South African users can expect to see an Android-based G1 phone sometime in 2009 but by then the iPhone will have been around for a good six months or more. The Android phone will have a number of hurdles to overcome if it is to stake its claim against the iPhone. Among the reasons the iPhone might well dominate are: <\/p>\n
Fan base<\/strong><\/p>\n As with most things Apple, the quality, functionality and price is just part of the appeal. Equally important is the "fashion" appeal of Apple’s products. Apple produces products that are good looking, the kind of devices that can win street-cred for users. And as far as appeal goes the iPhone is without doubt at the top of the heap. Overcoming this is going to be a long hard battle for the Android G1 which doesn’t have the "must have" appeal of the iPhone. Apple already has these in place. The Android app store is still in its infancy. What that means is that users will get more options with the iPhone and developers will stand to make more money from developing for the iPhone. Which leaves the G1 out in the wilderness hoping to grab a little market share. <\/p>\n Built to purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n A significant part of the success of Apple’s products is the fact that Apple makes both the hardware and the software. And with the iPhone the operating system is custom built for the iPhone. Unlike Android which is likely to be ported to as many smartphones as possible. And the danger in that is that Android developers spend huge amounts of time developing drivers for different platforms. And while they do that Apple continue to extend the iPhone platform.<\/p>\n Whether the Android G1 can compete successfully against the iPhone only time will tell but if Google and HTC can harness the potential of an open source software platform there is a lot to look forward to. <\/p>\n
App store and iTunes<\/strong><\/p>\n