Google iPhone usage shocks search giant

[AppleInsider]

Google on Wednesday said it has seen 50 times more search requests coming from Apple iPhones than any other mobile handset -- a revelation so astonishing that the company originally suspected it had made an error culling its own data.

"We thought it was a mistake and made our engineers check the logs again," Vic Gundotra, head of Google’s mobile operations told the Financial Times during this week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Should other companies follow in Apple's footsteps by making web access commonplace on their mobile handsets, Gundotra believes the number of mobile searches could outpace fixed internet search "within the next several years."

That of course means big increases in incremental advertising revenues for the Mountain View, Calif.-based search giant. Though Google's primary revenue driver remains online advertising, the company has never separated out its mobile revenues from those of traditional computer-based browsers.

Gundotra, however, told the Times that the mobile segment was growing “above expectations”, both in terms of usage and revenues.

"The world is changing. Users want an internet without fences. They know how to type in Google.com if they want to get to it," he said. "Two years ago the operators were still playing the role of gate*keepers but that is no longer the role for them."

The mobile boss also reiterated a long-running company position on the mobile handset market, which is that Google is unlikely to build its own mobile hardware despite widespread speculation to the contrary.

"We want every phone to be a Google phone," he said. "We are ultimately talking about thousands of devices. The best way to do this would be*to get Google’s mobile operating system, Android, deployed on as many types of handsets as possible."

Google has the first Android-based mobile handsets from third-party manufacturers would begin shipping during the second half of 2008.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[silver99]

The world is going mobile - FAST!!! It's good to see Apple pioneering in this area where others have tried and failed.

[mpspence]

I just had an argument with some cavemen last night (that's what i call non iphoners since they're living in the stone age. They said, why would i ever care to have the internet on my phone, I said you do have the internet on your phone you just don't know how to use it cause it's so damn confusing, i never had a need for the internet on my phone either until i realized how easy and fun it is to use on the iphone, now i couldn't live without it, it's the genious of apple. but overall, haha 50 times as much search on google for iphones than for any other phone, 50 times for a company that has only 25% of the smartphone market, WOW

[BjK]

Originally Posted by mpspence

I just had an argument with some cavemen last night (that's what i call non iphoners since they're living in the stone age.)

That's funny, I say the same thing!
I really like to make fun of the blackberry's trackwheel/ball.

Does that make me an apple elitist?

[aaarrrgggh]

The interesting thing as a google shareholder is that they actually stand to make money off the iPhone searches where they don't on a blackberry (as well as many other phones with smaller screens). The real-estate problems of "normal" display make it a nuisance like banner ads when viewing on a small/fixed scale display.

Websites properly tailored to mobile devices really need to be careful of putting in too many display ads. I have given up on AI for browsing from the iPhone, along with a few other of my "regular" sites.

[mdotdubz]

GREAT SUCCESS!!!

[Booga]

I wonder if they differentiate between the iPod Touch and the iPhone. Probably not. I don't think Android is going to have nearly the effect they think it will for that reason. Having an iPod Touch in your pocket is like having the tiniest, lightest laptop you can imagine with you all the time. I have one of the cheaper phones my service provider threw in almost free in my other pocket.

[dhandler]

I wondered the same thing about differentiating between the iPhone and iPod Touch - if they don't I would think the Touch would boost numbers considerably. And if they do differentiate then the numbers should be higher.

Until the Touch came on the seen I had no thought to surf using an iPod. Recently while waiting for a flight out of Quito, Ecuador I used my Touch and Quito's FREE WI-WI (thank you Quito - wake up US airports!) to Google weather at Chicago O'Hare. A terrific feature and I didn't need any cumbersome laptop.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by aaarrrgggh

Websites properly tailored to mobile devices really need to be careful of putting in too many display ads. I have given up on AI for browsing from the iPhone, along with a few other of my "regular" sites.

It's ironic that the iPhone's ease of use, use of WebKit and large display allowed it view webpages on a phone without being altered, yet the popularity and convenience of using it has made many a site create special iPhone web portals—and now add WebClip icons—to their site for even easier use.

Say what you will about Apple decision about carrier lock in, the OS and UI are unparalleled and revolutionary. Even Android is using Mobile OS X as a template for it's design decisions.

