iPhone users aren't the only ones to get cool apps

The long-awaited flood of Google Android devices is about to hit the market, which should help bring more cool applications to new Android phones.

Motorola will be the next big manufacturer to announce its Android phone. The company plans to formally unveil it at an event on Thursday in San Francisco. Motorola has already been reaching out to developers to get them on board to create new applications that it hopes will drive demand for the new phones.

Mobile applications for smartphones are hot. The fact that Apple's App Store has had more than 1 billion downloads after only being around for a year means that smartphone users are hungry for applications that make their phones more useful and fun. But developers, whether they are large or small, have limited resources and time, and they must choose which platforms to develop applications for first.

So far, it's clear that the iPhone is the first platform developers target. As a result, Apple now has the largest mobile App Store on the market with over 75,000 applications. What this means for consumers is that it's more likely that the newest and hottest applications are available on the iPhone before other devices.

And the reason developers choose to develop for the iPhone is simple. It has the largest base of interactive users. It also has an easy and efficient distribution channel using the iTunes store. And it's easy to develop for given that there is one screen size and a single version of the operating system.

"Developing for the iPhone is a no-brainer," said Noam Bardin, CEO of a mobile app company called Waze, which has developed navigation applications for the iPhone, Android, Symbian, and Windows Mobile platforms. "You get more bang for each line of code you write for the iPhone. But then the question becomes, which platform do you develop for next?"

Right now, it seems like the big developers are creating applications for Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices. And then they move to developing for Google Android.

"What's happening is Android is the third platform for people to think about," said Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail, a free, visual voicemail service that is available for the iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android devices. "The way we have done it is as YouMail has gotten a larger and larger audience, we've started to see 4 percent or 5 percent of our audience on Android. And we've built an Android app to satisfy those folks since it's relatively easy to do."

Earlier this week, Yahoo announced a Flickr application for the iPhone and two other Yahoo applications for iPhones and a handful of BlackBerry devices. The company said it plans to release versions of these applications for other phones, such as Android phones, later.

"We will make these applications available on Android devices and the Palm Pre later," Sandeep Gupta, senior director of mobile applications at Yahoo said. "We're not waiting until these devices have critical mass, but we do have to prioritize. And that means developing apps for devices with the most interactive mobile users first."

Android's potent potential
The iPhone and the BlackBerry are the two leading smartphones in the U.S. market, so it makes sense for developers like Yahoo to develop for these devices first. But as more Android phones come on the market in the coming months, the priorities among developers could change. Apple, which has at least a two-year head start on the rest of the market, will clearly be the first priority for developers for a long time to come. But Android will likely garner some attention as well.

"You'll see a slow but steady increase in development for Android," Quilici said. "And it will be driven by people porting existing applications or extending applications that are interfaces to services."

Android Facebook app photos

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This week, two of the most popular mobile applications, social-networking site Facebook and the online radio service Pandora, each released applications on Android Market. These applications have been available for months in the App Store and the BlackBerry World.

In many ways, Android has the potential to be an even bigger platform for developers than the iPhone. Many developers have already been impressed with Google's open approach to the market. Not only is the source code freely available to developers, which makes developing for the platform easy, but developers can also post their applications directly to the Android Market. This means developers can get updates and new versions of their applications up immediately, instead of waiting to be approved by Apple.

The one thing that could hurt Apple in the long run is the fact that the company approves every application that gets into the App Store. Developers have often complained that the process can be long and applications are often denied without any particular reason given.

"The biggest challenge for a developer when it comes to Apple is getting their application certified," Bardin said. "The whole process is a black box. You don't know how long it will take or if your application will be approved."

Meanwhile, BlackBerry may have the biggest audience in terms of smartphones in the U.S. market, but developers say that it's the most difficult environment to develop applications for because there are so many different versions of devices with different screen sizes and screen resolutions and even slight differences to the operating systems.

The new BlackBerry AppWorld store also hasn't really taken off yet, in part because it's not as easy to use as the App Store for the iPhone. Payments are made through PayPal and the audience is more likely to pay for productivity applications, rather than games and other applications, according to Quilici. The other problem is the AppWorld store isn't available on every BlackBerry, which means discovery is easier for some users than it is for others.

