Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, recently shared his theory on why iPhone’s market share in China is expected to continue shrinking. Despite Apple’s decision to remove Telegram from its China app store due to pressure from China’s Cyberspace Administration, Durov believes that this move has not deterred Chinese users from downloading the app.
In a message posted on his public Telegram channel, Durov criticized Apple for its “walled garden” app policies and highlighted the advantages of Android phones that allow users to sideload apps outside of official app stores like Telegram. He predicts that more users in China will switch to Android devices due to this restriction, leading to a decline in iPhone market share in the country.
Durov emphasized that Beijing’s action was primarily targeted at Apple rather than Telegram itself. He pointed out that unlike iPhones, most Android phones enable users to download apps from sources other than official app stores, such as the direct version of Telegram. As a result, he foresees a gradual migration of Chinese users from iPhones to Android devices.
Despite facing challenges such as the need for VPNs to bypass China’s censorship system known as the “Great Firewall,” Durov highlighted that Telegram remains popular in China among resourceful users who find ways to access the platform.
Overall, Durov’s insights shed light on the evolving dynamics of the smartphone market in China and how app store policies can impact user preferences and market share among different device manufacturers.
