Industry Information Station

Branded smartphones repair rate of close to 40% is not abnormal? Answer clearly in the affirmative this is one almost cannot accept high proportions of. July late, invoked the foreign media news reports directly at “Samsung Motorola, HTC with Android (the Android) system of intelligent mobile repair rate near 40%”. Reported represented by Samsung of some equipment repair rate for 30%~40% compared with iPhone4 in 2010 “antenna” repair rate only when 1.7%.

Android faces “repair rate” rumors, the daily economic news reporter in Shanghai, Shenzhen and other places started investigation.

　　/Market/

　　“Repair rate” stability or misreading presses for improving

Reporter Chen Shijun from Shanghai

“Singularly high repair rate” reported recently the daily economic news reporter in several mobile phone brand maintenance points for investigation, staff said “this data obviously do not fly”. Also reporter contacted industry experts and these three handset manufacturers, feedback is obtained: “cannot confirm these foreign media sources source and repair rate can never achieve such high”.

“Four into a repair rate is impossible. Formal brand mobile phone repair rate will be at a normal level, which is basically in the low single digits. Especially for all three mobile phone manufacturers with high visibility, if they are really reached such a high repair rate, must have been widely questioned or even being recalled. “China Mobile Internet Industry Alliance Executive Vice Secretary General Li Yi said.

Many of the industry also admits: “Android Smartphone though not attain so exaggerated repair rate, but due to a system of open account, system and software unstable situation does occur. ”

Motorola CEO sangjie·gu (SanjayJha) had previously made clear in public: “Motorola Smartphones repair rate high because Android application in the market there are many poorly developed applications. ”

　　“Four repair rate” doubts

Now Android development is the arrival and there were reports, Android devices in next year’s sales to more than Apple iOS “has become a universally accepted statement”.

However, Motorola CEO sangjie·Gu after criticism that, “anyone can without any test case of sth Place the application in Android market “, sangjie·guceng said:” repairing 70% equipment is due to download third-party application, price is a cell phone is running slow. ”

Many people in the mobile industry, said some Android Smartphone users may phone contact, not many compared to Symbian system originally used by Nokia and Apple iPhone cell phone system, will feel the Android cell phone is more difficult to “play”. Brush and plenty of applications downloaded, installation and uninstall, itself properly if no operation or download problems, easier causes system instability to Android phones has failed.

For earlier sangjie·gu, Motorola, China PR, told the business daily added: “when sangjie·guti to the potential factors affecting mobile performance, is in fact cites several examples, such as battery life, speed, unaudited/lost the third-party applications. ”

“I think there may be misunderstanding of this 40% for repair, may be does not necessarily refer only to rework, perhaps also including after sale is back. In a foreign country, if consumers are dissatisfied, can be returned within a period of time, and repair refers to the product itself is failing to return repaired. Some handset manufacturers for custom modifications, and may cause problems on some software, but it will not rise to a hardware failure. “Li Yi said.

On July 31, the journalists visited a number of Shanghai mobile phone brand certification maintenance points to see, most of the customers are coming to repair due to mobile phone hardware (such as screen) damage or problems to maintenance on the system. One from one of the three brands of maintenance personnel told reporters that the Android because their open relationship than iPhone occurred due to poor software running on issues such as more likely, but these are not caused by hardware is damaged or needs repair.

　　Big three in response to “four repair rate”

The above “Android Smartphone brand 40% repair rate could face jeopardy” reported that compared to Apple iPhone4 in 2010 “antenna” repair rate of only about 1.7% when, the three mobile phone brand owned An Zhuoji repair rate is close to 40%.

However, in this “badmouthing” An Zhuoji reported rapid flow of around the same time, “four repair rate” of the data source has been very vague, only citing “foreign media coverage” argument. Foreign media reports in the mainstream and professional research agency released data, no assertion.

Media rumors of “four repair rate” argument, Samsung China’s head of public relations services to the business daily that, at present do not have the repair rate of digital, do not know how the data is.

Another was dragged in company HTC PR is also clear to reporters that: “according to company statistics data, currently its Android smart phone failure rate is very low. Compared to repair rate with media brands such as comparing apples (Apple OEM Foxconn and others), thanks to the production of HTC phones from HTC communications, and has strict production quality certification, prior to listing the result of the relevant Department to test and pass a test report, so repair rate is very low, and certainly far less than some media have said 40%. ”

HTC concrete repair rate did not disclose the company’s Android phones so why is level, but stressed that the openness of the system will not make the product appear on the hardware issues that need repair, only some of the problems caused by software.

