Verizon iPhone helps Apple outgrow Android in March ad impressions
The online presence of the iPhone grew 17 percent month over month in March, largely thanks to sales of the Verizon iPhone, according to new data from Millennial Media, the largest independent mobile advertising network.
The information was revealed on Thursday as part of the advertising network's monthly "Mobile Mix" report. Based on ad impressions on Millennial Media's network, the iPhone grew 17 percent month over month, and the iOS mobile operating system grew 11 percent.
Apple's strong performance in the mobile space was largely tied to the Verizon iPhone, which accounted for 8.2 percent of iPhone advertising impressions in the month of March.
The growth of the iPhone in March outpaced all devices running the Google Android mobile operating system on Millennial Media's network, though Android remains the largest platform. Apple's share of smartphone ad impressions went from 28 percent a month prior to 31 percent in March, while Android slipped from 51 percent to 48 percent.
Android's losses in March are a reversal from previous months, as Google's mobile operating system has continued to grow on Millennial's network. For example, just last August, Apple's iOS accounted for 48 percent of smartphones, while Android took just 26 percent.
In March, Apple remained the top manufacturer on Millennial's network when all devices, including tablets, were factored in, taking 32.08 percent. The iPhone, too, was the top smartphone, representing 19.42 percent of all devices.
And when breaking down application revenue by platform, Apple took a 47 percent share, despite having a smaller number of devices seen in Millennial's advertising network. Android, the largest platform, took a 36 percent share.
Connected devices like the iPad increased 21 percent month over month, and now make up 17 percent of the device impression share. Smartphones account for 64 percent of devices, while "feature phones" are 19 percent.
March also saw the launch of the iPad 2, and Millennial's network saw iPad impressions grow accordingly, 7 percent month over month.
Millennial Media became the largest independent advertising network after Google acquired AdMob, and Apple bought Quattro Wireless last year. Apple's acquisition of Quattro paved the way for the company to launch its own advertising network, iAds, in 2010.
The information was revealed on Thursday as part of the advertising network's monthly "Mobile Mix" report. Based on ad impressions on Millennial Media's network, the iPhone grew 17 percent month over month, and the iOS mobile operating system grew 11 percent.
Apple's strong performance in the mobile space was largely tied to the Verizon iPhone, which accounted for 8.2 percent of iPhone advertising impressions in the month of March.
The growth of the iPhone in March outpaced all devices running the Google Android mobile operating system on Millennial Media's network, though Android remains the largest platform. Apple's share of smartphone ad impressions went from 28 percent a month prior to 31 percent in March, while Android slipped from 51 percent to 48 percent.
Android's losses in March are a reversal from previous months, as Google's mobile operating system has continued to grow on Millennial's network. For example, just last August, Apple's iOS accounted for 48 percent of smartphones, while Android took just 26 percent.
In March, Apple remained the top manufacturer on Millennial's network when all devices, including tablets, were factored in, taking 32.08 percent. The iPhone, too, was the top smartphone, representing 19.42 percent of all devices.
And when breaking down application revenue by platform, Apple took a 47 percent share, despite having a smaller number of devices seen in Millennial's advertising network. Android, the largest platform, took a 36 percent share.
Connected devices like the iPad increased 21 percent month over month, and now make up 17 percent of the device impression share. Smartphones account for 64 percent of devices, while "feature phones" are 19 percent.
March also saw the launch of the iPad 2, and Millennial's network saw iPad impressions grow accordingly, 7 percent month over month.
Millennial Media became the largest independent advertising network after Google acquired AdMob, and Apple bought Quattro Wireless last year. Apple's acquisition of Quattro paved the way for the company to launch its own advertising network, iAds, in 2010.
Comments
It is not at all surprising that Android gets far more ad impressions: their app downloads are mostly free (hence, ad-supported) compared to Apple (many more are priced and hence, ad-free).
I guess you missed the second graph that was showing Revenue from Mobile applications. This is showing revenue from in-app ads, of which iOS has a higher cut then Android OS.
Sure, you might stick with paid applications. I do as well. But a vast majority of consumers prefer free content (no matter the OS). Even someone who buys 2-3 paid apps a month might still have well over a dozen free apps that they play.
At the same time, because a "new number" is added into the totality, the percentage of the significant players, especially at the very top are bound to decrease or deccelerate a bit.
The thing to watch is the trajectory of the rate of increase of the newcomer -- it must increase exponentially, not linearly -- during several periods of observations -- with respect to the top players and the average of the whole -- otherwise, the "newcomer" will never be able to or may take too long to catch up with the top players.
In this context, the 17% growth is a very tepid growth if the market leader is still able to grow at 11% during the same period.
In contrast, the Android phones in their totality exhibited such tremendous exponential growth (above 100% to almost 900% during several periods) since its introduction well over the more modest growth and subsequent decelerating growth of the iPhone during the same period.. Thus, it was easy to predict that in totality, in the US market, the collective Android phones would eclipse Apple. at the time. And, it finally did in 2010.
Of course, the dynamics is very fluid, as new devices and new technologies can be very disruptive. So, there is no assurance that the one at the top will always be at the top.
CGC