iOS 4 on 50% of iPhones? Um, no.

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 07-23-2010, 10:11 AM

Due to some confusing reports about a mobile ad analytics study, stories are proliferating on the interwebs this morning that 50% of iPhones are running iOS 4!!!1!! Later corrections modified that report to say that 50% of all web traffic is from iPhones running iOS 4!!!1! The actual report, though, shows that 50% of iPhones with installed apps using one particular ad company's banners are using iOS 4 - a very different statistic. However, it does show that the new OS has penetrated pretty quickly just a month after its release. By contrast, Google reports that Froyo is running on just 3.3% of Android phones.

Chitika (which you apparently pronounce CHIH-tih-ka) is an ad network that claims "2 billion monthly impressions across more than 80,000 websites." As part of its June analytics report, Chitika found that over 50% of the "impressions" from iPhone users were coming from iOS 4 devices, prompting Chitika research director Daniel Ruby to tweet "Good on you iPhone users - 50% of you are already updated to iOS 4." But the report - which Ruby linked in the tweet, and presumably had some hand in writing - didn't show that, or even what the title "iOS 4 Now Powering 50% of iPhone Traffic" claims. Using mobile ads as a proxy for all internet traffic is iffy at best. When, as in this case, the analytics are coming from a company that does in-app advertising, and isn't even in the top ten mobile ad companies by revenue, the numbers are even more hand-wavey.

What the report does do is give a snapshot of how a certain subset of users - ones who regularly download and install apps - are keeping current with iOS updates. The Chitika report showed that iOS 4.0, which was released just a month ago, had a plurality - 44.5% - of those users. iPhone OS 3.1.3 is still holding firm at 29.8%, with 3.1.2 at 14%. Version 4.0.1 has apparently gotten up to 5% after only a week. In its coverage of the Chitika report, AppleInsider compared these number to Google's own analytics showing 55.5% of Android users still using Android 2.1, and only 3.3% on Android 2.2 Froyo. 41% of Android users are stuck with 1.5 or 1.6, and most of those will probably never be able to upgrade because their phones won't support it. AppleInsider credits Apple's easy upgrade procedure for the rapid uptake of the latest iOS versions; that and the fact that no currently shipping Android phone (now that the Nexus One has been discontinued) comes with Froyo pre-installed.

Mark Twain famously quoted British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli as saying that "there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." If he had lived to the twenty-first century, Twain might well have added a fourth to the list: analytics.

Sources: AppleInsider, the intertubes

**iamthekiller** · 07-23-2010, 10:23 AM

who the hell is chitika

**zanetran** · 07-23-2010, 10:27 AM

Second baby. 3.1.3 for win.

**eg6motion** · 07-23-2010, 10:28 AM

I would consider Android once it's matured... but the limited app storage is a HUGE deal breaker. Froyo will fix that.

**cypherpunk** · 07-23-2010, 10:30 AM

Stop reporting crap.

"50% of all web traffic is from iPhones running iOS 4"? No, sorry, it doesn't say that, and anyone who actually clicks your link will quickly realize that no one is or ever was making that absurd claim.
Check your sources a little better next time.

**maddawg05** · 07-23-2010, 10:32 AM

Failed

**manickbarry** · 07-23-2010, 10:34 AM

Ahhh! Woooh! What's happening? Who am I? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What do I mean by who am I? Okay okay, calm down calm down get a grip now.

FAIL

**Happy Noodle Boy** · 07-23-2010, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by manickbarry

Ahhh! Woooh! What's happening? Who am I? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What do I mean by who am I? Okay okay, calm down calm down get a grip now.

FAIL

Oh not again.

**adp** · 07-23-2010, 10:40 AM

I apologize but I just fail to see the point in this article...

**LastSonOfKrypton** · 07-23-2010, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by adp

I apologize but I just fail to see the point in this article...

I see the point. It's just so dull it couldn't even pop a balloon!

**kambozza** · 07-23-2010, 10:44 AM

I am still running 3.0, dont think I will ever need to upgrade unless my phone crashes.

**BLADEofthePOPE** · 07-23-2010, 10:48 AM

Report some real news..like how Stephen Fry just tweeted Planetbeing, stating he loves him. :-p

**kuhndsn** · 07-23-2010, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by manickbarry

Ahhh! Woooh! What's happening? Who am I? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What do I mean by who am I? Okay okay, calm down calm down get a grip now.

FAIL

LMAO. I know right. You would think it's sweeps week for the writers here. Well at least this one is not written with salt and hate or mad Massany rumors. Lol. Guess they are practicing for the JB release to see who will get the first plug. Lol.

**Captinsmooth** · 07-23-2010, 10:52 AM

Boring!

**vampr** · 07-23-2010, 11:03 AM

They should stick to making Bananas!

**creasy425** · 07-23-2010, 11:07 AM

Cool points for a Mark Twain refrence though...

**Lolcats** · 07-23-2010, 11:11 AM

sup MMI community

**BLADEofthePOPE** · 07-23-2010, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by vampr

They should stick to making Bananas!

Booooo

**whereswaldo** · 07-23-2010, 11:14 AM

a lot of people i know are on 3.x becuase they didnt know about 4.0

**inyuke** · 07-23-2010, 11:18 AM

As i see it, i have 3 phones operating 3.0 and one on 3.1 for about a year and they are working perfectly fine and happy to let sublings use them. On my phones, i kept them up to date and jailbroke them and unlocked and it was too much hassle.. There is no differences between the iOS3's... but there is a major difference in the ios4.0
Anyways i dont like this article.. fail

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