Android replaces iOS as 'most important' platform: report

Peter Dinham
Tuesday, 24 January 2012 15:35

IT Industry - Development

Android has replaced Apple's iOS in terms of importance to developers in the Asia-Pacific region in the last 12 months, according to a newly published analyst report, although there's growing interest from developers in Microsoft's Windows phone.

In its latest market report, analyst firm Ovum says it is clear, however, that iOS and Android form the core of developer support and that, although these two platforms may vie for ultimate supremacy, almost all developers support both platforms.

In its second annual developer survey Ovum reveals that while iOS and Android form the core of developer support, there is 'significant drive behind Blackberry OS' and an increasing interest from developers in Microsoft's Windows phone.

Adam Leach, Ovum devices & platforms practice leader and author of report, says the growing momentum behind Windows Phone indicates that Microsoft has 'managed to convince developers that its platform is worthy of investment,' but he cautions that Microsoft's 'main challenge now is to persuade consumers.'

According to Ovum, in this year survey the trends mirror closely changes in the wider smartphone market, and vevelopers have been quick to respond to the exit of once-important smartphone platforms such as Windows Mobile, Symbian and WebOS and have embraced opportunities that have arisen through emerging platforms.

Leach says there's been a move away from traditional cross-platform mobile application development approaches (e.g. Java, Flash, WAP). 'Instead, developers are focussing their efforts towards web-based standards (e.g. HTML5), which seem to be the preferred approach to building cross-platform applications.'

'Yet, despite the increasing use of cross-platform programming approaches, most developers are still using vendor-specific distribution channels such as Android Market to deploy applications, as this is seen as the best way to reach the largest possible audience for their applications.'

Leach observes that a smartphone platform's success is 'dictated not only by the pull of consumers and the push of both handset vendors and mobile operators but also a healthy economy of applications delivered by third-party developers. Therefore, it is important for all players in the smartphone ecosystem to understand the choices developers are making today and the downstream impact of those choices.'