iPhone and App Store Attracting Developers

[MacRumors]

MercuryNews reports on how the iPhone and upcoming App Store are attracting many developers to Apple's mobile platform. Loopt's cofounder, Sam Altman, describes how he's seen an excitement amongst mobile developers:

"People who said they'd never start a mobile (applications) company because they didn't want to rely on the carriers are now starting companies focused only on the iPhone."

The existence of stable development tools, relatively favorable sales percentages, and streamlined application delivery are cited as the most attractive features of the iPhone platform. No other mobile platforms provide as integrated a solution as the App Store to distribute applications directly to the customer. Despite some vocal concerns about the 70%/30% developer/Apple split on App sales, other carriers are said to take up to 60% of revenue on other platforms. One analyst projects that the App store could create a $1 billion-plus iPhone ecosystem by the end of 2009.

Of interest, Apple based the iPhone software development kit (SDK) around the existing Mac development tools. This common toolset has even led some to suggest that these new iPhone developers may also begin developing for the Mac.



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[Beric]

Read this article in the paper this morning.

[JonHimself]

They do make valid points. I don't write software and never will, but looking at it objectively, having a streamlined system for creating and delivering my application to a growing user base while still be able to collect a decent % of the money (considering how easy it is to distribute), I really think Apple is setting up their Mobile OSX to be very powerful (in terms of popularity, not like computing power).

[miketcool]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Of interest, Apple based the iPhone software development kit (SDK) around the existing Mac development tools. This common toolset has even led some to suggest that these new iPhone developers may also begin developing for the Mac.

That was the idea!

[Decrepit]

If the App store is up for a month and certain applications don't exist yet, I'm going to write my own.

I had a couple of ideas that would have been very useful last week during the storms out in the American mid-west.

Can you imagine an application that lets a municipality broadcast a text message or alert of some kind that lets people within a certain distance that a bridge is out, a road has become flooded, etc? A live GPS map that turns off impassable roads, or highlights evacuation plans?

Do it!

[/dev/toaster]

I totally agree and I am one of these developers. I am working on a few small projects that I am creating for the iPhone. At the same time, I am developing a few small utilities for my desktop.

Apple was damn smart on how they rolled this out. Although I am still annoyed it took them as long as it did to annouce the SDK. This is going to give the Mac platform a huge shot in the arm.

I know many other developers who have been using a Mac for a few years, but just started developing apps for it and the iPhone.

[kjs862]

1 billion dollar eco system. Wow thats a lot of money. I wish the app store was released when the iPhone was first released. It really would have been ahead of its time.

[Tosser]

Originally Posted by miketcool

That was the idea!

LOL, you say that as if it was you who came up with the scheme

[sonicwind]

There is much that remains to be seen. The current number of developers allowed to develop and submit application is extremely limited at this time. There's no guarantee this will change. I don't think Apple is just going to open the flood gates and allow anyone to submit any application. Apple is going to enforce standards and possibly even limit applications based on unpublished limitations. I'm expecting there to be significant backlash when developers do submit applications only to find Apple rejecting many applications on failure to meet design, performance and security guidelines. Apple apparently doesn't want complaints about stability and performance issues that have plagued both Palm and WinMo. These limitations will leave the majority of these developers "flocking" do develop for the iPhone with only a recourse to target jail-broken phones, which greatly reduces potential profitability for them.

[Beric]

Originally Posted by sonicwind

There is much that remains to be seen. The current number of developers allowed to develop and submit application is extremely limited at this time. There's no guarantee this will change. I don't think Apple is just going to open the flood gates and allow anyone to submit any application. Apple is going to enforce standards and possibly even limit applications based on unpublished limitations. I'm expecting there to be significant backlash when developers do submit applications only to find Apple rejecting many applications on failure to meet design, performance and security guidelines. Apple apparently doesn't want complaints about stability and performance issues that have plagued both Palm and WinMo. These limitations will leave the majority of these developers "flocking" do develop for the iPhone with only a recourse to target jail-broken phones, which greatly reduces potential profitability for them.

