Why Android can not be the main platform for developers

Years go by, but the Internet continues to delight us every day by millions of constructive and not so discussions between paladins and Android adherents iOS. A key argument of green robot witnesses - Android is growing rapidly, and that very soon will be the main reference point for current and new developers. However, when predicting the future adoration of a particular platform developers, these people are not repelled from the indicators. Simply put, the number of shipped smartphones and OS market share actually are not determinative.

At the level of architecture and, most importantly, finance Android seems not so happy. Challenges and barriers faced by developers, yet insurmountable. Android can violently move the masses at the expense of large corporations producing budgets, but for developers who create applications that is the most attractive and relevant to the user of the system, iOS remains a key platform, regardless of the market share growth Android. This situation is due to several reasons:

1. Despite the fact that the mobile market is the United States is far from us, it is objectively generates the lion's share of the profits for the world party developers. The Apple States very firmly and securely holds its position in the smartphone and tablet market (Android iOS was not able to get around even on the eve of the start of sales iPhone 5S and 5C, and in fact at this time, many hampered with the purchase of five, to take just a new device - wait for the updated data for the fourth quarter). There is nothing surprising in the fact that most of the world's population solvency attracts developers. Most successful mobile startups come from the United States, because here they feel comfortable. This support from the consumers does not allow to settle the doubts in the minds of the developer, and it is safe to create new cool products. China is expected to more 400 million activated Android? I do not care.

2. Close contact with developers and investors (these guys know how to count), leading to the realization of the harsh truth of life:

The development and release of the Android app costing 2-3 times more expensive than iOS.

Why it happens? Then play a role more complex development tools, more cumbersome and less flexible API. Do not forget about the scourge of Android - fragmentation. It will not go away.

The golden rule of modern design: for every iOS developer requires two Android developer or a developer + twice the development time.

3. The average budget of US startups ranging from $ 800,000 to $ 1.2 million, and with the investments of the team are expected not only to licked the application, but also the corresponding demand among consumers (lath expected demand over the years has grown about 5-10 time).

4. This forces startups go through a non-linear way to develop and prove the viability of the future product (a good team, a preliminary search for a niche in the market, having a good idea of ​​the finished product). This is fundamentally different from the "Round A" investment ladder when money is allocated to the implementation of the idea is already a reality.

5. With the start-million budget can afford a designer, a front-end developer and a backend developer. Often, co-founders and the founders involved in the development or feasibly help promote the project. Team osilivaet application for 18 months, and releases it in the App Store, showing its financial performance to investors.

6. Given that a number of restrictions, the number of start-ups, choosing its first Android platform, tends to zero. Successful expansion of presence (ie the beginning of the second support platform) is only possible when interest in the products on the main platform, otherwise the money for development will not give. In this way a possible way to the secondary platform only seen as a round part A.

7. Start right away with the two platforms is almost impossible, so you need to choose. Then float factors of the second paragraph: to develop for iOS is cheaper and faster, but the reason is not only that. The product should be profitable, and in this respect is much more attractive than iOS. Shopping is much more effective work within the applications and advertising on the apple mobile platform, rather than in the Android.

Research on the basis of 200 billion advertising Facebook ads have shown that the revenue from advertising, demonstrated on iOS devices exceeds the profit from the impressions on Android 1790%That is almost 18 times.

That's the sad statistics for the giant of the advertising industry.

8. Developing under iOS, the team receives an order far more visual metric for investors, which contributes to further financial support startups, as well as the mechanics of the application store that allows users to see a new quality faster development. Against this background, we see a lot of great Android apps that have not received the attention of users, sufficient to continue the funding for the project.

9. 10 startups reach A round survive 1 or 2. Often promising developments buying market giants (Facebook, Google, Apple, Yahoo, Dropbox, etc.). As a rule, after the purchase of the project is closed, and the best brains are working for a large company as long as it will generate new own perspective project. With a high probability in the care of the company, they remain committed to the platform, with which worked previously. It turns out this cycle of talent in the industry startups iOS that provides the creation of more and more revolutionary products and ideas.

Despite the fact that from the perspective of a simple Android users seem modern and forward-looking platform for the developer is not so rosy. In the current realities of startups simply can not afford presence on Android in addition to iOS. Development is still worth a lot of money, and in view of the current relationship between developers and investors, Android is far from the iOS.

(via steve Cheney)