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Over 70% of iPhone developers plan to write Android apps

updated 09:10 am EDT, Tue March 23, 2010

iPhone no longer exclusive platform for devs


More than 70 percent of iPhone app developers plan to also write for Android in the next six months, AdMob found in a study Tuesday. While the portion of multi-platform developers should jump from 31 percent to 47 percent over the period, the majority is likely to be adding Google's platform to whatever they already support. About half (48 percent) of Android developers plan to add the iPhone to their rosters.

The shift should give Android an unambiguous lead in mobile app development among those tracked through the mobile ad service. While it already has a very slight lead over the iPhone with 51 percent versus 48 percent, as many as 68 percent could be writing for Android in the next half-year.

AdMob's findings have also revealed a better picture of how developers view their platforms. Symbian and webOS developers are the most likely to consider their apps at least somewhat successful and write more apps, but Symbian is also one of the least-liked by the developers themselves; RIM's BlackBerry OS and J2ME are the only others to face more hostile reactions from app designers. Android and iPhone are virtually tied for being the most likely to at least partly please developers.

No direct explanation was given for the new lean towards Android, but the existence of a genuinely popular device like the Motorola Droid and the overall burgeoning of the OS have in recent months have given the incentive to produce professional apps. Android Market's considerably smaller size, at 30,000 apps versus 140,000 or more for the iPhone, also gives some apps a better chance at standing out.








By Electronista Staff

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TAGS :  

iPhone, industry, Google, Symbian, Android, BlackBerry, Palm, Research in Motion, mobile phones, Apple, webOS, J2ME

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Previous Comments

  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    -5
    03/23, 09:34am | report spam | reply

    They're likely leaning toward Android

    because it's totally open and eventually there'll be tens of millions of Android app downloaders they can make money from. Supposedly, there'll be plenty of Android app stores, too.


  1. Raman

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Mar 2001

    +5
    03/23, 10:17am | report spam | reply

    Lies = Statistics

    They should have broken down Obj-C developers from the html/css/js developers who use PhoneGap, Appcelerator, etc. to package essentially a HTML5 app in a runtime. There are more and more of these HTML5 being developed because it's easy and cross-platform. A few changes to settings and you have an executable on iPhone, iPad, Android, etc..

    Dev's like the closed, easy to monetize system, but many don't like the app submission/approval process that Apple currently has in place. Apple knows that more people are going to defect to another platform if they can't make their livelihood writing apps for the iPhone. I'm sure Apple will change their ways, not because dev's want them to, but because one day AAPL will realize that devs=apps=iphone sales=stock price.

    In the end full-time devs will develop and support the platform(s) that will bring in the most money. After all, they have to eat, too.


  1. vasic

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2005

    +5
    03/23, 10:21am | report spam | reply

    What happens after iPad is out?

    These number might trouble Apple a bit, but there are two factors that may turn it around in Apple's favour. First, it is the new land rush for the iPad apps, which by extension also applies to the iPhone. Second, and more likely to spook manufacturers, as well as developers, is the patent litigation against HTC, and possibly more suits against other handset makers (Moto, Samsung).


  1. luckyday

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2008

    -1
    03/23, 10:24am | report spam | (2 replies) | reply

    vasic

    Why would the litigation spook developers? Even if HTC were to lose on the multitouch front, apple is required to license them multitouch for a reasonable amount, if that's the route HTC wants to take.


  1. dliup

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2006

    +4
    03/23, 10:42am | report spam | reply

    Getting paid?

    Too bad Android is full of people who think software should all be open (aka free).


  1. mike777

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2010

    +9
    03/23, 10:42am | report spam | reply

    No surprise here...

    Interesting? Google (AdMod) does a study suggesting 70% of their competitors developers will write apps for their platform. Really? I might have believed that a study suggesting that app developers are looking at ways to increase revenue. But that is hardy news worthy....


  1. andrewbw

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2001

    +7
    03/23, 10:52am | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    Real developers target all

    I develop for both iPhone OS and Android. Why shouldn't I? If you're not an idiot as a programmer it's trivial to do both, and it expands your audience. To get all emotional and huffy about it is ridiculous. More marketplaces for my work = more exposure = more money. Being platform specific due to some sort of mixed up emotional attachment to a manufactured object or brand is just not realistic, or smart.


    Comment buried. Show
  1. slapppy

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2008

    -10
    03/23, 11:01am | report spam | reply

    iPhone/iPad/iPod T

    Looks like the end of the run. Thats a huge percentage. 70%...goodbye iProducts.


  1. qazwart

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2001

    +3
    03/23, 11:40am | report spam | reply

    Why all the bashing?

    Both Android and iPhone are going to be big platforms, and it isn't too hard to develop for both platforms. Programs on these devices are much simpler to write and maintain than programs on full desktops. The SDKs are better written, and there are fewer things to manage and features to incorporate.

    If I developed a popular application on the iPhone, I would certainly be willing to rework that application for the Android platform. The hardest part of programming: Figuring what you want to program, how it should be presented, and the overall structure of the application have been done. It's now a matter of coding in another programming language on another platform. It's not something you can do over a weekend, but it your application is making a few thousand on the iPhone platform, it's certainly worth the effort to put it on the Android platform too.

    Remember too that 50% of the developers who develop only for the Android are considering writing iPhone applications. They'll find things a bit more difficult. (Objective-C is a tricker language, the interface guidelines on the iPhone are more strict, and you have to follow the SDK), but if they can make a few thousand on another platform, it'll be more than worth it.


  1. ggirton

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    +1
    03/23, 12:52pm | report spam | reply

    it's not about the devices

    it's about the people. If you're in the mobile space you'll write for everything you can. Why not? It seems obvious.


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