BlackBerry web usage stats overtake iOS?

[DivideBYZero]

Yep. Amazing what a decent browser can do for your users:

Apple's iPhone and Google's Android might seem to have all the momentum these days, but RIM's BlackBerry OS is the surprise winner in StatCounter's latest U.S. mobile OS Internet usage numbers.
The BlackBerry OS grabbed a 34.4% share, overtaking Apple at 33% in November, according to the Web analytics company's research arm. Apple's share was nearly 52% a year ago.

Link:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/120110-blackberry-iphone-android-statcounter.html?hpg1=bn

 

[gsaldivar]

One might say that the limited availability of apps on BlackBerry OS requires more use of the browser than on iOS/Android...

It's rare when I actually have to launch the browser on my phone to get information these days.

 

[DivideBYZero]

One might say that the limited availability of apps on BlackBerry OS requires more use of the browser than on iOS/Android...

It's rare when I actually have to launch the browser on my phone to get information these days.

Is 10,000 limited? Or does the graph jump notably upon release of the Torch/OS6?

You're going to quote App store numbers @ ~300k as somehow being better and 'proving' that the BlackBerry platform is limited due to this evidence. I don't buy it.

 

[gsaldivar]

Is 10,000 limited? Or does the graph jump notably upon release of the Torch/OS6.

Relative to the leading app stores - yes 10,000 is limited. And no, I'm not making any qualitative judgment about the apps themselves, just pointing out the fact that 10,000 is a relatively small number today.

Obviously, apps mitigate having to resort to using a web browser to accomplish tasks. For example: online banking, social/blogs, site-specific content, etc. There are literally thousands of apps that meet all of those needs and more, without requiring the use of a mobile web browser.

And yes a OS6 jump is expected because the browser is vastly more usable than on previous versions of the BlackBerry OS. Therefore, people will use it more often.

 

[TheStu]

Is 10,000 limited? Or does the graph jump notably upon release of the Torch/OS6?

You're going to quote App store numbers @ ~300k as somehow being better and 'proving' that the BlackBerry platform is limited due to this evidence. I don't buy it.

I would say that the fact that iOS has 30x more apps than BB (I am using your numbers) is proof that is limited, by about 290,000 apps. And only that.

However, beyond that, inferences can be drawn that given the large gap between the numbers, that a user is more likely to find the app that they are looking for in the 300,000 than in the 10,000. A number that I saw on Asymco.com showed that iOS currently has roughly 45K games. So, if you were to eliminate those, then you are still looking at 250K vs 10K. Let us also say that there are 4 duplicates for every unique app out there (Unique App is called 'Unique App', duplicate called 'Unigue App') now we are talking 50K vs 10K. That reduces the advantage from 30:1 to 5:1.

Even with those concessions, can you admit that the app gap that iOS holds over BB is actually an important thing? And that there are more apps on iOS than on BB if we only reduce the number to unique, non-game apps? Can you also concede that these numbers do not include people using apps instead of the browser? And that given the number difference between the two, that a user is more likely to find an app to replace a website on iOS than on BB?

It is fantastic that BB is doing well in light of the overwhelming popularity of both iOS and Android. It is great that you enjoy your RIM devices, and it is important that people be reminded that this continues to be (and will be for many many moons) more than just a 2 horse race. However, you don't have to take umbrage with every person that comes along that doesn't share your opinions, and might just flat out disregard whatever you say in light of their own opinion.

And masking your opinions so they cannot be easily seen, doesn't help your case.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Why even bring up apps then if you agree with my point in the OP? Or did you just intend to derail this thread from the start?

 

[DivideBYZero]

I would say that the fact that iOS has 30x more apps than BB (I am using your numbers) is proof that is limited, by about 290,000 apps. And only that.

However, beyond that, inferences can be drawn that given the large gap between the numbers, that a user is more likely to find the app that they are looking for in the 300,000 than in the 10,000. A number that I saw on Asymco.com showed that iOS currently has roughly 45K games. So, if you were to eliminate those, then you are still looking at 250K vs 10K. Let us also say that there are 4 duplicates for every unique app out there (Unique App is called 'Unique App', duplicate called 'Unigue App') now we are talking 50K vs 10K. That reduces the advantage from 30:1 to 5:1.

Even with those concessions, can you admit that the app gap that iOS holds over BB is actually an important thing? And that there are more apps on iOS than on BB if we only reduce the number to unique, non-game apps? Can you also concede that these numbers do not include people using apps instead of the browser? And that given the number difference between the two, that a user is more likely to find an app to replace a website on iOS than on BB?

It is fantastic that BB is doing well in light of the overwhelming popularity of both iOS and Android. It is great that you enjoy your RIM devices, and it is important that people be reminded that this continues to be (and will be for many many moons) more than just a 2 horse race. However, you don't have to take umbrage with every person that comes along that doesn't share your opinions, and might just flat out disregard whatever you say in light of their own opinion.

And masking your opinions so they cannot be easily seen, doesn't help your case.

Unless you're jacking off to screen res or Android 2.3 your views are 'umbrage'? Post this off for an infraction from another mod.

Edit: It was unnecessary for you to derail this thread further into a discussion of Apps, but you still did it. /golf clap

Edited by Moderator PM
Post edited to remove excessive profanity. Profanity in the Anandtech tech forums are considered to be at the "basic cable" level - or late-night TV for those outside the US - and this post crossed that line.

 

[gsaldivar]

It is fantastic that BB is doing well in light of the overwhelming popularity of both iOS and Android.

