Simple question:
If writing apps for BlackBerry is a more profitable enterprise than writing apps for iOS, then why isn't everybody doing it? Why does your own table show that the App Store generates 10x more revenue than the BB store - when the market share of BB and iOS devices is about the same? I'm not going to quibble with your average revenue figures - but perhaps the BB store is inherently more limited in terms of which kinds of apps make money.
I've worked in the smartphone industry for 7 years and there's been an interesting shift since the iPhone exploded onto the scene. Many companies no longer view apps as a revenue generating exercise, they're using apps as a marketing tool instead.
Many conversations I have with potential clients these days go something like this:
<Marketing person> We want you to create an app for us!
<Serious engineering person> OK, what do you want it to do?
<Marketing person> Ummm... not sure... but we need one!
iOS has the largest app store. Companies want to be seen to be riding the latest trends. There's a lot of "me too" going on.
The main reasons why everyone isn't writing Blackberry apps is:
1) Size of app store more important than revenue
2) It's not seen as "cool" by marketing people
3) Blackberry's app store is relatively new
4) On a technical level, Blackberry's APIs are pretty limited
This will change as the market and the platform mature. It'll almost definitely never catch up with iOS but it'll have a very healthy market.
Whatever the reason, the platform is just not capturing developer interest in the same way that iOS is. What makes you think that will change with the PlayBook? And if you were a developer, what would you do? Would you develop for the hugely popular platform with a large pre-existing install base? Or would you take a punt on an unknown quantity?
The PlayBook is based on QNX. It'll give developers a much richer set of APIs. People will be interested in developing for it for that reason alone.
Let's not forget that the newest smartphone platform on the block is Windows Phone 7, and
it's already hit the 10,000 app mark. It's also the fastest growing app store at the moment.
As a developer, I'd much rather be a big fish in a small pond. If I can get first mover advantage then I'll grab it with both hands. The Apple app store has shown that if you can get into the top seller list, you tend to stay there. A minimum app price also stops other developers ripping off my ideas and undercutting me.
I also think that we'll see a lot more cross platform tools as tablets mature. Writing apps for multiple platforms is going to get a lot easier.
(Oh dear, my posts have all gone a bit drunkenmaster.
)
