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Android Developers Not Happy (nice article)

BeachSlapped

Dec 4, 2009, 2:17 AM
Skyhook Wireless had been hearing from the developer community that some were backing off the Android platform in favor of iPhone, so the LBS company did a survey to see what's going on.

As expected, the survey shows a general dissatisfaction with the platform among the developer community. Low download volumes, poor marketplace design and discovery options and the lack of an effective consumer billing system were among the complaints.

Of course, the platform presents a lot of potential for great distribution; it just needs some fixing, according to Kate Imbach, vice president of marketing at Skyhook, which supplies location technology for the iPhone. "There are just not a lot of paid apps" in the Android Marketplace and developers are sticking with or returning to the iPhone for the monetization opportunities, she says. It's also difficult to search for apps in the Android store.

Eighty-two percent of those surveyed indicated the design of the Android Marketplace makes it difficult for apps to be noticed, and 57 percent of the Android developers are not satisfied with the profits to date. Google Checkout is a major issue; 43 percent report they would sell more apps if Android used carrier billing or another simpler billing system. Only 10 percent of Android developers are currently serving ads.

A few months ago, Google introduced new features in the Android Market to improve the overall user experience. But Gameloft recently made headlines when it said it was backing off the Android platform in favor of iPhone because it's hard to make revenue in the Android application store.

Skyhook hasn't announced any partners but expects Android device manufacturers will ship with Skyhook's technology in 2010. Besides handset makers, the company also works with developers that license its technology for applications.



http://www.wirelessweek.com/News/2009/12/Survey-Andr ... »
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Chromemember

Dec 4, 2009, 12:51 PM
Maybe the team over at Android should've copied some of the things that makes the Itunes store so great. Honestly though this is an area that I have been telling people for a while now that showcases why the iPhone will still be #1 for quite a while. The iTunes App store was polished and in place quite a while before the iPhone came along. The Android Marketplace will be good eventually but if this article is a good indicator of anything the people behind Android better start making some changes really quick.
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BeachSlapped

Dec 4, 2009, 11:35 PM
I agree, I doubt the android platform will ever pick up among consumers. 👀
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Fleance2k5

Dec 6, 2009, 4:21 PM
I think the problem is people Assume Android was going to walk in and take over all the business from the iphone. iphone has been out nearly 3 times longer than any Android based phone. They've had a huge head start and it will take a while for Android to get their feet wet and to get things moving correctly. It happens. For example look how long it too to FINALLY get mms... Android will succeed. It's just going to take awhile. You have also have to realize that VZW just got these Android phones, prior they were with Tmobile and Tmobile doesn't have the customer base or fanboys like ATT has or Mac for that matter.
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Menno

Dec 5, 2009, 4:13 PM
That's pretty pathetic.. it's talking about people backing out before the launch (possibly before the announcement) of android launching on a major carrier. So of course revenue would be low.

-Verizon already announced that they were looking at ways to add carrier billing to app purchases.

-Even without that, google marketplace is essentially the same thing as what the Iphone uses, but it doesn't have something like itunes (yet) so saying it is "complicated" makes no sense.

-the only carrier billing apps you can get on any phone are the ones through are dumbphones. Blackberries use Paypal

-How in the world is Android marketplace harder to navigate? I use both and they are essentially the SAME EXACT product. Googles Market al...
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Menno

Dec 5, 2009, 4:23 PM
-The "survey" included a whole 30 responses. Not exactly something ground breaking. Google has thousands of registered developers.

-Gameloft is going to continue supporting Android, just not older devices.

the one valid issue with Android development is that there are three different versions of the OS floating around at the moment. 1.5, 1.6, and 2.0. I don't expect this will remain an issue for long though, because of bigger companies like Verizon pushing for everyone to get on the same page.

-Android is an open platform, meaning that it is much easier for people to make "free" versions of some of these paid apps, especially Linux junkies. That is why android will be harder to make a profit on, not because of the way the marke...
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Azeron

Dec 5, 2009, 8:52 PM
You are really selling me on Android. It sounds like having my own computer. I rarely pay for programs because I know if I look hard enough, I can find something similar for free. Maybe the Vphone will be out in a few months...
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Menno

Dec 5, 2009, 9:14 PM
I seriously love this phone.. just found an app last night that lets me use the flash to send morse code (or make a strobe light). useful.. maybe not.. fun? I think so
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