According to Flurry, which makes in-app analystics for mobile devices, it saw a 94 per cent increase in app project starts by Android developers. The company said it thinks that this is because of the upcoming US launch of the Motorola Droid phone, which will be available on the Verizon Wireless network. The handset, which as yet has no UK launch details, is one of the most hotly anticipated this year.
One of the Droid's sellling points is that users will be able to run as many as six apps at one time, and on the , it promises there will be more than 10,000 apps available. As of September, Apple had approved 85,000 apps for iPhone. It estimates there are 50 million people using iPhones and iPod Touch devices worldwide.
Android, the mobile phone operating system developed by Google, is still the challenger, but estimates say that there could by as many as 40 handsets using the operating system by the end of next year from manufacturers including Samsung, Motorola, Dell and HTC.
Simon Khalaf, president and chief executive officer of Flurry, said: "Flurry market data shows that Android continues to gain interest from app developers, and that iPhone is no longer the only game in town. Developers who used to develop only for iPhone are now adding Android apps to their line up in record numbers."
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