During the earning call of the fourth quarter 2015, Apple’ CEO Tim Cook revealed that the company has seen the highest rate of Android “Switchers” since they started to keep track of the statistic three years ago.
Tim Cook, during the earning call, said that the 30% of iPhone buyers during Q4 2015 were previously using an Android smartphone. “It’s a huge number and we’re very proud of it,” said Cook. Apple’s CEO used this Android converts metric along with other financial stats to assure company’s investor that Apple is going strong and crushing its competitors.
Only one-third of company’s current iPhone users has upgraded to the latest iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, leaving two-thirds of the company’s customer base using an older iPhone and potential buyers of new iPhone. Given the growing rate of Android switchers along with the number of customers who have not yet upgraded, Apple believes that iPhone sales in the first quarter of the year 2016 are going to be strong.
The rate of Android switchers skyrocketed when Apple entered the large screen devices’ category with the introduction of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last year, which brought iPhone to a favorable competing position against the popular Android devices.
Another factor that may have contributed to this high rate of Android switchers is the Apple’s strategy to make it easy for Android users to switch to iOS. As part of that strategy, Apple launched a dedicated guide for Android switchers in the fall of last year, and with iOS 9, Apple launched a “Move to iOS” app to make the Android-to-iOS switching process easier on the converts. Move to iOS app makes it easy for Android Switchers to transfer their messages, contacts, and other personal stuff to iOS very easily and quickly. Apple also launched a trade-in program to lure Android users to turn in their Android devices for Apple gift cards that can be put together to buy an iPhone.