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Be Wary of Developing Apps for an App Store that Earns the Most Money or has a Large Number of Apps

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Mastufa
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Which Mobile OS ecosystem is best for enterprises?

What works best for enterprises is to settle down to a platform (iOS, Android, Windows Phone or Blackberry) and a hardware vendor (easier in case of Apple and Blackberry). The technical team at an enterprise will be happier if even the device models can be pinned down. This will ease the procurement, management, replacement and upgradation. All the platforms have corresponding tools for their management in an enterprise. For example iPhones and iPads can be managed using Mobile Device Management or Apple Configurator. Android phones can be managed with Google Apps Device Policy and Device Policy app. Windows 8 based phones and tablets can be managed with a wide range of tools. And for Blackberry there is Blackberry Enterprise Server.

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With BYOD, it will be difficult to cure the issue of device management so a few precautions can be followed. For example, educate employees about mobile device security like using strong passwords, downloading apps from known sources and use remote wipe apps or services. I don't think managing devices using tools (mentioned above) will be practical. This is because these tools have associated learning curve and some of them require infrastructure for deployment. A solution to this could be to let the employees choose device from amongst a couple of platforms. Coming to my choice of phone platform for Enterprises, I would go with BlackBerry because of its tested success in enterprises and Windows Phone for those with existing Windows infrastructure.

Which mobile OS ecosystem is best for consumers?

While the battle between mobile OS ecosystem is giving rise to more options at competitive prices, it also leaves consumers confused. An average consumer requires quick and available support which is best given by friends and colleagues. And if your group is contemplating on buying

a new phone, I would suggest Android. There is no dearth of Android apps. iPhone is a safe phone to buy but don't buy it thinking that Android phones are not as cool or fast. Thanks to Samsung.

The latest and greatest iPhone has a price tag which you may not fall in your budget. Android phones are available for 35k as well as 10k (and they perform well). I don't want you to suffer with Windows Phone till it catches up with quantity and quality of apps. And I see increased awareness about Whats App, Viber and Tango, which means, BlackBerry Messenger and BlackBerry are replaceable. As far as tablet goes, iPad remains the best and iPad Mini is more affordable. I would have recommended Nexus 7/10 but the comparative lack of apps for Android tablet stops me.

Which Mobile OS ecosystem is best for developers?

I would like to advise against targeting your development towards the market store which earns the most money or has the highest number of apps. In saturated market places like those of Apple and Android phone (not tablets), your app may get buried. Coming to tablet apps for Android.

Serious Android tablets like Nexus 7 and 10 have made their debut. But unlike Apple Store, the Android Market lacks tablet apps. Android developers should rewrite, rather port, their apps for a tablet experience.

Target newer platforms like Windows Phone. With the muscle power of Microsoft, Windows Phone should make it in the long run. Cash on the advantage of early adoption. Look at apps available for Android and iOS and develop to bring those to Windows Phone.

Next, do not give up on HTML5. I totally agree with "noting like a native app" but also nothing like a cross platform app. The tools like jQuery Mobile and Cordova (PhoneGap) are improving. So keep an eye.  incidentally, did you know, that your Android apps can run on BlackBerry 10? It just requires repackaging. The Author owns a Galaxy Nexus (Android phone), Notion Ink Adam (Android Tablet), Dell Venue Pro (Windows Phone 7) and iPod.

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