PS: AI needs to get on the ball with an "optimized for iPhone" portal for the articles and forums, as well as a WebClip icon.

[nagromme]

I'll admit to researching Android very little beyond the first few days. But Android seems to be less a "complete mobile platform" like mobile OS X is, then a platform to speed the creation OF complete mobile platforms, tailored to whatever different hardware people may come up with. Phone and OS makers can flesh it out however they wish and have the basis for a quality result (or not, depending on their choices and on the hardware). That's cool and I'm glad Android is out there. I hope it goes places and fosters innovation and competition in both software and hardware. And it uses WebKit (a.k.a.) Safari for its browser engine, which is a good trend for mobile OS X users.

But it sounds like when companies create versions of Android on different hardware devices, with different screen sizes, processing power, storage, and especially means of interaction, the result will be that Android is NOT one single platform for software. Software written for one company's big touchscreen Android OS will not run on another company's compact joystick Android OS, etc.--or if software is made to run on multiple flavors, usability will suffer. Imagine putting iPhone's music/video player app on a machine with a small square screen and no touch. Imagine putting some trackball-based Windows Mobile app on an iPhone. The results of one app running on multiple Android platforms would not be consistent and easy to use--they would add software options, but not GOOD ones, the way it sounds. But I'd be interested in hearing about app--and UI--portability from those who followed Android in more depth than I have.

So I have high hopes but low expectations. Android would still be the basis for making/selling MORE than one version of an app, tailored for each Android OS and this being well integrated and easy to use. That beats having to port an app from one phone to another from scratch. But it's not the same as a single OS shared by multiple phones all running the same apps.

Even so, one or two custom Android flavors could take off. They may not be compatible with each other and share apps, but they could be good operating systems, built more quickly thanks to Android. We've seen what Apple has done based on their OS X. It will be interesting to see what others come up with based on Android. Whatever it is, it won't be Windows Mobile!

[paxman]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

"We want every phone to be a Google phone," he said. "We are ultimately talking about thousands of devices. The best way to do this would be*to get Google’s mobile operating system, Android, deployed on as many types of handsets as possible."

Sounds a bit MS-ian, to me.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by solipsism

AI needs to get on the ball with an "optimized for iPhone" portal for the articles and forums, as well as a WebClip icon.

Excellent point. I hate to say this, but currently, AI sucks on the iPhone. (Example: If you want to get the comments/discussion up to a readable font size, you can't simultaeously see the name of the person commenting, since it is placed to the left. Relatedly, the story/comment column is too wide for the iPhone.)

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Excellent point. I hate to say this, but currently, AI sucks on the iPhone. (Example: If you want to get the comments/discussion up to a readable font size, you can't simultaeously see the name of the person commenting, since it is placed to the left. Relatedly, the story/comment column is too wide for the iPhone.)

We hear you.

Best,

K

[lkrupp]

I'm just thinking of all the nay-sayers who said the iPhone would flop because it didn't have (insert favorite deal killing, show stopping, not gonna buy one until) feature. Seems LOTS of people are buying them.

But then these are the same people who said the iMac would fail without a floppy drive and the MacBook Air will fail because it doesn't have firewire or ethernet or whatever. Don't you just love the poor, glass-is-half-empty crowd.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Kasper

We hear you.

Best,

K

Thank you. Could we get a WebClip icon in place for good faith?

• http://vjarmy.com/archives/2008/01/h...clip_icons.php

[satchmo]

Originally Posted by lkrupp

I'm just thinking of all the nay-sayers who said the iPhone would flop because it didn't have (insert favorite deal killing, show stopping, not gonna buy one until) feature. Seems LOTS of people are buying them.

Don't get too excited yet. While it's a good start, 4 million phones sold is peanuts in the cell phone biz. And with this success comes greater competition who may simply clone many of the iPhones features.
Plus look at Motorola, they once commanded the market, but fell asleep at the wheel.

Apple IMHO, needs to quickly bring in a lower cost model. Not dirt cheap, but a $299 model could do wonders if they want to hit 10M by years end.

[mh71]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Thank you. Could we get a WebClip icon in place for good faith?

• http://vjarmy.com/archives/2008/01/h...clip_icons.php

They have one already.

You might need to "reclip".

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by mh71

They have one already.

You might need to "reclip".

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[mdriftmeyer]

Revisit this traffic, after, the iPhone SDK is released.

