A new ChangeWave survey (http://www.changewave.com) of 4,163 consumers has taken a fresh look at smart phone demand trends – including mobile OS and smart phone preferences going forward.
The June survey focused on key comparisons between the Apple iOS and Google Android OS – including the impact of Apple’s upcoming iCloud service -- along with the latest momentum trends for Motorola and Research in Motion. The survey focuses primarily on the North American smart phone market -- with the sample being 89% U.S. respondents and 11% outside the U.S.
Firmly in second in the North American market, the Android OS (32%) has registered a slight uptick (up one point) in terms of future buyer preference. In contrast, Research in Motion’s BlackBerry OS (4%; down one point) has once again hit its lowest level ever in a ChangeWave survey.
ChangeWave also looked at OS customer satisfaction ratings based upon the operating system consumers have on their smart phones. Once again Apple is the clear leader -- with 70% of customers using the iOS saying they are "Very Satisfied."
The Android OS ranks second, with half (50%) of its users saying they’re "Very Satisfied." Both industry leaders are far ahead of the overall "Very Satisfied" ratings for the other major operating systems -- Windows OS (27%) and RIM OS (26%).
Apple recently announced the iCloud service, which will automatically store music, photos, apps, calendars, documents, ebooks, etc., and wirelessly push them to any Apple device -- allowing anytime, anywhere access for users. It's due this fall.
With iCloud Apple joins competitors Google, Amazon and Microsoft in providing a product that many expect will change the way consumers use smart phones and other media devices. ChangeWave took a close-up look at the potential impact of the iCloud service going forward, and found 29% of Apple product owners say Apple’s iCloud announcement makes them "More Likely" to buy Apple products in the future, as do 13% of non-Apple owners.
"This initial look at the impact of Apple’s new iCloud service shows it enhancing existing customer loyalty," says ChangeWave. "But the survey also provides highly encouraging signs that iCloud will generate additional customer demand for other Apple products, not only from current Apple product owners but from a substantial numbers of non-owners as well."
Deespite no new Apple model launch, demand still appears strongest for the iPhone in terms of North American planned purchasing, says the research group. Nearly half of respondents (48%) planning on buying a smart phone in the next 90 days say they’ll get an iPhone. That's up one point since ChangeWave's previous survey in March and the highest level of demand in the smart phone industry.
