Droid invasion continues as Google is now the most important OS in Asia Pacific.
 Click to enlarge |
That’s according to Ovum, who say Android has replaced Apple’s iOS in terms of importance to app developers in the Asia-Pacific, according to a developers survey carried out.
Developers change of affliation away from Apple occured over just the past 12 months.
These latest results must have Apple green with envy as its Droid rival who only arrived in 2008 are now pushing it out of the top spot.
Analysts IHS said last week 58% of all smartphones will be Android by 2015, while Microsoft Windows will be No.2.
But it appears all is not lost for Apple iOS and there is a bitter platform war brewing between the two giants as developers will continue to produce apps for both No.1 and 2, for smartphones and tabs including iPad, iPhone, Samsung, HTC and other Droid’s like Motorola.
“It is clear 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,” say Ovum.
However, underdogs Windows and RIM’s BlackBerry could be in for a boost also, with analysts noting developers “an increasing interest” in Microsoft’s fledgling OS.
However, Windows main challenge now is to persuade consumers, said Adam Leach, Ovum devices & platforms analysts.
“The growing momentum behind Windows Phone indicates that Microsoft has managed to convince developers that its platform is worthy of investment.”
Google reign among developers comes despite the fact it has less apps (400,000) in the Android Marketplace – launched at end of 2008 compared to Apple’s App Store which exceeds a whopping 500,000, although the latter has been around for longer.
There are more free apps (around 67%) in Android than any other OS (followed closely by Windows Phone 61%).
Apple has just around 37% and takes a higher cut from developers than its green rival, which may explain developers new found love for Android, along with the sheer number of users Droid now boasts.
Both Apple and Android apps have passed major milestone – App Store has enjoyed 18m downloads in total, while
Android Market has also reached dizzying new heights with 11 billion app downloads, 1bn in the last month alone, Google’s Chief Larry Page, revealed at an earnings call Friday.
And apps enjoyed a boom period over the Christmas holidays with a whopping 1.2bn downloads from both Apple and Droids.
But according to Flurry analysts, app fever is going to get even worse in 2012.
Developers have also been quick ditch once-important smartphone platforms Windows Mobile, Nokia Symbian and HP’s failed WebOS, according to the Ovum report, Developer Insights 2011: Trends in Mobile Application Development.
There has also been a clear move away from Java, Flash, WAP on mobile development towards web- standards like HTML5 in cross-platform apps.
And developers are still using vendor-specific distribution channels such as Android Market to deploy thier applications, seen as the best way to reach the largest possible audience for their applications.
“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.”