Motorola is on of the business daily said that “we have never heard of such a so-called investigation report, do not know how the sample data source and credibility of the investigation. Motorola most smartphones from Motorola mobile technology in Tianjin factory production, factory management and test standard is very strict it. Hardware, Motorola on components suppliers, also uses a global uniform quality requirements. ”

　Custom machine systems more vulnerable to problems

Recent, more than domestic carriers have launched a customized approach, differences between competing models of smart phones. As important means of carrier extension 3G, and other services, the future appears more and more customized mobile phones on the market seems to be the trend. In simple terms, although most of these phones are installed with each version of the Android, but due to “custom”, terminal manufacturers have made to these custom Android “personalized” changes to achieve the unique functions and brand appeal. Industry and consumer concerns about stability of the system is always going on.

“In some custom machine Forum, complaints about the software problem in fact is a lot. In theory, not only is Android mobile phone, as long as the mobile phone operating platform is more open (unlike Apple iOS system), there were various software problems is a big chance. Because the users themselves are free to download and install the software, download and install these systems may be affected to a certain degree. This can be said to be the Smartphone is distinguished from the original function for bad side. Functional cell phones hardly allowed before, so like a system problem or virus situation it is difficult to appear. “Li Yi confessed.

Reporter smartphone users exchange forums to see, complaining about custom mobile stability and discussions usually are very popular. It was also a mobile phone salesman to the business daily that: “the biggest advantage and disadvantage of Android phones are in their open, compared to Apple’s system is closed and can only go to Appstore download official practices of approved applications, Android give significantly greater degree of freedom. In actual use, if smartphones operation that is not too familiar or overzealous brushing machine, download the plug-in, if the case of potential problems and vulnerable ‘ custom ‘ or quality concern ‘ copycat ‘, the system runs without problem will naturally come back up. ”

One industry source told reporters, the Android system because it is an open platform, some brands of terminals on this platform, like the platform changes, do some “deep customization”. And change is prone to problems. “After is not to say that open source code, you can make any changes. There are many manufacturers do not know what changes. So in theory, custom machine problems likely to be higher. ”

“In short, Android was provided drawings, but also involve some things done in the laboratory. Some vendors also want to change it even more personal to its desired direction or a change “, the official pointed out that” after the manufacturers modified in its prototype or some virtual environment appears to be no big problems, but in the future there will still be the risk of potential problems. Manufacturer is generally assumed that source anyway in his hands, changes shouldn’t be much problem. But, in fact, the manufacturer has not conducted a large-scale test in this regard. And Android itself announced by the like this work before coming to the source code. ”

　　/Focus issues/

　　Repair costs + malware Android phones two problems to be solved

Each reporter Qi Wenting from Shenzhen

Although Android three, told the business daily in an interview with quickly distancing the foreign media coverage of the so-called “four repair rate” message, but Android phones do exist after-sales maintenance and a series of problems to be solved.

Android system fengshengshuiqi in the Chinese market, but massive invasion, the flow is mad run the malicious software and expensive service fees for which haze development momentum on the cage.

　　Official high repair costs

On August 1, journalists respectively extract Samsung, HTC, Motorola top three best-selling models after consultation revealed brand Smartphone high maintenance costs, unclear definition of the scope and quality assurance.

Samsung i9008, Motorola, ME722, and HTCA8180 respectively to the three mainstream brand launched in high-end Android Smartphone, priced at around $ 3,000, and has achieved good sales results in the market, three manufacturers have commitment, genuine licensed importers sold in mainland China the warranty period is one year.

Reporter respectively call three home phone manufacturers in Shenzhen of official after-sales service hotline, inquiries learned that, user in warranty period within, as accidentally led phone screen damaged, required conceit its responsibility, and bear maintenance costs, which: Samsung i9008 replaced screen quote 1260 Yuan, plus received artificial fee 80 Yuan; Motorola ME722 display and the touch screen total quote 1080 Yuan; HTCA8180 display and the touch screen maintenance quote 1180 Yuan.

Statistics show that only screen repair, you can account for these three Smartphone purchase total cost of almost 30%. In response, the user said, “smart phone, can not afford to buy.”

Indeed handset repair is not just official aftermarket a channel in electronic markets, many cell phone repair shops take on Android handset repair operations. Hua Qiang bei in Shenzhen, a HTC parallel importers distributors told a press conference, compared with last year, current Smartphone accessories replacement costs have been greatly reduced, “last HTC phone, get a screen will be 600 or 700 dollars, now, 200 can fix, quality and quantity. ”

However, in the brand after sales channels outside of repair phones there are risks, Samsung, HTC, Motorola after-sales service departments have indicated, such as in an unofficial post sales channels for system maintenance, one year warranty on the product will be canceled.

Android Smartphone quality assurance, what what? Suning, an HTC handset sales staff told reporters that mainly include mobile phone hardware warranty scope issues and “non artificial factor” causing software problems. In fact, due to cell phone software bugs come in complex, responsibility for this issue it is difficult to define.

In desperation, many Android users in the mobile phone problem, had to pass the “brush” (reinstall Mobile operating system) repair mobile phones. According to reporter inquiries, in the three major mobile phone manufacturers Samsung, HTC, Motorola’s official aftermarket Android system “brush”, or pay $ 50 to 80 service fee.

