[freedomben]

I expect that when Apple complies, they will see huge market share gains, and they will realize that doing the same thing in the US is a good idea. People who already use Apple, are still going to use Apple, but people who don't because they want the freedom of Android might jump to Apple once that platform is more in line with their wants.

[kmlx]

> I expect that when Apple complies, they will see huge market share gains

> but people who don't because they want the freedom of Android might jump to Apple once that platform is more in line with their wants.

i don’t think so for two reasons:

1. people in europe have much less disposable income and as such prefer cheaper devices.

2. people don’t really care about the so called “freedom of android”

thus android has a steady 60 something percent in europe and as long as there are super cheap android devices, this will continue.

[KerrAvon]

But Apple doesn’t care about market share. It is far more profitable now than it would be in a race to the bottom as a commodity hardware maker.

[freedomben]

> But Apple doesn’t care about market share.

Are you sure? I distinctly remember them boasting in a keynote about how many Android users were using their app to switch to iOS. I could definitely believe that it's not a high strategic priority though.

> It is far more profitable now than it would be in a race to the bottom as a commodity hardware maker.

Agreed, but I don't think it would have to turn into a race to the bottom. Apple is a luxury brand now, and I expect they would continue to maintain that. The Apple logo is very much a status symbol (particularly for the young. My teenagers are literally made fun of at school for having "Androids" instead of iPhones), and I wouldn't expect that to change much. In fact I think as more people adopt it, being an Android user would become more of an aberration from cultural expectations than it already is.