— The iPad may be weeks away from hitting the stores, but it’s already
creating a surge in the development of new applications — increasing
Apple’s lead in programs written for its devices over those running on
During the second half of 2009, Android’s new application growth began to close its gap with the iPhone, according to Flurry, a
mobile analytics company that gives developers a tool that compiles
information about the use of their applications. But last month, as the
impending announcement of the iPad dominated the tech world, new apps
for the iPhone operating system nearly tripled from December.
“It’s almost like over the summer you grew two inches, but your brother grew eight inches,” said
Overall, though, developers “show they are more excited about the possibility of what Apple is doing than what
In December, about 70 percent of new applications
using its tool were for the iPhone OS, and 30 percent were created for
Android. Last month, the spread increased to 90 percent for the iPhone,
10 percent for Android, Farago added.
Farago attributes most of that increase to apps
being developed for the iPad. But whether the developers are new to the
iPhone OS, or were already making applications for the phone and are
now adding the iPad to their businesses, is not the most important
factor, said
“This is the race we will be watching for a while between companies like Apple and
he said. “It’s not just about the ability to create a compelling piece
of hardware. It’s about making apps that bring people to the platform
and keep them there. At some point, developers will start making
strategic decisions — which of these platforms do I put my time behind.
This is a straight-up business decision.”
Last month Apple said its
“As long as Apple is making a nice business
opportunity for all these developers, they’ll continue to support” the
iPhone platform, Farago said.
The jump in new iPhone OS applications — Flurry
tracked more than 1,600 in January — is more than other increases the
start-up has observed. Flurry tracks more than 20,000 live applications
across iPhone and Android systems.
“I’ve never seen a jump like this,” said Farago,
whose company has been tracking application development for a year.
There were more modest increases in development activity surrounding
the launch of the iPhone 3Gs last summer and prior to the Verizon Droid
phone launch in November, he said.
This is good news for Apple, he added.
“We are like an early indicator of the supply
pipeline. We see stuff sometimes three months ahead of time,” Farago
said. “What you are seeing is a lot of developers trying to get in
there early so they can hopefully beat the stampede. But in effect they
are creating a stampede.”
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