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iOS still tops Android in Australia: Google

Australians are more in favour of the iPhone than Android smartphones, according to new research released by Google, which has also found that one in every two Australians now owns some type of smartphone.
Written by Luke Hopewell, Contributor

Australians are more in favour of the iPhone than Android smartphones, according to new research released by Google, which has also found that one in every two Australians now owns some type of smartphone.

Survey data released today by Google, gathered in Q1 2012 by Ipsos Media CT, shows that 49 per cent of the 1000 respondents surveyed were using an iPhone at the time, with 25 per cent of respondents using an Android smartphone.

Of the remaining respondents, the survey found that 9 per cent didn't know what device they were using, 8 per cent were using a Symbian-powered device, 4 per cent were using a Windows-powered device and 3 per cent reported that they were using a BlackBerry. Only 1 per cent of respondents fell under the "other" category.

The positive result in the Australian market for Apple counters last year's predictions and results from Telsyte and Kantar WorldPanel, which indicated that Android's market share is on the increase, and challenging Apple's supremacy.

The market-share data is also in contrast to the survey results coming out of the US, which show that Android smartphones are beating the iPhone on usage there; 40 per cent of smartphone owners have an Android handset in the US, compared to 32 per cent being iPhone users.

The survey also found that smartphone penetration in Australia has risen 15 per cent year on year, to 52 per cent, meaning that half of all Australians now use a smartphone.

Australians continue to use their devices to research products and discover businesses. Jason Pellegrino, head of mobile advertising for Google Australia, has used the data to scold businesses for not gearing their online offerings toward mobile users.

"The mobile revolution isn't 'coming' — it's already happened. Mobile is no longer optional: businesses need to develop a mobile strategy now, or risk getting left behind," he said.

Despite the tough talk, however, Google's own survey data revealed that while customers are researching products on their phones, many still prefer to use their laptop or desktop to make a purchase.

Of the people surveyed, 60 per cent had made a purchase using their smartphone in the last month. Of the 40 per cent who didn't, over two thirds said that they'd rather use a PC or laptop. Others said that they didn't feel safe making a purchase using a smartphone.

Even fewer people are using their mobile as a physical payments device, while only 1 per cent of the respondents reported that they pay for products using near-field communications (NFC).

(Front page image credit: Google)

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