Then there is Android. The platform is considered the easiest to develop for. But the market thus far has been small because there have only been two devices available in the U.S., the G1 and MyTouch, both made by HTC and sold by T-Mobile. Sprint also announced it will offer an Android phone on October 11. Internationally, Android-powered devices have been launched in 21 countries with 32 carriers in 11 languages.

The lack of Android devices has likely prevented some developers from spending the money and effort to develop applications for the Android Market.

Google has confirmed that the Android Market has more than 9,500 apps--some that are free and some that are paid. That's just a fraction of the number of applications available in the Apple App Store. Still, Android users are quite active, Google has said. Users have downloaded an average of 40 applications on their devices, and four out of five users download at least one app per week.

Now that manufacturers are finally rolling out new Google Android devices, there could be a much bigger audience for developers to reach. Motorola is expected to announce two new Android phones on Thursday. And Chinese manufacturer Huawei has announced a prepaid Android phone for Europe. Other manufacturers, such as Samsung and Sony Ericsson, are also expected to launch new Android phones later this year.

The big question for developers going forward is whether or not all these new Android devices will work with apps in the Android Market.

"There won't be just one screen size or resolution. CPU utilization might different," Bardin said. "These are all different devices made by different manufacturers. And right now we don't know what is going to happen. We don't know the changes that each manufacturer has made to the OS."

The one thing that could make Android a phenomenal success is if Google can crack the mobile advertising market through its application store. In June, Google launched a beta version of AdSense for Mobile Applications, which allows developers to earn revenue by displaying text and image ads in their iPhone and Android applications.

"If consumers don't have to pay for applications because they're subsidized by advertising," Bardin continued. "And if developers can make money through advertising, it's a home run for Android for sure."

[kasrhp1]

I agree that Iphone should get the first round of apps from devs. They def do have a huge market share. But, are there any apps the iphone or RIM has that Android doesnt?<br /><br />Pandora did just come to Android, but Android has had Imeem, Last.FM, and several other big players in the music streaming category since the beginning. While it is nice to have Pandora, it wasnt a dealbreaker not having it. <br /><br />Waze came out on the Android platform first, many months before Iphone. Now, they have Android, Apple, and Win Mob, but Blackberry not yet.<br /><br />So, I would like to see a real break down of missing apps from the other markets comparable to Android, or RIM. The iPhone may have a ton more apps, but how many are useful? Im not saying they are all fart apps, but having 75k doesnt mean too much unless your competitors dont have access to the best apps you have. <br /><br />If Android or RIM doesnt have a music streaming app, navigation app, exchange support app, weather, etc, then you have some catching up to do. If these other App worlds have all of the "necessities," then who cares if another company has more?

[eeee]

Is there an app that changes me into a Borg drone with the tubes and the eye piece and no will of my own and no individual thought? <br />The metallic forehead stamp also please <br />I await such an existence....

[protagonistic--2008]

The biggest problem I see with Android is, as was mentioned in the article, the inevitable deluge of different hardware. Developers are going to have to pick and choose which devices they want to support. That is the real Achilles heal of Android. Every manufacturer will want to make sure their device is different from everyone else's. With the iPhone one size truly fits all. That can be both good and bad, but from the perspective of the customer it is a good thing. You know the program will work on your device.

[thelemurking]

That hasn't really stopped programs coming to Windows. Windows has virtually unlimited variances of hardware, yet for the most part, as long as the programs are coded correctly, they are going to work. While having one distinct set of hardware has it's advantages, if devs code their apps right, it should work on all Android devices... and that is where the big advantage will with Android over the iPhone.

[Seaspray0]

As long as I can get the fart app, I'll be happy.

[ballmerisanape]

"That hasn't really stopped programs coming to Windows"<br /><br />People didn't have a choice... and they had a long time to adapt. It's also one of the many reasons why there are a lot of buggy apps out there for windows..

