Market Share? As you note, the iPhone's has 66.61% of the Mobile Browsing by Platform, and yet, Mobile Safari has 77.56%. What accounts for the difference?
ex ped: Good question. I'll see what I can find out.
PED, when you get a chance, ask the NetApps people what the difference is between Mobile Browser Market Share and Mobile Browsing by Platform Market Share? As you note, the iPhone's has 66.61% of the Mobile Browsing by Platform, and yet, Mobile Safari has 77.56%. What accounts for the difference?
ex ped: Good question. I'll see what I can find out.
In other words…only an idiot would read this article and suggest that I-Phone is dominating the web through the handheld market. If you don't include WAP you are obviously missing the majority of the handheld browsing. Who wrote this article….Steve Jobs?
In other words…only an idiot would read this article and suggest that I-Phone is dominating the web through the handheld market. If you don't include WAP you are obviously missing the majority of the handheld browsing. Who wrote this article….Steve Jobs?
RE: "In other words, Net Applications is judging the race for mobile Web dominance using the rules set by the iPhone."
=====================
Incorrect. You've got it exactly backwards!
Net Applications is judging the race for mobile Web dominance using rules set by approximately 250 million PCs in use around the world.
The WAP Web browsing standard was created BECAUSE mobile phones manufactured PRIOR to the Apple iPhone did not have the software nor hardware to properly display a true web page.
The Apple iPhone, in fact, brought mobile phones up to web standards as the web is in use on the typical personal computer.
RE: "In other words, Net Applications is judging the race for mobile Web dominance using the rules set by the iPhone."
=====================
Incorrect. You've got it exactly backwards!
Net Applications is judging the race for mobile Web dominance using rules set by approximately 250 million PCs in use around the world.
The WAP Web browsing standard was created BECAUSE mobile phones manufactured PRIOR to the Apple iPhone did not have the software nor hardware to properly display a true web page.
The Apple iPhone, in fact, brought mobile phones up to web standards as the web is in use on the typical personal computer.
In other news Blackberry has a commanding lead in actually getting work done.
Considering web browsing is one of the few things iPhone does well is this a surprise?
In other news Blackberry has a commanding lead in actually getting work done.
Considering web browsing is one of the few things iPhone does well is this a surprise?
i think most people would agree that HTML is the web. apple is not the only device that does this. and blackberry has several popular devices that can view HTML. it is the ease of use that sets the iphone apart. that should be pretty clear by now.
i think most people would agree that HTML is the web. apple is not the only device that does this. and blackberry has several popular devices that can view HTML. it is the ease of use that sets the iphone apart. that should be pretty clear by now.
You said "until the iPhone came along and offered a Web browser with HTML and Java.". It should read "HTML and Javascript"
Apple does not support java on the iPhone and, contrary to popular belief, Java and Javascript are not related in any way except by an unfortunate naming choice.
ex ped: Thanks for the clarification.
You said "until the iPhone came along and offered a Web browser with HTML and Java.". It should read "HTML and Javascript"
Apple does not support java on the iPhone and, contrary to popular belief, Java and Javascript are not related in any way except by an unfortunate naming choice.
ex ped: Thanks for the clarification.
On Net Application website the numbers are not those about Win Mobile 6.91%.
ex ped: Again, those numbers are as changeable as a baby's bottom today, with conflicting stats in the various charts. We'll update when they settle down.
On Net Application website the numbers are not those about Win Mobile 6.91%.
ex ped: Again, those numbers are as changeable as a baby's bottom today, with conflicting stats in the various charts. We'll update when they settle down.
All mobile web devices were created equal. At some point in the future we will stop comparing our devices and realize that mass collaboration makes the Internet what it is.