The fifth Developer Economics report presents insights from a survey of over 6,000 mobile app developers, highlighting trends in the app economy, platform preferences, and revenue models. Key findings indicate that Android and iOS are the most used platforms, with HTML5 gaining significant traction as a development technology, while developers express interest in emerging platforms like Windows 8 and Blackberry 10. The report emphasizes no dominant revenue model across platforms and highlights that developers are motivated more by personal fulfillment than financial gain.

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KEY GRAPHS & INSIGHTS FROM THE REPORT

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6,000+
Mobile app developers
Biggest mobile developer research
To date

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- The fifth Developer Economics report
This report is the 5th in our highly-acclaimed research series, with over 46,000 downloads
- Based on the largest, most global developer survey
Based on data from our latest developer survey (May 2013, 6,000+ respondents from 115 countries)
- Tracking the latest trends of the app economy
Tracking the state of mobile ecosystems, developer mindshare, monetisation trends, revenue models and
developer tools – key facts & figures for the largest mobile platforms (Android, iOS, HTML 5, but also
BlackBerry 10, Windows 8, Tizen and Firefox OS)
- Full report available for free download (Jul 17, 09:00 a.m. UK)
the report will be freely available for download at www.DeveloperEconomics.com/go
- Sponsored by
BlackBerry, Mozilla, Intel, and Telefonica
Developer Economics: State of the Developer Nation
Q3 2013

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Top 10 insights and charts

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HTML5 entrenched at 52% of population
The Mobile Developer Mindshare Q3 2013 shows Android leading at 71% of
developers using the platform, followed by iOS at 56%. HTML5 has
entrenched itself as a mobile development technology of choice, with 52%
of the mobile developer population using HTML5 technologies for
developing mobile apps. BlackBerry has been successful in transitioning BB
legacy developers over to its new BB10 platform, with the new platform
having almost the same mindshare as the legacy BlackBerry 5/6/7 had just
before the release of BB10 six months ago.
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HTML5 is a kaleidoscope of approaches
Some developers will build responsive websites that scale down gracefully
when viewed on smartphones and tablets. Others will develop fully fledged
web-apps that work offline and are smart enough to adapt to the user’s
location. Others will combine HTML5 elements with native APIs within a
wrapper such as PhoneGap, or Icenium and which can then be sold via app
stores. Others will leverage native platform support for JavaScript APIs
available through BlackBerry WebWorks and Firefox OS. And others will
use cross platform tools which take JavaScript and convert it to a native
app such as Appcelerator for enterprise IT use, or Ludei and Ejecta for
gaming apps.
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Developers show strong interest for
adopting W8, WP, BB 10 and Firefox OS
The strong interest in Windows Phone observed in past surveys is still there
(35% of developers planning to adopt WP) but has subsided by 12
percentage points since Q1 2013. Mobile developers now have a wide gamut
of options with challenger platforms competing for their attention.
Windows 8 is at 40% of Mobile Developer Intentshare, followed by
BlackBerry 10 (28%) and Firefox OS (capturing 27% of all developers
planning to adopt a platform).
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iOS monthly revenue at $5,200.
More than Android, but gap closing
At $5,200 per developer per month on average, iOS continues to be the
most revenue generating platform for developers, and ahead of Android
developer monthly revenues by a margin of 10%.
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There is no winning revenue model
Our research of 6,000+ mobile developers shows that there is no single
revenue model that is dominant across all platforms. On Windows Phone,
developers have a strong preference towards in-app advertising (43%) and
pay-per download (40%). BlackBerry 10 developers have a strong
preference towards pay-per download (47%). The picture is much more
balanced on Android, iOS and HTML5, with no revenue model dominating
to the extent observed on Windows Phone or BlackBerry 10.
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Mobile developers use 2.9 platforms
a shift towards diversification
This is the first time we are observing a shift towards diversification, with
our earlier 2011-2012 research pointing towards continual platform
consolidation: on average mobile developers used 3.2 mobile platforms in
our 2011 survey, compared to 2.7 in 2012 and 2.6 in our Q1 2013 research.
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Developers prioritise iOS over Android
Our research shows a strong lead of iOS over Android with 49.4% vs. 59%
of platform developers preferring it as their main platform. Whereas
Android has 4x times more devices shipping and a significant lead in
Mobile Developer Mindshare, it lags behind iOS in terms of Android
developers using it as their lead platform.
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Which platform is right for me?
Our research shows that iOS is selected more frequently than average by
developers that value revenue potential (+12%), graphics (+7%), app
discovery (+8%) and user reach (+10%). Developers tend to use
HTML5 more frequently as their primary platform when they value
porting (+9%) and speed & cost of development (+4%). BlackBerry 10
is used more frequently than average as a primary platform by
developers valuing developer community programmes (+16%). And
Windows Phone is most popular for developers looking for the right
development environment (+3%) and documentation (+2%).
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Developers are motivated
by personal fulfillment, not fortune
The hierarchy of developer motivations shows some surprising findings. At
the base of the pyramid, the majority (53%) of mobile developers are
motivated by creativity or the sense of achievement, making this the most
popular among motivators. The fun of making an app, is a motivator for
40% of mobile developers
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Developer tools are the must-have
arsenal of experienced developers
Our research shows that developer tools are in the must-have app
development arsenal of the most sophisticated developers, and also those
making most revenues. Across the tools spectrum, iOS developers are the
most active and sophisticated users, with 92.5% reporting that they use at
least one tool. iOS developers therefore have a clear advantage as being
most advanced in tool use, and therefore having the infrastructure to
innovate and differentiate.
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Survey methodology

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About this research
Sample:
The online survey received over 6,000 responses, making this the largest
mobile developer survey to date. Respondents to the online survey came from
over 115 countries. The online survey was translated to 10 languages (Arabic,
Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish,
Swedish) and promoted by 46 marketing and regional partners within the app
development industry. As a result, the survey was balanced across Europe
(40%), Asia (24%) and North America (28%). The survey also attracted a
significant developer sample from Africa (3%) and South America (5.5%).
Methodology:
The survey gathered responses from developers using as their main platform
Android, Bada, BlackBerry 5/6/7, BlackBerry 10, Chrome, Facebook, Firefox
OS, Flash / Adobe AIR, iOS, Java ME, HTML (targeting desktop), HTML
(targeting mobile), OSX (desktop), Qt, Symbian, Windows (desktop),
Windows Phone, Windows 8 and Tizen. We excluded respondents not using a
mobile platform as their primary development platform.

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Need more info?
Email:
matos@visionmobile.com
The Developer Economics Q3 2013:
State of the Developer Nation report
was launched on July 17 2013, 09:00 p.m. UK time
free download: www.DeveloperEconomics.com/go

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About VisionMobile
VisionMobile is an analyst firm helping companies
leverage and measure mobile ecosystems. We help
telcos, handset makers and companies outside the
mobile industry to create a competitive advantage
using ecosystem strategies. Our mantra: distilling
market noise into market sense.
To find out more, visit www.visionmobile.com