[Renegade Knight]

@thelemurking <br /> <br />True that. <br /> <br />@ballmerisanape <br />Crappy programs come from crappy programers regardless of what OS the yare programming for.

[celticbrewer]

agreed. <br /> <br />"but developers say that it's the most difficult environment to develop applications for because there are so many different versions of devices with different screen sizes and screen resolutions and even slight differences to the operating systems." <br /> <br />I don't see how that would be any different than Android. In fact, worse. BB has different flavors but at least it's one company. Android has many manufacturers of hardware. That'll be the biggest downfal. <br /> <br />All-controlling Apple always makes it easier by minimizing any variations (or from a consumer POV, options &#38; features). It's Apple's way or the highway.

[ibeetle]

Android is a operating system. Like Symbian or Windows Mobile. Not a tactile experience like a Blackberry, or iPhone.<br /><br />Ask 10 people in a Mall what a Blackberry is and you will get 10 people who think you are an idiot for asking a question that any child should know. <br /><br />Ask the same 10 people what an iPhone is and you will get 10 people who either will pull out their iPhone or tell you how much they want one. <br /><br />Ask a thousand people what an Android phone is and you will get a thousand blank stares. Even after you explain that it is a O.S. from Google the most likely response will be either "Google makes phones?", or "Phones have operating systems?"<br /><br />All business people want to know is is it a Blackberry, and all the average real world user wants to know is if it has a good camera and 1,000's of cheap games. Android users need to prepare themselves for pretty much being the Linux of cell phones.

[QA_Tester]

Android is based on Linux. There are several problems with Linux that prevent wider spread adoption: perception, too many vendors, even more flavors and lack of marketing to general public. Android is more like Windows Mobile

[lazycat202]

ask 10 people in IT industry what an Iphone is pand they'll say Iphone is just a kid toy. <br />ask 10 people in IT industry what an Android is and they will say :" I would like to get one" <br /> <br />who cares? I make my own decision and you've yours.

[calculatorwatch]

ibeetle has a point though<br /><br />Not to be too cynical but the main reason so many people buy iphones and developers make iphone apps first is hype. Android needs to figure out a way to gain mindshare if it ever hopes to have the kind of hype that iphones or even blackberries or the palm pre have.<br /><br />Sure you could say that android doesn't hope for that and doesn't need it, but the fact remains that android is a great OS and to most consumers it doesn't make a difference as long as they see each phone as just another htc phone or just another motorola phone. They'd sell a lot more if they could get people to see them as android phones and understand what "an OS from google" even means.<br /><br />But google doesn't do marketing and they would need some serious apple level marketing if they ever hoped to achieve a unified android brand.

[shellcodes_coder]

iCraphone really sucks!! Nokia N97 is the way to go!

[Seaspray0]

Haven't you noticed that nobody is paying attention to you anymore? If you can't show respect for other people's choices, then don't expect any. For starters, please refer to the products and companies by their proper name.

[kelmon]

As long as "the way" is "away" then I'll drink to that.

[celticbrewer]

He may not have respect, but at least he's right. Nokia does have the most feature rich devices out there.

[Random_Walk]

"The one thing that could hurt Apple in the long run is the fact that the company approves every application that gets into the App Store. "<br /><br />Depends on who you are... on the user side, it guarantees a high level of security (unless you're dumb enough to jailbreak your phone - then it's at your own risk, as usual).<br /><br />OTOH, I like the sheer openness of Android's philosophy, in that it may well become the bazaar (as Linux has become), right down to the OS itself. <br /><br />One caveat: This is excellent insofar as choice, but I can see the likes of Verizon locking the thing down to the point where you only get to use Verizon-approved apps (and guess who you would have to buy them all through at slightly inflated prices?)

[santuccie]

'Depends on who you are... on the user side, it guarantees a high level of security (unless you're dumb enough to jailbreak your phone - then it's at your own risk, as usual).'<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Actually, it doesn't have to be jailbroken to be hacked: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10299378-245.html<br /><br />That said, it's not ItW. Just thought I'd throw that out there; no need for undue alarm.