P.S. How many ads does a site need to flood open new browser views? I counted 8 since visiting the forum, before I made my post.

I have an interesting idea to solve this, but I'm not one to give technical solutions for free.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by satchmo

Apple IMHO, needs to quickly bring in a lower cost model. Not dirt cheap, but a $299 model could do wonders if they want to hit 10M by years end.

Steve... are you listening?... he's listening...

[Adjei]

Originally Posted by satchmo

Don't get too excited yet. While it's a good start, 4 million phones sold is peanuts in the cell phone biz. And with this success comes greater competition who may simply clone many of the iPhones features.
Plus look at Motorola, they once commanded the market, but fell asleep at the wheel.

Apple IMHO, needs to quickly bring in a lower cost model. Not dirt cheap, but a $299 model could do wonders if they want to hit 10M by years end.

And you don't think they know this, people said the phone would fail because it has no GPS, 3G, and all that but we see how popular it has become and every phone wants to emulate, when Apple hits their target, people will start looking for new excuses to call it a failure.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by satchmo

Don't get too excited yet. While it's a good start, 4 million phones sold is peanuts in the cell phone biz. And with this success comes greater competition who may simply clone many of the iPhones features.
Plus look at Motorola, they once commanded the market, but fell asleep at the wheel.

Apple IMHO, needs to quickly bring in a lower cost model. Not dirt cheap, but a $299 model could do wonders if they want to hit 10M by years end.

I think it's quite possible that they will do this the next round of iPod updates early Fall.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by solipsism

PS: AI needs to get on the ball with an "optimized for iPhone" portal for the articles and forums, as well as a WebClip icon.

I'd like to add that I like MacRumurs inclusion of browser/platform info when a post is made from a mobile device. Though, parsing the raw data to make it simpler and less in your face would be nice. Perhaps harder, but I'd also like the forums to list how many are viewing via iPhones. Am I asking for to much?

Originally Posted by satchmo

Don't get too excited yet. While it's a good start, 4 million phones sold is peanuts in the cell phone biz. And with this success comes greater competition who may simply clone many of the iPhones features.
Plus look at Motorola, they once commanded the market, but fell asleep at the wheel.

Apple IMHO, needs to quickly bring in a lower cost model. Not dirt cheap, but a $299 model could do wonders if they want to hit 10M by years end.

That is 4M in the smartphone market in 6 months. Many of which never considered a multi-function cell phone before the iPhone's debut. I really think that a 3G version at the same pricepoint will more than double the sales that 2.75G model has accomplished without a low-end model.

[wilco]

Originally Posted by mpspence

I just had an argument with some cavemen last night (that's what i call non iphoners...

Originally Posted by BjK

That's funny, I say the same thing!

Does that make me an apple elitist?

No, it just makes you a couple of jackass nerds.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by wilco

No, it just makes you a couple of jackass nerds.

Cool it with the personal attacks.

[supremedesigner]

Originally Posted by solipsism

PS: AI needs to get on the ball with an "optimized for iPhone" portal for the articles and forums, as well as a WebClip icon.

I second that! AI will need to redesign their website too. What's the point of having 4 "circle" images on top right corner? That is so 2000's. No offense, Kasper. The only thing I liked was your new logo on webclip for iPhone.

Also, try iphone.foxnews.com - it loads blazing fast even w/o wifi included! Just a though... I can't even go to this website on my iphone - too bloated. iphone.foxnews.com is a good example. Check it out.

[dmber]

Originally Posted by supremedesigner

I second that! AI will need to redesign their website too. What's the point of having 4 "circle" images on top right corner? That is so 2000's. No offense, Kasper. The only thing I liked was your new logo on webclip for iPhone.

Also, try iphone.foxnews.com - it loads blazing fast even w/o wifi included! Just a though... I can't even go to this website on my iphone - too bloated. iphone.foxnews.com is a good example. Check it out.

you know we're still in the 2000's right?

[supremedesigner]

Um, you are in 2000. I'm not

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by supremedesigner

Um, you are in 2000. I'm not

I think he is referring to the apostrophe "s" at the end which could easily imply 2000—2999.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by supremedesigner

Um, you are in 2000. I'm not

Maybe wilco (with the non-capitalized "w") had a point about posts that begin with an "um"....... (This might sound like inside baseball, but those in the know, know).

