14 DAY TRIAL // Based on comScore figures and analyst reports, Mac.Blorge shows that the iPhone has become more appealing to handset developers. According to the report, those that have plans, or plan to develop enterprise apps for the iPhone nearly tripled. Over the last six months, their number grew from 8 percent to 20 percent.
“Last year, not one smartphone appeared in the top 10 devices used for mobile downloads. This year six out of 10 are smartphones, excluding devices with smartphone-like functionality, such as the Instinct and Voyager, which also make appearances,” said ComScore senior analyst Mark Donovan.
Underlining the rise of the iPhone, the report continues to show comScore figures (previously reported by Softpedia). According to comScore, 8.5 million people, or 3.8 percent of mobile subscribers have downloaded a game to their cell phone. Not surprisingly, 34 percent of those downloading games in November used a smartphone. While the market average is 3.8 percent, 32.4 percent of iPhone users have downloaded a game, accounting for 14 percent of mobile game downloads. Lastly, analysts believe that the mobile gaming market could top $4.5 billion this year.
Another interesting aspect, worth considering if we are to understand the developers' shift to working for iPhone and iPod touch, is that Nokia has seen its market share plummet from 63.3 percent to 43.6 percent, following the release of the iPhone 3G. Currently, Apple’s handset is the second most popular smartphone with 16.6 percent of the market, the report says.
Perhaps yet another reason Apple is attracting mobile developers is the iPod touch, the report continues. The touch is even more attractive, given that players have access to the same exciting iPhone titles without a monthly contract.
Adding it all up, development for Apple's handheld devices, as well as gaming, look very promising for 2009, according to the analysis.