Google is killing Apple with apps not Android. I know that’s a very strong, and over-simplified first statement, but I’m starting to think it’s true. The nature of the battle over being the pinnacle of what a great smartphone should be is often narrowed between these two corporations. Apple set a new standard with the first iPhone, and Google has countered with Android evolving into a formidable force of its own.
I would ultimately argue that Google has sneakily won the battle with a great suite of mobile apps rather than Android adoption. The turning point of every war is when an invading force is able to overtake and occupy the opposing nation’s territory. This is exactly what Google has done on iOS.
Gmail is consistently one of the top applications installed in the Apple Store. People were not happy with the default Apple email app, and Google responded by porting their great Gmail app over to iOS. Within the first few weeks, the Gmail app gave users the experience they expect from Google inside the walls of Apple’s mobile OS.
Next came the debacle that is iOS Maps. Apple made the decision with the iPhone 5 that it would cut their partnership with having Google Maps as the default offering in iOS. The result was a very premature maps solution from Cupertino. Users were disappointed, and literally lost, using iOS Maps. Google again responded by submitting their Maps app to the App Store. iOS users flocked to Google Maps and left iOS Maps in their rearview mirror.
Two of Google’s top two applications on Android are now top-tier iOS apps as well, and I don’t think Google plans to end there. The recent leak of Google Now for iOS shows that Google understands real mobile dominance is in becoming vital inside your rival’s OS, not ignoring their existence. Google Now could challenge another default Apple tool in Siri. The personal assistance of Google Now is similar to Siri in many ways and exceeds it in some areas.
Gmail and Maps are not the only current apps available by Google, Inc. either. They offer a handful of popular apps for iOS. Chrome, Currents, and Google+ are just a few, and let’s not forget about YouTube. Google's presence is very real on iOS.
Google is knocking it out of the park with monster sales numbers around Android. They have overtaken Apple in overall sales of smartphones in the last few years, but their real market strategy may indeed be applications. They have recognized the popularity of iOS as a business opportunity rather than a threat. Now, don’t get me wrong, these two giants are still bitter rivals, but Google is taking a very open-minded approach to how they counteract their biggest competitor.
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