As Android rolls out its newest update for the Nexus and Microsoft continues pushing its new Windows RT for mobile, these leaders in the mobile device sector are now vying more fiercely than ever for consumer attention. Before going out and buying an Android or Microsoft device, or opting for an unlocked smartphone, there are a few things to consider regarding these tools.
Android and Google Play
One of the most popular mobile operating systems in the world, Android has been powering smartphones for years with ubiquitous success. Much of this is due in part to the technology’s open source and development base, as well as marketing the software to low-end phones. For example, StraightTalk and Virgin Mobile phones are predominantly Android-run. A survey by Gartner showed Android currently has about three-fourths of the entire global smartphone market share, so users are guaranteed to find a variety of applications other operating systems can’t rival.
Microsoft and Windows RT
Windows RT phones are just starting to roll out, and as news begins to circulate that Foxconn could be building Microsoft a Surface phone, the technology is starting to come into its own in the consumer sphere. InformationWeek wrote that sales of devices carrying the new software had hit over 4 million in just the last three months. With only 3 percent of the global market, Windows Phone has a long way to go before it catches Android, but many of its features are more user-friendly than those of its competitor. This allows devices using these programs to run much more quickly and uses less CPU power to operate, so other applications load faster. With Symbian and RIM dropping rapidly through the ranks, there is much potential for Windows RT to take their place, so Microsoft phones could be the platform of the future for up and coming developers.
Regardless of which operating system you choose, both software suites can be limited by the phones they power, so swapping to an unlocked phone and keeping your preferred OS might be the best option. Have you thought about switching to the new Windows RT system?
Summary
As Android rolls out its newest update for the Nexus and Microsoft continues pushing its new Windows RT for mobile, these leaders in the mobile device sector are now vying more fiercely than ever for consumer attention.
Courtney Lee is a stay-at-home mother who spends a majority of her time solving word puzzles, cooking with her kids, and reading blogs on her Windows RT Tablet.