Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A “Free Market” for Applications

Android developers are free to choose any kind of revenue model they want.They can
develop freeware, shareware, or trial-ware applications, ad-driven, and paid applications.
Android was designed to fundamentally change the rules about what kind of wireless
applications could be developed. In the past, developers faced many restrictions that had
little to do with the application functionality or features:
n
Store limitations on the number of competing applications of a given type
n
Store limitations on pricing, revenue models, and royalties
n
Operator unwillingness to provide applications for smaller demographics
With Android, developers can write and successfully publish any kind of application they
want. Developers can tailor applications to small demographics, instead of just large-scale
money-making ones often insisted upon by mobile operators.Vertical market applications
can be deployed to specific, targeted users.
Because developers have a variety of application distribution mechanisms to choose
from, they can pick the methods that work for them instead of being forced to play by
others’ rules.Android developers can distribute their applications to users in a variety of
ways.
n
Google developed the Android Market (Figure 1.7), a generic Android application
store with a revenue-sharing model.
n
Handango.com added Android applications to its existing catalogue using their
billing models and revenue sharing model.
n
Developers can come up with their own delivery and payment mechanisms.
Mobile operators are still free to develop their own application stores and enforce their
own rules, but it will no longer be the only opportunity developers have to distribute
their applications.
Android might be the next generation in mobile platforms, but the technology is still in
its early stages. Early Android developers have had to deal with the typical roadblocks
associated with a new platform: frequently revised SDKs, lack of good documentation,
and market uncertainties.There are only a handful of Android handsets available to consumers
at this time.
On the other hand, developers diving into Android development now benefit from
the first-to-market competitive advantages we’ve seen on other platforms such as BREW
and Symbian. Early developers who give feedback are more likely to have an impact on
the long-term design of the Android platform and what features will come in the next
version of the SDK. Finally, the Android forum community is lively and friendly.
Incentive programs, such as the Android Developer Challenge, have encouraged many
new developers to dig into the platform.

No comments:

Post a Comment