Really? I don't think Apple will be extremely strict for very that reason.

[twoodcc]

sounds great! can't wait for iphone 2.0! and would love to see these new developers develop for the mac also

[pohl]

Originally Posted by kjs862

I wish the app store was released when the iPhone was first released. It really would have been ahead of its time.

Is there another one out there like it already?

[stockcerts]

Receiving revenue from these applications will more than make up for the dollars they won't be receiving from AT&T on a monthly basis.

[raggedjimmi]

I don't even own an iPhone yet but it looks like it's destined for some pretty major things.

[DMann]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Of interest, Apple based the iPhone software development kit (SDK) around the existing Mac development tools. This common toolset has even led some to suggest that these new iPhone developers may also begin developing for the Mac.

Talk about a halo effect. Incredible.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

iPhone and App Store Attracting Developers

Oh really? I had no idea.

[ArtOfWarfare]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

No other mobile platforms provide as integrated a solution as the App Store to distribute applications directly to the customer.

But have they even revealed exactly what looks like and how it works?

For all they know it's going to suck... (we fans obviously know it's going to be great and unlike anything ever seen before obviously... but how would new developers to know that?)

[Lepton]

Yeah, it's attracting developers who can't get in! Remember, only a fraction of those who applied to the developer program got in. I was hoping they would open it up around WWDC time, but not a peep. When will they open up wider!

I'm writing two iPhone apps, that require and need to be tested on actual hardware but can't get in the program. That means I can't test, and I can't sell. I don't need support or handholding, I just need to load onto a device. I'm going to miss the opening of the store now. C'mon Apple!

[theMaccer]

More developers for Mac? Does that mean more viruses in the future?

[4JsJJJ]

Is there a central list of announced applications?

[MattInOz]

How much will the AppStore be worth?

I think there is a chance to be really smart here, work with sproutcore or Objective-J, to get the AppStore and the Apps on Android or Nokia's phones that use webkit based browser.

One it makes Mac the lead developer platform, and put's the Apple way of doing stuff in people minds, the same way iTunes has. not to mention with all those developers working on Mac then people who in the future need more than a smartphone are going to follow the mini apps to the full apps.

[stagi]

can't wait for the app store its really going to change what a cell phone can do.

[GQB]

Originally Posted by /dev/toaster

Apple was damn smart on how they rolled this out. Although I am still annoyed it took them as long as it did to annouce the SDK.

Indeed, but that sounds a bit contradictory to me.
You can do it right, or you can do it fast... pick one.
It took a year to do this right. Anyone who thinks that the App Store, SDK, Developer's Program, et al could have been done well and faster has never worked for a large programming shop.

I'm noticing a pronounced silence from those who berated Apple for not rushing out a hacker's kit immediately.

[W1LLk]

Once again I am reminded of how much money there is to be made on a good, catchy, iPhone application. Unfortunately, I have been dabbling with the SDK since first release and have discovered something quite discouraging. I have the software coding knowledge of a monkey. I admittedly jumped at it hoping web development knowledge would push me in the right direction, but this is a C++ direction and I'm locked in html/php/css mode.

I have some (personal opinion of course) great ideas and have messed around with the coding a bit... Anyone else out there maybe got some more coding ability just needing a few ideas?

[lord patton]

1 billion dollar ecosystem? It could be a lot more than that.

By the end of 2009, there will be around 30 million iPhones in circulation (that's a moderately aggressive forecast, but totally possible). With that many units, you would only need $34 average per phone per year spent on apps to reach 1 billion gross, and that's not including the iPod Touch.

Gamers, professionals, geeks... they could all spend way more than $30.

And in a year, after P.A. Semi have lended their hand to the next generation iPhones and Snow Leopard has trickled down into the iPhone OS, Apple will have laid the foundation for a 100 million unit (iPhone+Touch+who knows) ecosystem by the end of 2012.