In technology, disruption is born from users accepting "good enough" solutions. In the case of smartphones, right now users are buying Google's
That's a huge problem for Apple
However, recent studies show the blown opportunity Apple faces. The Yankee Group recently released a survey showing that 34% of smartphone users want to buy an iPhone. Contrast that with 27% saying they’d buy Research In Motion
Bleeker says that's a huge problem. He sees smartphones as a platform war, where both Android and Apple are building up an ecosystem of products supporting their mobile operating systems. By allowing Android to gain a base, Apple's giving developers a reason to create a large catalog of apps. Apple's allowing a powerful foe to build unchecked on three of the nation's largest networks.
As evidence of the blown opportunity, look no further than France and the United Kingdom. Apple has pursued a multi-carrier model in those countries and enjoys better mobile market share. In France, for example, researcher Gartner now estimates Apple's market-share percentage is 78% higher than its comparable U.S. percentage.
Bleeker believes it's a rare opportunity for a technology company to have such a large advantage in a field as large and lucrative as smartphones. It's in Apple's best long-term interests to capitalize now, while buyers clearly are favoring Apple as the superior option. The company's leaving profits on the table and allowing a rival to grow; that's a decision that'll come back to haunt the company down the road.
Watch Bleeker's full thoughts in the video below:
