Android,Offers,More,Flexibilit ecommerce Android Offers More Flexibility for App Developers

I will be answering three main questions in this Emerald Passport Review for all of the tenacious Entrepreneurs that are seeking the ideal Home Based Business Opportunity. Internet Marketing has seen some tremendous growth in the "work at ho Wood handles are used in tools due to their ability to provide a good grip when holding the tool. Unlike many other types of handles; wooded handles are easy to grip do not transfer heat and are not an electrical conductor. Therefore, making

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}There is no doubt that mobile apps are changing the waybusinesses engage and communicate with consumers, and have created a brand newindustry in mobile app development. Apple was first to market with its AppStore and public API program, allowing virtually anyone to create mobile appsand make money (potentially). Android followed shortly after with its AppMarketplace, and Windows Phone 7 has recently entered the space as well. And,let's not forget about Blackberry, which owned the smart phone world for yearsbefore iPhones and Androids made smart phones cool for everyone, not justexecutives.So, as a business leader, where should you focus your mobileapps efforts? Let's look at the numbers.Apple is leading the way, boasting over 350,000 apps as ofMay 2011 (check the title tag on the App Store page),but Android is gaining momentum. In fact, in early May, Google confirmedthat the Android Market offered over 200,000 apps. Compare that to datafrom just a year earlier in April 2010: Apple had 185,000 apps compared toAndroid's 38,000. Clearly, Android is catching up.As far as device sales, Android has already pulled ahead. Recent data fromNPD Group suggest that Android is by far the most popular consumer smart phoneplatform, owning 53% of the U.S. consumer market share, while both Apple andBlackberry (RIM) have just 19%. Also, a recent PC World article mentioneda March 2011 survey by GetJar that indicates Android shows no signs of slowingdown, with 40% of consumers responding that their next smart phone will be anAndroid phone, compared to just 16% who said their next phone would be aniPhone. From a development perspective, Android is the most flexibleplatform. Developers can create apps using Apple, Windows, or Linux technology;Apple only gives you one option (guess which one?). The app development andsubmission process is also much more open for Android compared to Apple andother mobile platforms. Once you submit an app to the Android Marketplace, itis instantly available for users to download and install on Android devices.Apple, on the other hand, requires you to wait for approval, and rejects someapps based on concept, design, or functionality. This creates a certain qualitystandard for iPhone and iPad apps, but is frustrating for developers who cansometimes get caught in a black hole trying to get an app approved. The instantapproval process for Android apps streamlines the process, and Google takesmore of a laissez-faire approach in that it pulls apps that get a lot ofcomplaints, but stays out of the way otherwise.However, Android isn't perfect. The main disadvantage withAndroid is that you have so many devices to test, rather than just three forApple (iPhone, iPad, and iPod). Inconsistencies across devices can createproblems for your app's performance and reputation. On the flipside, making anapp compatible with so many devices creates a larger potential user base.Android is also a bit behind Apple in the tablet space, though there areseveral new Android tablets coming out this year. Also, the Android platform isexpanding into TVs, exercise equipment, and other electronics, so you need tostay current on all the latest devices.So, where do you go from here? Android? iPhone? In short,the answer is both (and include a Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry app ifresources allow). Android and iPhone are here to stay. While Apple got most ofthe attention in the early years of mobile apps, Android has proven it's a forceto be reckoned with. The bottom line is, the more platforms your apps integratewith, the more brand awareness and revenue you can drive back to your business.