The mobile era began when the mobile industry discovered its potential of entering the mainstream. The industry owners realized that smart phones are more than expensive toys for entrepreneurs and geeks. The industry grew swiftly surpassing 29 percent global penetration in the first quarter of 2011. However, the penetration widely differs from nearly 65 percent in the US, 19 percent in Asia Pacific and 50 percent in Europe.
How to Measure the Mobile Platform's Success
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We can measure the success of the platform via its scalability, which means that the platform must grow exponentially with the growth in the number of users. Other way to determine platform's endurance is testing the platform's ability to hold a number of quality Applications and a wide spectrum of Applications ranging from the business apps to the apps used for killing time. The number and type of Applications developed for a platform directly relates to the platform's success; for example, Apple holds the largest no. of Applications, 500,000, and attains the most successful position in the mobile market. Second is Android with 300,000 applications.
Role of Mobile Application Development Ecosystem for the Platform's Success
The strength of the mobile application Development ecosystem drives the mobile industry today. Although technological sophistication plays an important role, the application ecosystem, which comprises of application vendors, developers and consumers, generates revenue. Apple and Google exemplify the mobile platform's success through application ecosystem. It seamlessly brings the developers and content providers together.
When a developer performs a mobile application Development for any given platform, he needs to invest a large amount of money. Therefore, a developer's perception of a platform, build through careful study, is very important. Platform owners spend millions and billions to attract developers through advertisements, special developer's blogs, advanced SDKs and so on; because, on an average a developer needs to invest ,000 when developing for the Apple platform. Similar is the case for Android; which means, developers are the success makers and breakers. The long term sustainability of a platform is determined on the basis of whether a developer's investment in a platform grows, stagnates or declines.
Application Ecosystem's Impact on Leading Mobile Platforms
In the first quarter of 2011, we saw many old and new mobile platforms seeking the top position. However, only Apple understood the significance of the application ecosystem and began iPhone Application Development in full force. Nokia steadily lost ground in the high-end smart phone market and created a vacuum, which was soon filled up by Google that brought Android application development in picture. RIM sustained till the third quarter due to its enterprise support. Although many consumers found it difficult to part with RIM's security and push email services, blackberry application development still lost the enterprise market as Apple enforced security competent with Blackberry, proving its potential for the enterprise users.
All in all, till application ecosystem drives the mobile industry, mobile app developers will remain a key to its success. As the utility mobile application development trend makes way to smart phones, platforms will have a better clinch on the consumer market.
Today iPhone Applications will be the winner of the race. Winning also depends on the kind of incentives a platform owner offers to its developers. All developers have different needs. It means that the developer ecosystem is a varied landscape, which comprises of enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, independent software vendors and more. Therefore, the widely varied incentives for different developers form a cornerstone of any platform's strategy to attract mobile app developers, thereby deciding its success or failure.
Mobile Application Development Ecosystem Determines Platform Success