One of the big value drivers for Apple (AAPL -0.81%) is its ecosystem. Once you've bought a few songs through iTunes and a few iOS apps for your iPhone or iPad, you're far less likely to change brands when it comes time to upgrade your phone or tablet.
The same goes for Google (GOOGL 0.69%) and its Android ecosystem. The switching costs are certainly not insurmountable, but they are significant.
Another factor that's often overlooked is the tremendous number of third-party products that are developed to support the iOS and Android platforms. Some of these products were on display at the recent CES Unveiled event in New York City. Our roving reporter Rex Moore was there, and in this video he highlights a product that won the CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards in the portable power category -- the iNPOFi Foldable Mobile Wireless Charger.
