Android Market update: downloads and considerations
Time for a quick update about some apps I’ve published some months ago on Android Market.
I want to share the data related to 3 applications (Televideo, APN Italy and Codice Fiscale), especially intended for the Italian market and users. As you can see in the picture below, download counts are not that great. This is someway predictable, as in Italy the diffusion of Android devices is still in an early phase, and has to battle with phone operators that don’t seem to support them at all.
Operators, at least in Italy, don’t seem to care about the fact that the Android platform, being open, could bring them great benefits. Just consider the distribution of applications: operators could easily setup their own Application Stores, pre-installing those into their devices, and have users download their applications without forcing them to pass by third-party stores. This would bring more incomes (no shares to be divided) and more freedom (no third-party policies to follow) to the distribution of their own content.
So, right now, Italy doesn’t seem to be the best market to distribute Android apps in, but what about other countries? Has anyone some data to share?
Mylo are discussing. 
), you’ll find one of the most complete programming environments in the mobile ecosystem.
Mylo 6:08 pm on February 1, 2010 Permalink
Those download counts are to be expected considering your target audience is Italian; however, your retention rate is good and I would guess the number of comments users have made are above average. I have an app that has approx 50,000 downloads and has only 400 or so user comments. The retention rate is currently at 40%.
I agree that most operators are missing the benefits Android could bring them. HTC and T-Mobile are the onvious exclusions and as such have been quite successful the last year having jumped on the Android bandwagon so to speak. I do believe Android will be adopted ever more so in the coming year however and in time will be the OS of choice for most manufacturers – it’ll just take time.
Nice blog btw, I have bookmarked you
pit 10:37 am on February 2, 2010 Permalink
Hello Mylo,
thank you for your insights into this post!
I’m not that optimistic about Android for the next year, I just think It’ll take more time to create a clearer identity around Android devices, especially for tech-unaware users. Right now, Android is clearly geek, and people without a minimum of mobile expertise are reluctant to try and purchase it..