During this QuickCast, Senior Analyst Eric Klein discusses the current state of mobile software development.

1. Mobile & Wireless Practice
David Krebs – Director
Eric Klein – Senior Analyst
Balca Korkut – Analyst
WEBCAST
Hot Commodity – Skilled Mobile SW Developers
AUGUST 2011 The Battle for Developer Mindshare Continues
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

2. Recording Available
A full audio recording is available for download at:
http://vdcresearch.com/market_research/mobile_wireless/freeresearch.aspx
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

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© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
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© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
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© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
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6. Today’s Speaker
Eric Klein
Senior Analyst
Eric is a market research and consulting professional specializing in the design, analysis,
and delivery of project-based research. Over the past 15 years, Eric has worked with a
wide array of firms across a number of industries, leading quantitative and qualitative
research in areas such as innovation in enterprise software, supply chain risk
management, manufacturing operations / automation, and IT spending research. Eric
has worked in a variety of market research and management roles, providing market
data and competitive intelligence to Fortune 500 firms. His previous employers include:
AMR Research, The Yankee Group, and Affiliated Computer Services (ACS). Eric holds
a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Boston University.
For complimentary insights and marketing data:
http://blog.vdcresearch.com/mobile_and_wireless/
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

7. Today’s Topics
The “fight” for skilled mobile SW
developers and mindshare rages on …
A Discussion on the Current State
of Mobile SW Development
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com vdcresearch.com

8. VDC’s Annual Survey to the Mobile Software Developer Community
Respondents Regions Mobile OSes Covered
106 respondents BlackBerry, iOS, Android,
US, Canada, and UK
Fielded in July 2011 and Windows Phone 7
Research Coverage Research Objectives Qualifications & Requirements
 A minimum of 6 months to 1
 Developer Tool Preferences
 Highlight Market Trends year of traditional application
 Business & Consumer development, web development,
 Discover Developer Perceptions
Application Activities and mobile SW development
& Current Challenges
 SDK Requirements  SW development in a
 Gauge the Impact of HTML5 commercial and/or
 Mobile OS Trends
technical role
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

9. The Battle for Developer “Mindshare”
Developers claim to be able to “master” app development on a given platform in ~8 months!
With competition between a variety of Mobile platform vendors are adjusting their
players in the mobile ecosystem increasing, business strategies
incentives (e.g. contests, cash incentives  OS fragmentation and app proliferation
and prizes) have become more important continue to create opportunities for
 However, user friendly SDKs, quality MEAP vendors.
technical support and online education  Integration (e.g. mobile platforms,
and training programs are also critical … composite and mobile application
development) are areas where we see
The “refresh cycle” on mobile OSes continues significant activity across the mobile
to be compressed … ecosystem.
 Mobile OS updates are becoming more
CIOs are preparing to make significant
and more frequent and is impacting
developers. investments in building and supporting
mobile capabilities for their employees
 SDKs continue to provide more security—
a strong signal that the enterprise  IT organizations are very interested in
opportunity has become evident. ramping their mobile skill sets.
 Large ISVs continue to sharpen their focus
on mobility – there is significant activity
beyond the “big four” (Microsoft, IBM,
SAP, and Oracle).
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

10. On the Bright Side – The Learning Curve isn’t that Steep …
However, compressed “refresh cycles” are a challenge for mobile developers
The Mobile OS Learning Curve Competition is fierce for developer mindshare
How long did it take you personally to master developing
mobile applications on [primary platform]? – a significant positive for mobile OS
% Respondents (months)
providers is that developers seem to be
able to “master” developing on a platform
in <8 months.
Windows Phone 6.2  When we asked this question last year,
the average was 9.3 months.
7.6
 A loyal developer community, and IDE
iOS (Visual Studio) familiarity appears to
gives Microsoft mobile developers
a speed advantage.
BlackBerry OS 8.2
SDKs and tools have improved, however:
 Compressed “refresh cycles” are proving
Android 8.5 to be challenging for mobile developers.
 The costs associated with app
development was cited as the primary
7.8
Overall barrier to “quickly and efficiently
developing mobile software”.
0 5 10
Number of Months
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

11. The m-dot Revolution – Web Centricity & It’s Impact on Mobile SW Developers
The shift to a new generation of HTML is well underway – how quickly will it’s impact be felt?
The Mobile Web’s Impact The m-dot revolution is here.
Which of the following do you expect to be doing
more of over the next 12-18 months?
% Respondents (multiple response question)
 Consumers are increasingly using their
mobile devices to access company
and product information.
40%  The browser is fast becoming a universal
More Tablet Oriented Application
Development computing platform.
38%
More usage of new application
styles/architectures like Json, Rest Etc.
 Web based applications are important
More customization work & development
32% moving forward as they will help overcome
of mobilized client server applications the relatively weak processing power of
32%
Managing/Technical lead on complex dev. smartphones and tablets.
projects
31%
Employing grids or cloud architecture in
development or deployment HTML5 is unquestionably the most significant
28% evolution yet in web standards – but …
More application integration, less new
application dev.
Web services or SOA
28%  HTML5 ranked near the bottom – however
many of their activities are related to the
27%
More business process management
centric application dev.
mobile web!
More projects creating applications w/
22%  Developing applications optimized for
HTML5
20% tablets seems to be where the “gravity”
Employing more lightweght architectures
and frameworks is – however, developers are constantly
looking for volume opportunities and
0% 25% 50%
Number of Months
smartphone proliferation is delivering.
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

12. Enterprise & Government Mobility Solutions – Mobile SW Research Schedule
Track 2: Enterprise Mobility Software
 Mobile Operating Systems & Mobile Developer Analysis | August
 Mobile Application Software, Middleware & Mobile Enterprise App. Platforms (MEAP) | August
 Mobilizing Enterprise Applications (ERP, Collaboration, HIS/HMS, CRM, etc.) | October
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com

13. Thank You for Attending this VDC Webcast
For more information please contact:
David Krebs – Practice Director
davidk@vdcresearch.com | 508.653.9000 x136
Eric Klein – Senior Analyst
eklein@vdcresearch.com | 508.653.9000 x141
Balca Korkut – Analyst
bkorkut@vdcresearch.com | 508.653.9000 x134
Gerrell Smith – Account Director
gsmith@vdcresearch.com | 508.653.9000 x130
For complimentary insights and marketing data:
http://blog.vdcresearch.com/mobile_and_wireless/
© 2011 VDC Research Webcast
Mobile & Wireless
vdcresearch.com