Totally agree. It's good to see that RIM is pulling ahead with respect to providing their users more mobile content whether by browser or app.

DBZ: My intent isn't to "derail" your thread, but simply to offer a different perspective to the single sentence of analysis that you offered in your OP.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I checked and it appears I don't give a flap. /bows

 

[EightySix Four]

That's impressive but not too terribly surprising to me. A lot of the phones they recently upgraded to the new OS were big sellers and suddenly have a far superior browser than they did before, it's expected their use would go up.

I personally don't believe that blackberry is competitive in the mobile space right now compared to the other major OS's, but it's great they are providing their users with more features and options.

 

[DivideBYZero]

That's impressive but not too terribly surprising to me. A lot of the phones they recently upgraded to the new OS were big sellers and suddenly have a far superior browser than they did before, it's expected their use would go up.

I personally don't believe that blackberry is competitive in the mobile space right now compared to the other major OS's, but it's great they are providing their users with more features and options.

I agree. OS6 brought them up just about up to par, but other are excelling in areas that make headlines, even if in some areas they are seriously lacking.

 

[MrX8503]

Is 10,000 limited? Or does the graph jump notably upon release of the Torch/OS6?

You're going to quote App store numbers @ ~300k as somehow being better and 'proving' that the BlackBerry platform is limited due to this evidence. I don't buy it.

The 10k apps that BB does have may not be limited to the average BB user, but relative to the competition, it is limited.

It is limited by both the number of apps (300k Apple App Store) and the superior quality of iOS apps. If there is a good app out there I could probably find 10 of them in the Apple App Store and the worst of the 10 is better than that 1 good one.

Aside from the apps, I think its good news that BB is pulling in more mobile browsing. I think the Torch is what is giving them this push.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I don't agree with app superiority in all cases in favour of iOS, but there are certainly some cases, on both platforms, where this is true.

 

[MrX8503]

Well it would be impossible for iOS quality to be better in all cases, but I would say it is in most cases.

The iOS app counterpart has more features and looks better most of the time.

 

[Deeko]

Lets all take a deep breath here.....ok...

Anyway.

There is no denying the fact that iOS has more web-enabled apps than BBOS, and therefore, there are tasks done on iOS that are done in an app that a BB user needs the web to do.

That said - people will avoid using a bad browsing experience unless they absolutely can't. My N95 had a browser and Edge. However, it sucked for web browsing, so I just didn't browse on my phone. I waited until I had a computer. The fact that BBOS has these impressive web usage statistics shows that, especially with OS6, the browsing experience isn't as bad as the RIM doomsayers will have you believe, and that people actually use their Blackberry devices for more than just email and BBM.

 

[MrX8503]

Lets all take a deep breath here.....ok...

Anyway.

There is no denying the fact that iOS has more web-enabled apps than BBOS, and therefore, there are tasks done on iOS that are done in an app that a BB user needs the web to do.

That said - people will avoid using a bad browsing experience unless they absolutely can't. My N95 had a browser and Edge. However, it sucked for web browsing, so I just didn't browse on my phone. I waited until I had a computer. The fact that BBOS has these impressive web usage statistics shows that, especially with OS6, the browsing experience isn't as bad as the RIM doomsayers will have you believe, and that people actually use their Blackberry devices for more than just email and BBM.

I would say we are seeing an increase in web browsing because of the improved browser in BB OS6.

 

[TheStu]

I would say we are seeing an increase in web browsing because of the improved browser in BB OS6.

Apparently it isn't just a little better than the old, it is a whole lot better, which is good. If they are paying for a data plan anyway, then why shouldn't they have a good browser?

My point earlier about the apps was that I think that it is valid to say that the fact that I have an IMDB app, or a Wikipedia app, or whatever means that I am not using the browser for those tasks any longer. I would say that apps are germane to the conversation.

 

[Deeko]

Apparently it isn't just a little better than the old, it is a whole lot better, which is good. If they are paying for a data plan anyway, then why shouldn't they have a good browser?

My point earlier about the apps was that I think that it is valid to say that the fact that I have an IMDB app, or a Wikipedia app, or whatever means that I am not using the browser for those tasks any longer. I would say that apps are germane to the conversation.

I think if the carriers released overall data usage by platform, that would be a more telling comparison.

 

[TheStu]

I think if the carriers released overall data usage by platform, that would be a more telling comparison.

I agree. Though i can imagine that Android would be at the top, followed by iOS.

 

[MrX8503]

I think a smartphone data per user stat would be more accurate as it would cover everything.

I would normally say Android would probably be at the top, but with the release of the Netflix app on iOS, I'm not sure.

 

[Deeko]

Yea, Netflix is a data hog. At the same time though, certain Android phones have data-powered video chat, whereas iOS is wifi only.

 

[TheStu]

Yea, Netflix is a data hog. At the same time though, certain Android phones have data-powered video chat, whereas iOS is wifi only.

Well, as something that is on both, Pandora also uses a fair amount of data. No Pandora on WP7 yet though.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Data usage by platform would be skewed by the BlackBerry compression algorithms.

 

[TheStu]

Data usage by platform would be skewed by the BlackBerry compression algorithms.

I assume that there wouldn't be an easy way to predict the actual values of the data? And how pervasive is the compression? Is it only on the browser, or is it also on the apps?

 

[DivideBYZero]

I assume that there wouldn't be an easy way to predict the actual values of the data? And how pervasive is the compression? Is it only on the browser, or is it also on the apps?

It's on everything that passes on the BlackBerry infrastructure, BIS included. It's why carriers love BBs, you get 2 or 3 into the bandwidth of one competing product.