Windows Mobile Vs Android Vs iPhone, User’s Guide To Choose Smartphone

If you are thinking of getting an smartphone for the the first time then it is quite obvious that, you should have knowledge different mobile platforms available in market. It is very simple to make a choice when there are no other options, but the introduction of Android and Windows Phone has added competition for the leadingiPhone market...

For General information, iPhone is an Apple’s product which runs on iOS.  Likewise Android is developed by the Open Handset Alliance led by Google and its a Linux based Operating platform. Similarly, Windows Phone is the newcomer in smartphone market developed by Microsoft and runs on Mobile Windows OS.

Here, i have categorized these three operating platform  into some of the most major interests so it will be easier to choose and understand the differences between them.

1. Device Availability :

Before deciding a smartphone its very wise to do some market research which ultimately answers your the question, “From how many device do i have to choose from ?”  

Android being an free  freely distributed open source operating platform, it occupies a very wide margin of smartphone. At the beginning there were very few manufacturers (Samsung, Motorola, HTC, LG & Sony Ericsson) but today its hard to tell in numbers because most of mobile companies have launched Android products.

In comparison to that, Apple’s iOS  is only available on the 11 models of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Whereas the latest competitor Windows Phone currently counts 20 devices.

2. Total Apps Available :

Smartphone without applications installed in it is incomplete in itself, so application availability is another important factor.

• Apple’s App Store: 500,000 +
• Android Market: 380,000 +
• Windows Phone Market place: 43,000+

This figure is changing continuously, since the Android device has a lion’s share of smart phone in market these days. We can assume that Android may gain the first position in upcoming  years.

3. Manufacturing Companies and form factor:

Manufacturer and the form factor choice is another factor that needs to be considered according to user’s choice.

iPhone:

• Manufacturer: Apple 
• Available on three carriers: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
• Form factor: One 3.5-inch screen (on the smaller size by today’s standards)

Android:

• Manufacturer: Google
•  Companies: Samsung, Motorola, HTC, LG, Sony Ericsson, and Acer. But when you add Asus, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Toshiba, and a billion generic or near-generic manufacturers.
• Form factor: Available on all carriers, all shapes, all sizes (varies according to manufacturer)

Windows Phone:

• Manufacturer: Microsoft
• Companies: Acer, Dell, Toshiba, HTC, LG, Nokia, Samsung.
• AT&T has the largest and best selection
• Form factor: Available on all carriers, all shapes, all sizes.

4. Upcoming Big Releases:

Operating System:

• Apple: iOS 5
• Android: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (Released early 2012)
• Windows Phone : Version 7.5 Mango (Released in September 2011)

Mobile Phone:

• Apple:  iPhone 5 (by summer 2012)
• Android: Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone by December
  
• Windows Phone:  Nokia Lumia 800

 5. Key Features:

Here are the most very obvious features that are available with each platform:

iPhone:

• Outstanding 8-megapixel camera, front-facing camera, Siri voice assistant.
• Available on three storage sizes: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB.
• Easy compatibility with iTunes.

Android :

• Android devices are not created equally, they vary with price of the product and manufacturer.
• Compatibility with Google services, Google Music, other Android devices
• Free voice navigation with turn-by-turn directions, very customizable, voice actions.

Windows Phone:

• Great performance.
•  Minimum 5-megapixel camera.
• Easy compatibility with Zune, Xbox Live, Microsoft services like Microsoft Office, SkyDrive online storage.
• Clean interface, built-in barcode-scanning and music identification, Xbox Live integration, voice actions.

6. Other Interesting Features:

Apple:

• Tablet-optimized apps:  iPad has the most tablet-optimized apps around 140, 000
• Unapproved 3rd party apps: Jailbreak only.
• 4 G: HSPA +
• Cloud Integration : iCloud
• Volume Control: Natural Language transcription
• Multitasking: Yes
• Navigation: 3rd party only
• Search Engine: Google, Yahoo, Bing

Android:

• Tablet-optimized apps:  Only a few (may be in hundreds)
• Unapproved 3rd party apps: Yes
• 4 G: LTE, HSPA +, WiMax
• Cloud Integration : 3rd party Apps
• Volume Control: Commands transcription
• Multitasking: Yes
• Navigation: Google (free)
• Search Engine: Google

Windows Phone :

• Tablet-optimized apps: N/A
• Unapproved 3rd party apps: Jailbreak Only
• 4 G: HSPA +
• Cloud Integration : SkyDrive
• Volume Control: Commands transcription
• Multitasking: Yes
• Navigation: 3rd party only
• Search Engine: Bing

Windows Mobile Vs Android Vs iPhone Video :