I'd like to point out that the competition would have to offer a whole lot more than the current device people are using before they would consider a switch.
Isn't that why WinPhone has yet to actually gain any traction? The market of smartphones is pretty saturated. People by large who want to use smarthones compared to "dumbphones" most likely already use one.
Especially with Apple and them being first in the app store market, people who have been with them since the beginning have invested a lot on the eco system. And if you have bought so many apps and devices over the years, as time moves on, it would get more difficult to just up and leave for another eco system.
Which, incidentally is also why I think the design of the iPhone has not changed that much since the 4. I think starting form the first iPhone to the 4 they have really found a great design. And judging by the sales of the 4 and up, a lot of people feel the same. Personally, I don't want the next iPhone to feature a radically different design just for the sake of change. I saw what change for the sake of change gets us with Windows8.
If people want to switch phones on a whim just cause there is a "new sexy device" coming out, then Android has been their first choice for a long time now. Most iPhone users I know chose it because a) No tinkering needed, b) Always had a smooth Interface, c) A lot of apps available and d)A nice clean phone design.
I don't think Apple runs a risk just cause they don't suddenly convert their entire approach to mimick Android companies and releasing a plethora of different phone designs and specs. iPhone is iPhone and the variety we have now is sufficient. It would have to happen a lot before I would consider a switch of eco systems. But that would be more on the side of "what apple might do that I don't like" and not on the "what other android companies do that I might like". So, the "competition" increasing, to me, is only of interest for people who just now are in the market for their first smartphone. Or people who exclusively only get free apps. For those, the choice of eco system is entirely free to change on a whim. For me who has invested several hundred dollars in apps over the years? Not so much.
iPhone is iPhone and the variety we have now is sufficient.
I was with you up until this statement. As one of the millions who left the iPhone because I wanted a larger screen, I disagree. You are acting as though "bigger screen" isn't a big deal but it's clearly a big deal (as judged by the sales of the Samsung Galaxy S4, the HTC Ones, the Note, etc). I have nothing but anecdotal evidence but I'd assume a full 20-30% of the people buying bigger screen phones are leaving the iPhone to do so. That's a whole lot of market to just ignore.
Isn't that why WinPhone has yet to actually gain any traction? The market of smartphones is pretty saturated. People by large who want to use smarthones compared to "dumbphones" most likely already use one.
Especially with Apple and them being first in the app store market, people who have been with them since the beginning have invested a lot on the eco system. And if you have bought so many apps and devices over the years, as time moves on, it would get more difficult to just up and leave for another eco system.
Which, incidentally is also why I think the design of the iPhone has not changed that much since the 4. I think starting form the first iPhone to the 4 they have really found a great design. And judging by the sales of the 4 and up, a lot of people feel the same. Personally, I don't want the next iPhone to feature a radically different design just for the sake of change. I saw what change for the sake of change gets us with Windows8.
If people want to switch phones on a whim just cause there is a "new sexy device" coming out, then Android has been their first choice for a long time now. Most iPhone users I know chose it because a) No tinkering needed, b) Always had a smooth Interface, c) A lot of apps available and d)A nice clean phone design.
I don't think Apple runs a risk just cause they don't suddenly convert their entire approach to mimick Android companies and releasing a plethora of different phone designs and specs. iPhone is iPhone and the variety we have now is sufficient. It would have to happen a lot before I would consider a switch of eco systems. But that would be more on the side of "what apple might do that I don't like" and not on the "what other android companies do that I might like". So, the "competition" increasing, to me, is only of interest for people who just now are in the market for their first smartphone. Or people who exclusively only get free apps. For those, the choice of eco system is entirely free to change on a whim. For me who has invested several hundred dollars in apps over the years? Not so much.