iPhone users: a Yuppie and his money are easily parted

David Heath
Friday, 11 February 2011 13:52

Your IT - Mobility

Recent research has clearly demonstrated that iPad and iPhone users spend more than Android users on Apps in every category measured.  Ah, the price of being cool!

Take a close look at this chart (derived from research by MobClix).

The notes accompanying it make some pretty valid comments that in all three broad categories of Utilities, Entertainment and particularly Games, iPhone (and all other iOS users, obviously) strongly outspend their Android pals on a per user and per month basis.  In fact by about $20 to $14. 

Quoted in the linked summary, Mobclix cofounder Sunil Verma noted, "One fundamental reason is ad rates are higher for iPhone. Big brand advertisers still target the iPhone over Android. Another reason is that iPhone users are more engaged with apps than Android users."

In other words, there is a price to be paid for being cool; and the Yuppies are paying it willingly.

Not surprisingly, the biggest difference is in the Games category where iOS users spend twice what Android users do; although this is the category with the lowest overall spend, so plenty of room for more Angry Birds!

Presumably there are two somewhat oblique conclusions to be drawn here: firstly that Android app developers have an immediate target of $6 extra per user within their sights and secondly, that newer platforms, particularly both HP's WebOS and RIM's recently acquired QNX platform can happily drop $20 per user per month into their shared revenue forecasts.

 

Also, one can only wonder where this will leave Nokia, particularly in the light of tonight's major strategy announcement.