Categories
Close
Menu
Menu
Close
Search
Search

Featured Articles

News

Most mobile app developers are below the 'app poverty line', says new report

Mark

Share:

Print

Rate article:

No rating
Rate this article:
No rating

App research specialist VisionMobile has published the latest version of its Developer Economics report, providing insights into mobile application development worldwide.

It estimates that 2.3 million people were mobile app developers in 2013, with 760,000 (32.9%) of them living in Asia and 680,000 (29.7%) in Europe.

Overall, Android was the most popular platform - 71% of mobile developers were developing for Android - but Apple’s iOS generated the most loyalty, with 59% of developers prioritising iOS as their first choice. 37% developed for Android as their main platform, while 32% chose iOS and 14% worked on HTML5.

37% used HTML5 as a platform to develop mobile websites or web apps, with an additional 15% using HTML5 ‘beyond the browser’ via hybrid apps or HTML5-to-native tools.

Tablets were popular with app developers but not as a primary device; just 12% of app developers targeted tablets above other devices.

When it comes to money, 60% of developers were described as being below the ‘app poverty line’ of earning less than $500 (£305) per app per month. More than half (56%) of the $68 billion earned by mobile app developers in 2013 came from being commissioned or contracted to create apps. It’s currently the most popular revenue model, with 26% of app developers developing apps on commission.

The survey contacted over 7,000 app developers in 127 countries between October and November 2013.

[Developer Economics report]

Image

Comments

Collapse Expand Comments (1)
Ashli

Mobile app developers, particular individual mobile app developers have to charge for their apps to help them make at least a little bit of income.

The average developer makes less than $500/month and this is because they continue to release free apps even though the numbers don't supper this.

There are better ways for mobile app developers to make money and there's an article that goes into this topic deeper How to Go Broke Selling Mobile Apps - http://joppar.com/should-my-app-be-free-or-paid/

Everyone that's involved with making a mobile app should read that article.

3
0
You don't have permission to post comments.

Opinion Articles

ExclusiveThe other Apple announcements that shouldn't be ignored

Mark Bridge writes:

Apple’s evangelists will need to wait a little longer for the iPhone 5, it seems. Last night’s announcement of the Apple iPhone 4S by Apple CEO Tim Cook seems to have disappointed many people, although plenty of others had predicted the arrival of this faster and smarter sibling for the iPhone 4.

But that wasn’t the only news from Apple.

ExclusiveLast week at The Fonecast: 3rd October 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

It’s time for my summary of last week’s mobile industry news… and what a week it’s been. Not just for me – I made my first-ever visit to Over The Air on Friday – but for the world of mobile devices.

ExclusiveIndia caps mobile text messages

Anjana Pasricha from voanews.com writes:

India’s millions of mobile phone subscribers have won relief from a growing nuisance on the subcontinent - unsolicited text messages. The crackdown by regulators targets the world’s fastest-growing mobile phone market.

From remote villages to crowded metros, the number of mobile phones in India has grown exponentially to more than 850 million in just over a decade.

ExclusiveI'm no developer - but I still fell in love with Over The Air

Mark Bridge writes:

The text message just said "Yellow Citroën hatchback".  At least the diaeresis on the ë was in the right place. It meant the stranger who was giving me a lift from the station was probably an urbane French speaker. Either that, or they had surprisingly good predictive text on their phone. The third possibility - a serial killer with an old Sagem - hadn't crossed my mind yet.

It was at this point I realised I'd already fallen for Over The Air, a unique event aimed at mobile developers. Throwing caution to the wind, I'd arranged a lift there via Twitter with a mysterious developer I'd never met. Or spoken to.

ExclusiveAre smartphones endangering security?

Ian Kilpatrick, chairman of IP security specialists Wick Hill Group, writes:

Smartphones are spreading throughout the business world. Their use is growing across organisations and at all levels.

According to Gartner, sales of mobile devices in the second quarter of 2011 grew 16.5% year-on-year. Smartphone sales grew 74% year-on-year and accounted for 25% of overall sales in the second quarter of 2011, up from 17% in the second quarter of 2010.

RSS
First5859606163656667Last

Recent Podcasts

ExclusivePodcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

ExclusiveLooking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

ExclusiveA month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Archive Calendar

«June 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
25262728293031
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293012345

Archive