[bicparker]

This article is about potential... there is a huge difference between potential and results. <br /><br />The results for Android (or Pre, et al) is yet to be seen and will likely have little to do with technical superiority, ease of development, ease of the app store, or the number of devices or carriers it is on. If factors like those were the ultimate givers of results, then the iPhone would be a total failure. <br /><br />Technology history is littered with great technology that nobody (meaning not enough to sustain its existence) bought or used. It's not fair and often makes little sense, but it is true. Android may end up making it big eventually, but I seriously doubt it will make sense as to why.<br /><br />I guess my big rant against this article is how it is depicting Android's success as a fait accompli and how - if RIM/Google/Palm would just do THIS [insert your favorite solutions to taking over the world here], then it will have gazillions of users and totally dominate. It just doesn't happen that way.<br /><br />THIS includes making people totally change their buying habits and adopt your ecosystem as their own, competing against other very competitive companies, and, in the end, making profits where they count (and that last factor is the most important).

[yacahuma]

every time I read something like this, it makes me thing of what apple/iphone has accomplished. Apple revolutionized an otherwise stagnant industry. The hardware, the software, the eco-system. 3 years past, and still the whole industry is playing catchup. Truly Amazing!!!!

[celticbrewer]

Yes, Apple has again taken long-existing technology and ideas, dumbed them down, over priced them, and mass marketed them to mindless consumers. Don't get me wrong- that's an amazing feat for any business and kudos to them! If you're actually thinking that Apple innovates something, you're mistaken. The industry may be catching up to their sales, but Apple is the one that needs to catch up to (steal, and repackage) new technology.

[iphoneteacher]

I believe the lack of good resources for developers could be one potential hurdle for Apple. There are very limited organized resources that teach you how to program with the iPhone. There is plenty of sub-standard jargon out there that is not very structured for many noobs and beginner developers. One of the few structured iPhone courses is offered at EDUmobile.ORG. They are also working with Android in the coming month.

[AmmarYameen]

Hello, <br /><br />75,000 apps in Apple store and and other thousands in Google.....<br /><br />All for the good of the users. I love competition, consumers always the final winner.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />http://www.OnlyJust.NET

[Captain Bebops]

The great thing about Android development is that it is free. You can even post your apps on your own web site. There is no approval process to wait on. If you want to sell apps then there is the Android Market. There are other emerging market site. I think things will be really different a year from now after many of the new phones are available and on various carriers.<br /><br />Oh, and you don't have to learn a dead end programming language either.

[Succulence]

I have a mytouch. I could care less about having 5 million aps that anyone can make and would rather a smaller number of aps that are actually usefull and work. So the benefits of Android are still not that apparent to me. More importantly, the iphone looks better, is faster, and has a 16GB mp3 player for the same price as my phone. The only reason I got the mytouch was becuase I like google, and T-mobil has great policies and plans, and their phones use SIM cards. I will most likely take my phone back however, within the 30 day trial period I get in California, and wait a year for a bettter Android phone OR -- most likely -- for the iphone to become available on a carrier other than AT&#38;T.

[eeemang]

huh.....that splains it to all of us......thanks Succu

[myles taylor]

As stated above, the different types of hardware are going to make it harder to develop for Android. Also...we were told when the G1 came out that it wouldn't be long before the Android Apps passed up the App store and that didn't happen. <br /><br />The biggest reason I see for the App store's success is actually the fact that all the Apps can run on the 30 million iPhones and the 20 million iPod Touches. The impulsive buyers on the App store are made up of a lot of people who have iPods and without phone, 3G internet, and other things to distract them, people are more likely to install apps on their iPods. Simplicity and tight integration with the iPod is what is making Apple's App store a winner. I don't see any other phone besting that for that reason alone. A phone is just a phone and Apple has two platforms for completely different groups.

[eeee]

Is there an app that changes me into a Borg drone with the tubes and the eye piece and no will of my own and no individual thought? <br />The metallic forehead stamp also please <br />I await such an existence....

[YoN]

This will take windows mobile market share, as demonstrated earlier..