Skip to main content

Google exec: We want Apple’s iPhone to succeed

google-iphoneThose of us in the tech industry like to talk about the ‘smartphone wars,’ or Android vs. iPhone, or any other way to pit Google against Apple. According to Google’s Asia-Pacific president Daniel Alegre, however, the search giant only wants the iPhone and other iOS devices to succeed.

“Whenever iPhone succeeds, Google succeeds,” said Alegre in an interview with AdNews. “I actually don’t look at it as iPhone versus Android. iPhone is a very strong driver of query growth for Google. We also monetise apps through the iPhone..we actually benefit from iPhone’s growth.”

Recommended Videos

Of course, Alegre didn’t dismiss its open-source Android platform, which is currently the most used mobile operating system in the world.

“We truly believe there has to be as few platforms as possible in order for apps developers to focus their development,” Alegre said. “So far we are starting to see tremendous success for the Android operating system. We have 300,000 activations per day which is a phenomenal number.”

A study released earlier this week by advertising network Millennial Media, showed that the iOS platform made gains against Android due to a boost in sales caused by the release of the iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless, with ad impressions made through iOS rising 29 percent in March compared to Android’s 23 percent rise.

While Android has held the top spot in terms of mobile ad impressions for the past four months, ads shown through iOS generate more revenue for advertisers than ads shown through Android.

Google’s Android currently holds about 30 percent share of the mobile market worldwide, which puts it in the top spot. Apple sits in the No. 3 spot, with 24 percent market share, after BlackBerry.

Andrew Couts
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
20 iPhones elevate Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later scene
A camera rig with 20 iPhones being used to shoot part of 28 Years Later.

We already know that the iPhone is a versatile piece of kit with a powerful camera capable of capturing highly impressive video.

That quality, coupled with the phone’s small size compared to conventional movie cameras, has been inspiring a growing number of filmmakers to use Apple’s handset for at least some of the shots in their grand productions.

Read more
iOS 19 isn’t coming this fall … because Apple is calling it something else
The back of the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Apple will unveil the latest version of the iPhone operating system at WWDC next month, but apparently it won’t be “iOS 19.”

The tech giant is going to shake up the naming system for iOS, with the next version set to be called iOS 26, according to a Bloomberg report by prominent Apple tipster Mark Gurman on Wednesday.

Read more
5 things the iPhone 17 needs to make it a compelling upgrade
Alleged Render of iPhone 17 Air.

The Apple iPhone 17 needs to be a significant upgrade to remain a popular smartphone choice in 2025 and 2026, as the incredible selection of hardware, specification, and design in the Android world threatens to further erode its appeal. What does Apple need to do with the iPhone 17 series this year, if we’re going to continue recommending it? Here’s five things the iPhone 17 needs to be a compelling upgrade.

All iPhone 17 models need a 120Hz, always-on screen

Read more