That there are far more Android devices than iPhones in the world is an indisputable fact, and it’s something Apple doesn’t worry about at all (the bulk of the revenue still goes to them). But there is a trend that is slowly becoming a bigger issue for Android, and proof of that is one of the recent Financial Times articles.
The figure is very enlightening: the market share of the iPhone in the United States has increased from 35% to 50% in three years according to Counterpoint estimates. Canalys is also beginning to see such a trend in Europe. And the cause is the so-called “Generation Z”, those born in 1996, who are moving further and further away from Android
Blue and green, the colors of discord
It’s this generation, those aged 27 and under, who in the United States value not having an iPhone as a social pressure. The source cites several witnesses like Annelise, 24, who says an iMessage group with a green balloon on it is demoralizing: “it forces everyone to use text messages”, so the pressure to have an iPhone is insane”.
Other statements: Annelise d iscusses how tedious it is to explain to everyone why all group chats have to go “green”. There is even talk on TikTok of a green bubble as one of the factors that makes a possible link unresponsive: “if your bubble is green, I don’t answer”
This can be seen as a big win for iMessage in the US: the service, closed to Apple devices, has managed to see alternatives as something best avoided so as not to inconvenience others. It’s one of the biggest weapons those in Cupertino have for encouraging the sale of iPhones, and it’s one of the biggest targets of both Google and legislation.
Because let’s remember: Google is one of the main supporters of the RCS standard, which would seek to end this “aura of exclusivity” of iMessage and would standardize the sending of data by instant messaging on iOS and Android. Apple does not want to come to this, but It’s something I might have to do grudgingly: the European Union wants to legislate on interoperability between messaging services. And when an initiative becomes law, there’s not much you can do to not comply with it.