　　Virus threat

“Mobile phone poisoning, for no reason at all to run flow, ten minutes is a trillion. Me do? Emergency! “Such many friends for help at Android forums. In fact, there are more smartphone users changes does not detect data traffic, malicious software with the erosion of traffic greatly increased.

Zhan Bo Webcast reports that since 2010, surging number of malware on Android platform has 400%. This year, the outbreak several malware problem: in February, the “King of Android” malicious button software into more than 100 consecutive app spreads May, “Android worms group” malware powerful RAID, after the invasion of mobile phone automatically outside the large button text messages.

In addition, following the “x-the undercover”, the “Android eavesdropping cat” and “Android SMS thieves” and “Android schistosomiasis” malware heavily landing, a serious threat to user privacy.

“Now has nearly half of the smart-phone repair, are and systems, software-related. After the user downloads a malicious program, there will be mobile phones running slow, increase in power consumption, frequent crashes, and other issues, there are some software the opportunity to implant, if not in time, will give users a surge in calls and so on. “A mobile phone repair shop in Shenzhen huaqiang North head, told reporters.

Based Jinshan phone guardian figures, viruses, malicious programs in China based on the Android platform with more than 100, and its variants have been up to more than 2000 kinds of; according to statistics, the Android smart customer infection index system for 0.36% this month, relative to the 0.22% late last year, an increase of more than 50%.

In response, Jinshan network Director of strategic cooperation Li Yunjun reporters to the business daily said the spread of malicious programs based on Android platform there are two main channels, one before the parallel imports, cottage for sale, by manufacturers, resellers-bound software; the other is spread through the app store download.

Li Yunjun pointed out that, because the domestic store number and administrative hassle, imperceptibly to the spread of malware creating a hotbed. In fact, each bound to sell a malicious program, app store, the cottage manufacturers, parallel importers distributors and middle channels from which you can earn a few dollars profit, Smartphone virus is spreading fast.

“Today’s Android malicious programs are ubiquitous, but the safety awareness of the domestic mobile phone users has not been established, the industry expects mobile phone malware in China next year will show explosive growth. “Li Yunjun said.

　/Reporter’s notes/

　Android priority: increase the intensity of software audits

Each reporter Qi Wenting from Shenzhen

Android repair rate problem affecting not only the mobile phone manufacturers, it also caused the entire Smartphone industry chain on all aspects of concern.

According to the latest survey body ChangewaveResearch, Android Smartphone users satisfaction is 50%, down from 70% Apple iPhone users.

At the same time, under the application of survey AndroidMarket twice times the frame rate has reached Apple AppStore. In fact, because Android application download platform, hybrid, and version number, leading to parts of the application after you install, caused problems to phone power consumption and processor consuming, resulting in frequent mobile phone failure, poor user experience.

A copy of the data shows that departments concerned sampling 30 manufacturers 30 Android mobile phone, testing out different levels of software quality issues a total of 80. Collation and found that mobile phone software error causing cell phone crash, reboot, the error rate of 27%; the proportion of data errors about 19%, directly associated with communications features (such as phone, information functions, and so on) error, account for 52%.

In response, the Yulong screen cool brand Director Gu Yong said the openness of the Android is a double-edged sword, which on the one hand make it easier for handset manufacturers, application developers adopted their system, on the other hand also a hardware terminal manufacturers its own technical strength put forward higher requirements. In combination with hardware configurations and ensure the quality of the product, Android system needs for more research and expansion of mobile phone manufacturers to optimize the user experience.

Gingerbread, Beehive, frozen yogurt, these nice name belong to different system Android released version, however, too many system version on the market but also to the system development has brought about great distress.

As of July 5, Android2.2 system “frozen yogurt” is still dominate the mainstream position, is 59.4%. But 64.6% the month before your statistics has fallen sharply, which section is being “gingerbread” Android version 2.3.3 and 2.3.4 eroded. Meanwhile, Android1.5 1.6, and numerous operators, handset vendor, application developers to modify system versions also share certain market.

Application development engineer Junjie Liu Hong Kong GreenTomato company to the daily economic news reporters, Android platform version chaos problem still is the main reason for the troubled developer, while repairing software causes problems, but because of the surge in user groups, more and more development teams are increasingly on the Android platform development efforts.

Junjie Liu pointed out that Google’s Android platform application audits do not strictly the important cause is. Typically, application developers will be uploaded to Apple’s app store, subject to the professional departments to check a week or so before entering the market circulation, and this time in the AndroidMarket only 1-2 days, and some of the Android market in the Mainland, audits are more weak.

“The long term, we remain optimistic about the development potential of the Android platform, as the system itself has the characteristics of open, allowing developers to more easily apply the underlying optimization, and in the Apple system is hard to do. Developers, handset makers to Android development experience of increasing,, and constantly optimize system itself, believed that problems would improve. “Liu Jun-Jie said.

The economic daily news