Has America lost jobs because of Android?

[gerbil]

Based on a recent article, Android smartphones have half the market while Palm, Windows Mobile and RIM's fortunes have plummeted.

So who has benefited from Android? There are Android programmers working at Google, but how much has Google made from giving Android away and how long can they continue to do so? Clearly overseas manufacturers like Samsung got a foothold in the American market because of Android, but did American manufacturers lose out? How many jobs as developers did Android make in America?

 

[Stella]

Based on a recent article, Android smartphones have half the market while Palm, Windows Mobile and RIM's fortunes have plummeted.

So who has benefited from Android? There are Android programmers working at Google, but how much has Google made from giving Android away and how long can they continue to do so? Clearly overseas manufacturers like Samsung got a foothold in the American market because of Android, but did American manufacturers lose out? How many jobs as developers did Android make in America?

Don't worry - those developers - if good - are now developing for Android and other smartphone platforms - I.e they have adapted.

I get the impression from your post that you maybe trying to make Android sound like a villian - otherwise you wouldn't be asking the question? It's really not - people and the smartphone industry have actually benefitted from Android - and the smartphone boom in general see last paragraph.

You could ask the question - did America lose jobs because Palm and windows Mobile suck? These smartphones werent very popular anyway on an international basis. If they aren't popular on an international basis then they are far more vulnerable to failure. RIM is a canadian company.

Palm as a smartphone platform was effectively dead before android saw the light of day - palm as a company screwed themselves - unable to make the jump to smartphone platform from a PDA which was in decline as a market.

The Canadian city that I live in has a great deal of smartphone software houses that are doing well - so I see Android has provided people with jobs ( mobile app explosion provide jobs ) and bettered people in their careers. People who used to be soley desktop developers are now smartphone developers - be it android , or both Android and IOS - have benefitted - they have a greater range of skills to carry them forward. Blackberry apps are developed in Java, as are android so the learning curve is just learning a new API and getting familiar with a new platform.

 

[kdarling]

Well, let's see.

Sales jobs:

More Android devices are sold in the US, but I think both OSs have generated some extra retail jobs.

Manufacturing jobs:

I think all smartphone hardware is built outside the US, in places like China, Taiwan, Philipines, Thailand, India, Argentina, Brazil. So no gain or loss for the US there.

Application Programming jobs:

All of the mobile smartphone platforms have generated application related jobs in the US.

Device/OS Engineering jobs:

iOS has generated engineering jobs at Apple.

Android is responsible for design and engineering jobs at:

- Large American companies like Motorola, Amazon, B&N.
- US offices of foreign companies, such as Samsung and HTC. (*)
- Smaller US firms building ruggedized or embedded devices.

(*) These companies have Android R&D labs all across the US, along with support personnel.

Legal jobs:

Edit: almost forgot. iOS and Android have definitely kept US lawyers busy.

 

[steve2112]

Yeah, just like we are losing jobs because of the iPad. Well, at least according to Jesse Jackson, Jr.