iOS Users Remain Loyal Due To “Lock-In” Effect

To our iOS readers out there, why do you stick with your iOS devices? Have you been using the iPhone and its subsequent versions ever since it came out, do you currently own both the iPad and iPad 2?

A recent report from research2guidance has suggested that why iOS users remain “loyal” to the platform is due to a “lock-in” effect from owning too many paid apps. Apple’s app store has recently experienced an increase of 2% in the app market share, suggesting that there is a high demand for apps on iOS devices. What this means is that according to the report, it is implied that the more paid apps a user has, the more likely they are to stick to the platform.

It makes a lot of sense and that is the exact same reason I have been giving to others when they ask if I plan to switch over to Android. The fact of the matter is that after having spent a couple hundred dollars on apps, it’s a bit hard to give it all up and move to a different platform only to have to spend another couple hundred on apps there. It’s strange considering how there are some features belonging in Android and Windows Phone 7 that I feel are sorely missed in iOS, namely widgets and customizability, but because of those apps I have been reluctant to make the change.

So do you think that the report is correct? Or do you have another reason why you stick to iOS?