Apple denies it’s making a tool to help ease the switch to Android
— January 13, 2016
Apple debunked rumors on Monday that the company was developing a tool to help users switch from iOS to Android.
The comments came after a report in The Telegraph quoted a senior industry source saying the tool would help people transfer data like contacts, music and photos if they moved to Android.
“There is no truth to this rumor,” Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller wrote in an email to Mashable. “We are entirely focused on switching users from Android to iPhone, and that is going great.”
The Telegraph’s report came after Apple has faced pressure from European mobile operators who are worried many users aren’t switching over from the iPhone because of the difficulty of transferring data. The telecom operators also say it weakens their negotiations with Apple. The report didn’t provide further details about the tool or release date.
Apple does have a Move to iOS app in Google Play (pictured below), which allows Android users to transfer data to a new iPhone — an mobile application development that undoubtedly benefits Apple. During Apple’s 2015 Q4 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said about 30% of iPhone sales came from customers switching from Android.
A few apps in the Google Play store also help ease the transition to Android, like Samsung Smart Switch Mobile, which transfers a range of data, or PhoneSwappr, which only transfers your contacts. Other than a handful of apps for new users, Android offers an online guide on how to back up everything and make your move.
Following The Telegraph report, some publications speculated whether Apple’s move to create an iOS-to-Android tool was the result of threats of legal action, but nothing had been confirmed. In 2013, Apple was under scrutiny for possible antitrust violations, when the European Commission sought out information about the company’s contracts with European wireless operators, but a full investigation was never launched.
Source: mashable
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