Google Android fastest growing OS accessing Halfords.com

The car accessories and cycle retailer has seen the number of Google Android users on their site increasing at a faster rate than Apple systems users over the last few months.

Analysis of smartphone visits to Halfords.com found that online visits from Android phones have risen by 500% in the last 7 months, rising at a faster rate than visits from all other devices. This included visits from the much publicised iPod and iPad.

Whilst Apple devices are still seeing significant increases in users, Google Android is growing at such a rate that Android users may eventually overtake Apple. Android visitors have already overtaken Apple iPad visitors to Halfords.com.

“This is a fast changing space,” says Chris Corbin, Head of Halfords dot com,

”Smartphones are changing the way that customers interact with our site and do their shopping. We are very focussed on giving the best online shopping experience for mobile users, whatever the device they are using.”

While Android usage is growing most quickly, Apple devices are currently the most numerous smartphones used to access Halfords.com. The iPhone is the leader but recently its growth rate has been slower than Android phones. 

Mobile visits now total 8% of all visits to Halfords.com traffic. This summer Halfords launched a new mobile optimised site. Mobile visits and conversion rates have both increased significantly since then.

Halfords findings are supported by a Neilson survey which states that in August 2010, Android devices outsold Apple iPhones in the US for the first time ever.

Research from Digitimes also predicts that Android sales will exceed 55 million by the end of the year, compared to a recent report from Forrester Research which forecasts iPads sales of 10 million.