[winterspan]

Originally Posted by solipsism

It's ironic that the iPhone's ease of use, use of WebKit and large display allowed it view webpages on a phone without being altered, yet the popularity and convenience of using it has made many a site create special iPhone web portals—and now add WebClip icons—to their site for even easier use.

Say what you will about Apple decision about carrier lock in, the OS and UI are unparalleled and revolutionary. Even Android is using Mobile OS X as a template for it's design decisions.

PS: AI needs to get on the ball with an "optimized for iPhone" portal for the articles and forums, as well as a WebClip icon.

Google's rss reader for iPhone/touch is great. And you can read a website at a time or a whole list with their stories intermixed. The best part is that when u click on a story it takes you to the actual appleinsider.com page BUT it is reformatted to fit the screen. Its the best.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by winterspan

Google's rss reader for iPhone/touch is great. And you can read a website at a time or a whole list with their stories intermixed. The best part is that when u click on a story it takes you to the actual appleinsider.com page BUT it is reformatted to fit the screen. Its the best.

Nice. I haven't used it yet but I did export my RSS feeds from RSS Menu.app and import them into Google.

[tonton]

If Google didn't predict high iPhone internet usage -- ergo search engine hits -- then they werre really, REALLY stupid.

[csimmons]

Originally Posted by solipsism

That is 4M in the smartphone market in 6 months. Many of which never considered a multi-function cell phone before the iPhone's debut. I really think that a 3G version at the same pricepoint will more than double the sales that 2.75G model has accomplished without a low-end model.

Call me when 3g is as widespread in the US as EDGE is.

Europe and Asia is a totally different story, though; 3G is pretty much ubiquitous, and here is where Apple will generate the most revenue with the iPhone when a 3G version comes out, not in the US.

Sales in Europe may not be very high compared to the US, but the interest definitely is. Please don't forget that the current 4 million sales number is from only 4 countries and 4 carriers. Considering that, 4 million in sales is very good.

Europe and Asia will help Apple reach the 10 million mark by the end of the year.

[Foo2]

Originally Posted by satchmo

Apple IMHO, needs to quickly bring in a lower cost model. Not dirt cheap, but a $299 model could do wonders if they want to hit 10M by years end.

At Apple's January conference call, COO Tim Cook said the company would have no trouble selling [a total of] 10M by the end of 2008. 4+M had already been sold since June 29th.

[Charel]

Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer

Revisit this traffic, after, the iPhone SDK is released.

P.S. How many ads does a site need to flood open new browser views? I counted 8 since visiting the forum, before I made my post.

I have an interesting idea to solve this, but I'm not one to give technical solutions for free.

To solve your problems maybe you need Safari with pop ups blocked in the preferences pane and "AD Block" downloaded and installed and activated. Easy enough, I would say.

[der passant]

Originally Posted by BjK

That's funny, I say the same thing!
I really like to make fun of the blackberry's trackwheel/ball.

Does that make me an apple elitist?

No that doesn't make you an Apple elitist but it will make others think of you as one.

It will also make a very small number of people make rude remarks. Go figure

[markb]

People who are clamoring for a $299 iPhone, I think that is unlikely anytime soon.

Apple clearly knows a third of its sales are off-network. It makes NO sense to sell the phones for little profit (~ $75 per phone at that price point) if they aren't hooked to a network that is generating more income for Apple. $400 is the perfect price point imo unless they figure out a way to truly lock the phone to a single provider (not sure that is likely or possible). I can see offering them for even $200 if you lock into a contract at the same time though.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by markb

People who are clamoring for a $299 iPhone, I think that is unlikely anytime soon.

Apple clearly knows a third of its sales are off-network. It makes NO sense to sell the phones for little profit (~ $75 per phone at that price point)

Aren't you using old price estimate information? It could be much higher now. It could be $150+ by the time September comes around.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Aren't you using old price estimate information? It could be much higher now. It could be $150+ by the time September comes around.

I've read that many components of the iPhone are off teh shelf components. If this is true, a 2nd generation iPhone may be able to get more in the confined space possibly allowing for a slightly larger battery in the confined space and perhaps better power management from a more integrated circuit board. This will increase the R&D costs, but the long term benefits should be impressive, assuming this is true.