Motorola released the Droid phone Friday, and while some feel this could threaten iPhone's potential market popularity, Ball State University students don't see it that way.
Sophomore John Walaszek, who works at the Digital Corps, believes iPhone will outlast the competition.
"I've seen so many other companies compete, but at the end of the day students love Apple," he said. "It helps me stay organized, but I don't think it will ever be necessary for students to own a smart phone."
According to a press release from IntoMobile, Rich Miner, Google's group manager for mobile platforms, said he thinks there is a much larger potential market on Android than for the iPhone.
A possible rival to Apple's iPhone is the Android software development kit, which are applications available from Google that can be downloaded on any major operating system. According to the Android Web site, Android 2.0 SDK offers a quick search box, camera, camcorder, gallery, improved virtual privacy network capabilities and battery usage indicator.
Two campus resources, the Digital Corps and Institute for Mobile Media Research, work with smart phone applications. Smart phones are cell phones with built-in applications and Internet access.
Michael Hanley, director of the Institute for Mobile Media Research, said the purpose of the institute is to help faculty and students research mobile applications and to help companies with mobile research. He said the Emerging Media Institute acts like an umbrella that encompasses the institute and other organizations.
"It shows how the university is positioning itself for mobile media technology," he said. "Research grants and funding for the institute came from EMI."
The EMI Web page said the roots of Ball State's expertise in emerging media trace to the Middletown Media Studies project funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc.
Walaszek said the Digital Corps, another component of media innovation, is a service for students.
"We're there to help students with projects," he said. "Everyone who works there is very knowledgeable about Adobe software."
Of 270 Ball State students recently surveyed, 38.5 percent said they own smart phones.
This percentage increased from 27 percent in February, which may be attributed to Apple reducing the price of the iPhone to $99 in June, according to a press release from the Ball State Communication Center.
Forty-nine types of smart phones were represented in the results of the survey, and iPhone was the most popular.
Senior James Jerlecki, who works at Digital Corps, said he likes the iPhone because it makes college much easier.
"It'd be good for Apple if [the Droid] creates competition," he said. "Smart phones are easy to use. I even showed my grandma how to do it."
Sophomore Lindsey Morgan likes the iPhone for its internet capabilities.
"It's nice for when you're on campus and can't get to your computer," she said. "The price is high, but obviously its going to be if it has all the capabilities it has."
Sophomore Olivia Smoot, a dedicated Verizon user, said she might consider the Droid as an alternative to the iPhone.
"I use Verizon because I get signal everywhere," she said. "You can get by easily without e-mail and Internet on your phone. Life would be fine without it."
Hansley said popularity for smart phones is based on demographics.
"Its like the internet, where 30 percent of users just want basic e-mail," he said. "The same thing is happening with cell phones, but popularity [for smart phones] is growing unbelievably fast."
He said the future of smart phones will be a hybrid between a laptop and a smart phone. He said even though companies aren't saying anything about it, they know this is the next step.
"Its just like when Apple released the iPhone," he said. "The industry knew they were making something like it, but Apple didn't comment until they released it."
He said hybrids will be made with high definition screens to accommodate mobile television. Broadcast television companies agrees last year on technical standard for cell phones, he said.
"In America, we think we're pretty smart, but we're actually years behind," he said. "Korea had mobile television cell phones eight years ago."
Hansley said the percentage of Ball State students who use smart phones rivals the number of users nationally.
"By this time next year, we'll probably see half the students using smart phones."
Dates and Numbers-
- Motorola Droid phone available today at Verizon stores
- IPhone was released January 9, 2007
- First Android phone released Sept. 23, 2009
- IPhone dropped it's price in June to $99
- Motorola Droid's starting price is also $199
Features-
- According to Android Web site, Android 2.0 SDK includes quick search box; camera, camcorder and gallery; improved VPN capabilities; battery usage indicator
- Apple Web site describes iPhone as a revolutionary phone, widescreen iPod and breakthrough internet device
Ball State iPhone survey results-
- 38.5 percent of 270 students recently surveyed said they owned smart phones
- These students own 49 different models of smart phones
- IPhone was the most popular
- 84 percent of smart phone users have a device with a GPS locator
- 60 percent have downloaded an application in the past few months
- 24 percent of users have downloaded or purchased music
- 21 percent have obtained mobile video games
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