By I was recently reading an article from Cellular-News.com titled “Android Smartphone Shipments to Reach 32 Million Units by in 2013.” My initial reaction was something you’ve probably come to expect – I thought it was a modest forecast and would optimistically predict much greater growth. The same report predicts 6.5 million units this year and judging by the potential pace of proliferation, 32 million is modest in my opinion.
But the next forecasted number REALLY blew me away:
Furthermore, overall shipment of Android-equipped products is forecast to reach 126 million units in 2013. Besides Smartphones, Android products also include PC-like products, portable devices and residential products. Residential and portable equipment are expected to become major growth drivers.
126 million devices
—-(minus)—-
32 million smartphones
==(equals)==
94 million non-smartphone Android devices in 2013?
Considering that mostly EVERYTHING we hear about Android relates to smartphones with the occassional eReader or Netbook thrown in, this is outrageous by all accounts. Not impossibly outrageous, just interesting outrageous. Android could prove to be the de-facto operating system for use in a wide variety of industries and product lines.
I think its MUCH too early to predict 2013 Android smartphone shipments let alone shipments of non-smartphone devices which up until now have been practically non-existent. But once Android finds its way into everything from automobiles, home entertainment systems, and FOB keychains there is no telling where the market will take us.
Like your parents and teachers always told you, think outside the (smartphone) box. Because apparently that is exactly where Android is headed. That doesn’t mean Android will cease to be smartphone focused – it will ALWAYS be smartphone focused as that was the original intent – but with an open and flexible OS, its going to Yoga itself into a lot of different positions. Perhaps 94 million positions by 2013.
By the way, I’m not sure if Android Phones that AREN’T smartphones are considered a possibility here or if Android Phones are considered inherently smart. I’d put my money on the latter.
Bring on the Android powered cars and TVs and house phones and cameras and…well…everything
Can I pre-order my Android powered Android now?
I’d be all over an integrated Android CarPC. Google Maps built right into my dash would be sweet!
So what you’re saying is Google is the Umbrella Corporation in disguise.
I want to see how Android is incorporated into other devices for use around the house. Will my microwave have widgets and YouTube to pass the 2 minutes I have to wait for my Hot Pocket to cook? Those are the serious questions we need to know now!
How can anyone make predictions for this?
Android 3 might suck and Windows Mobile 7 might take over. Not that I think that will happen, but the point is that no-one can predict much of anything further than about a year.
My personal thoughts are that Android has a good shot at becoming the no.1 mobile OS. The iPhone is exclusive and Windows Mobile (currently) sucks. Not much other options for a “device”-indepent OS.
well… basically android is just a layar on top of linux…
much like gnome and kde…
and linux already runs on a shit load of devices…
you just don’t know it … i don’t know it either :P
@donnyIrish, nice!!! i wantz lots 2!!
i’m wondering why you say “only” 25%. it’s really a lot, especially if you consider the age of the platform and the spectrum of devices used.. not everyone in this world can get whatever he likes, and not everyone gets a new one ‘for free’ every 12-24 mo either..
don’t worry about it, it’s good and it will prevail.
no way
android was designed only for smartphones and i’m pretty sure 80-90% will be smartphones
“comprise”
The parts comprise the whole. The whole is composed of parts.
HTH
Android was definitely not designed only for smartphones.
But a serious question I have is when will my refrigerator have a Android powered 10″ Touch screen? I don’t have time to be wasting while I try to figure out what left overs to eat, I could be using Google maps and latitude to stalk my victims.
I would like to know who gets paid to sit around and come up with all these statistics and predictions. :) It is all very interesting and it certainly stretches the imagination to try and figure out just how Google will take over the world with Android but I will not place bets on any of it.
what is a smartphone again ?
what would be an android dumbphone ?
oh you mean the 94 millions other devices won’t be phones at all ? possible as linux and arm are everywhere.