Google announced on September 29 that it has reached a new milestone of 1.4 billion active Android users, with 300 million using Android Lollipop. The recent release of new Nexus phones gives Google a chance to grow even more especially in the Chinese market.
Along with the unveiling of Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, Google revealed that more than a billion devices are using Android OS, reported CNET. The number has increased by 400 million from the figure announced by the tech giant in May. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that consumers from Vietnam and Indonesia comprise most of the 1.4bn active users.
The report further states that more than 19 percent of the total population on Earth are embracing Google's Android software. According to data analyst company Gartner, more than 271 million Android phones were purchased in the later part of 2015 which means 8 out of 10 smartphones sold during that period run Android.
Google's Android faces competition in the mobile operating software market such as Apple's iOS. ZDNet reported that iOS 9 has the lead in software downloads, having been installed on 52 percent of iOS devices (around 350 million to 400 million) according to Andreessen Horowitz' Benedict Evans.
In terms of number of units sold, Apple reached 1 billion sales of iDevices with only an estimated 500 million devices are active. The report added that Apple could reach the 1 billion-users milestone in 2018, assuming that Apple users own two iDevices.
On the other hand, App Store has higher recorded purchases than Google Play Store. Most of App Store customers are Chinese who have no access to Google Play Store due to strict government restrictions.
Amigobulls reported that the recent launch of two new Nexus devices poises Google for future growth. Reviews on both devices have been highly positive. Forbes' Gordon Kelly said, "The Nexus 5X is once again set to become the best budget Android phone - especially for Android purists, while the Nexus 6P finally gives the line a premium model to compete with the best from Apple and Samsung." Nexus 6P, Google's collaboration with Huawei, could become the Big G's ticket to re-enter the mobile Chinese market.
Google said that the reason they create Nexus phones is to present their latest and greatest innovations in both software and hardware technology. "The reason that we build hardware... is so we can guide the ecosystem forward," said Pichai.
With its innovations, Google continues to push itself as the leading manufacturer of mobile devices. "Android's diversity is why it's become the most popular mobile platform in the world, and the latest version, Marshmallow, takes Android to a new level of performance," Google announced.
Compared to Apple, Google has a milestone of more than a billion of users all over the world. Thus, it is not so shocking to see the launch of Nexus phones will be a major hit.
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