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MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

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Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#51

Post by dailyrorschach »

Kylekramer wrote: post #25
fleitz wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not the tech that makes it better it's the people, as an app developer it's easier to make money on the Apple ecosystem than Google. If I can't make a profit I'm not going to produce for that platform. Apple's marketing message appeals to a set of consumers who want to buy stuff digitally. Apple has done a bunch of work for me, whereas it's hard to monetize the marketing message of 'open platform'

Again, I think this argument applies to a Hacker News crowd, not the general population. I have seen plenty of Android marketing and I can't remember a single mass market ad that touted openness beyond saying that it runs Flash. Of course, Google employees have said things to that effect, but that is directed to a separate smaller audience. You won't find that on the sides of buses or on TV. I'd be surprised if more…

Sure. But 1. do we see any actual Android marketing on TV or media? We see marketing from the individuals handset makers, but very rarely, or at least I haven't from Google, for the OS, which makes sense in some light.

Contrast that with a lot of the advertising that Apple does, it's not about the phone, it's about the software, experience, and the apps. In print ads, tv ads, etc there is an explicit focus on the content you can buy to create a better experience.

I think that makes a difference.

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#52

Post by joebadmo »

macrael wrote: post #48
usaar333 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What limitations would there be on Android, relative to to iOS? I can just think of in-app purchases.

While perhaps limitation is a strong word, it is clear that the development environments/tools/api's for the two platforms are very different. Is it not possible that one is simply better suited to producing high quality apps than the other?

That's a diversion from the original point that iOS users are more willing to pay for apps. Whether it's easier to develop high quality apps for whichever platform, the fact that the iOS app is higher quality is an important factor when that makes the comparison invalid.

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#53

Post by macrael »

joebadmo wrote: post #52
macrael wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While perhaps limitation is a strong word, it is clear that the development environments/tools/api's for the two platforms are very different. Is it not possible that one is simply better suited to producing high quality apps than the other?

That's a diversion from the original point that iOS users are more willing to pay for apps. Whether it's easier to develop high quality apps for whichever platform, the fact that the iOS app is higher quality is an important factor when that makes the comparison invalid.

Well, I agree that a drastic difference in quality between the two versions of the app invalidates the data from MLB, the grand parent of my post asked why the quality is different between the two. Specifically, wether it is MLB's fault or a deficiency in Android. I think my answer is relevant, and the question, while a diversion from the question here as to wether users from the two platforms approach paying for apps differently, is especially relevant to the deeper question of "which platform should I work on."

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#54

Post by zmmmmm »

Wait ... he says he gets 5 x the sales on iOS but then drops this line:

> MLB recently expanded the number of supported handsets from 6 to 11

So out of literally hundreds of Android handsets on the market they supported 6?!!?! And they wonder why their Android sales are not very good? Am I missing something here?

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#55

Post by joebadmo »

macrael wrote: post #53
joebadmo wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a diversion from the original point that iOS users are more willing to pay for apps. Whether it's easier to develop high quality apps for whichever platform, the fact that the iOS app is higher quality is an important factor when that makes the comparison invalid.

Well, I agree that a drastic difference in quality between the two versions of the app invalidates the data from MLB, the grand parent of my post asked why the quality is different between the two. Specifically, wether it is MLB's fault or a deficiency in Android. I think my answer is relevant, and the question, while a diversion from the question here as to wether users from the two platforms approach paying for app…

You make a very fair point, one that's important to the deeper question.

Sorry if I sounded combative, I was merely trying to point out that (still cogent) point does not say anything about the willingness of Android/iOS users to pay for apps.

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#56

Post by thelibrarian »

amitraman1 wrote: post #6

This applies to apps too. Here my simple logic. Android phones are available for free from carriers. Thus, the typical Android buy is more price sensitive. They are more likely to choose free content & apps. iPhone customers don't get FREE iPhones. They are willing to pay $200+ for a phone and contract. Their willingness to pay for apps & content is higher than Android users. Just look at Angry Birds. It's FREE on th…

Only in the U.S. though - here in Australia, most carriers offer a free iPhone with a 2 year contract (e.g. you can get a 16GB iPhone 4 on a $54/month two year contract with no upfront fee).

And we don't have to pay for incoming calls on our mobiles here.

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#57

Post by MrScruff »

ZeroGravitas wrote: post #29
MrScruff wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a link to the survey results? I can only find links to the Daily Mail which seems to be hand picking results. I ask because it really doesn't gel with my own observations in London at all. Nearly everyone I know running Android is either a technology enthusiast, price sensitive or both.

http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/yg-... I'm not in London, for me the geeks/normal split oseems fairly even between iPhone and Android e.g. a female, non-tech colleague who went into the store wanting something with a hardware keyboard and came out raving about Swype while my tech colleagues all have iPhones.

According to those results, 31% of android users are earning £10-20,000 vs 13% for iPhone. In the £20-30,000 category the positions are reversed. On the other hand, Symbian users seem to be even more affluent so I'm not sure this proves anything.

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#58

Post by lojack »

I recently switched from iPhone to an Android and I am definitely less willing to pay for apps. To me its all about the pricing.

Going through a list of apps on the first page of the android market I see prices of: $8.05, $7.99, $2.89, $0.99, $9.99, $14.26, $5.99, $2.99.

A random selection from the iTunes app store: $0.99, $0.99, $0.99, $0.99, $0.99, $0.99, $0.99, $0.99, $0.99, $4.99, $2.99.

To me, and I'm sure that I'm not the only one, a $3 app is 20x more expensive than a $1 app. There are few iPhone apps that cost more than $1 and its rare to find one more than $5. This pricing makes me feel like the android marketplace is a huge ripoff, so there is almost no chance of me buying an app for $15. When I buy an app that sucks on the iPhone market I only lose $1 which in turn makes me feel better about future purchases.

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#59

Post by coob »

chc wrote: post #16
jrockway wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just look at Angry Birds. It's FREE on the Android store, but charged for on the iOS store. But it's 99 cents on the Amazon Android store: http://www.amazon.com/Rovio-Mobile-Angry-Birds-Ad-Free/dp/B0...

Maybe I've missed it, but has Amazon actually released any sales numbers from its store? So far, it seems to me like little more than a curiosity. The difficulty of installation alone will rule out most customers.

The difficulty is definitely an issue currently. But Amazon have shown willingness to get involved in the hardware market.

An Amazon (or Kindle?) branded Android tablet with the Amazon store and music locker service is starting to be more and more likely.

Re: MLB.com CEO: iOS users more likely to purchase content than Android users

#60

Post by chc »

coob wrote: post #59
chc wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I've missed it, but has Amazon actually released any sales numbers from its store? So far, it seems to me like little more than a curiosity. The difficulty of installation alone will rule out most customers.

The difficulty is definitely an issue currently. But Amazon have shown willingness to get involved in the hardware market. An Amazon (or Kindle?) branded Android tablet with the Amazon store and music locker service is starting to be more and more likely.

That still doesn't mean their current pricing strategy will turn out to be successful.
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