The mobile app development space is on a constant churn. The mobile OS battle which has been heating up over the last year or so has now seems to be settled into an Apple iOS vs. Google Android race with RIM’s BlackBerry being a distant third. A latest report by Millenial Media for the October, 2011 seems to suggest exactly that. As per the stats revealed in the report, Google’s Android seems to have overhauled Apple’s iOS to emerge as the leader in the mobile platform race. Android represented 50% of the Application Platform Mix, ranked by ad spends, followed by iOS with 40% and RIM with mere 6%. Other including Windows Phone 7, Symbian and webOS could only manage to gain 4% in the platform mix.
With RIM seeing fast erosion in its market base and no visible challengers to Apple and Google, we believe it to be a two-way battle in the mobile operating system space. With a majority of mobile app developers getting attracted to iOS or Android or both, others will have to come-up with something special to challenge the giants. There are many reasons for the supremacy of Android and iOS in the market. While Android scores above iOS in the numbers and range of handsets sold in the market, Apple’s iOS provides a bigger collection of applications, a key influencer in user’s purchasing decision. Android app developers see a future in developing apps whereas iPad and iPhone app developers are hooked to the monetizing opportunities and volume sales in Apple app store. So, any worthy contender must have to bring the best of both of the worlds to make his presence felt in the market.
Tags: Mobile App Development, mobile OS