Back in October of 2009, BusinessWeek reporter Douglas MacMillan argued [that] although it was easy to dismiss the growing “app economy” as a fad, apps were in fact potentially powerful tools in the hands of entrepreneurs and forward-thinking business people.
The essential wisdom of MacMillan’s analysis has been demonstrated over time: Nobody doubts that there is now a burgeoning app economy. More than half a dozen app stores have launched since Apple ushered in the era of the mobile app with its App Store. Developers of mobile apps have a large number of channels through which their programs can be brought to market.
The iPhone app model has affected the Internet in a more fundamental way, too. Its impact has been to create a world with two different Webs: We now have a “13-inch Web,” that consists predominantly of sites designed for desktop and laptop screens, served by a mouse pointer, and a new kind of Web optimized for 3.5-inch screens and built around finger use. The 3.5-inch Web is rapidly expanding. According to Cambridge [England] based mobile-search-engine company Taptu, there are now about 400,000 3.5-inch, touch-optimized sites and another 200,000 or so apps.
Apple’s iPhone operating system remains the most attractive option for potential developers. It’s the sole platform among many — including alternatives from Google, Microsoft, Nokia, and Research In Motion — that developers cannot afford to ignore. Its appeal has been extended by the launch of the Apple iAd in-app advertising platform.
Platforms for iPhone App Builders
The appeal of iPhone OS goes beyond attracting those who want to remain relevant and make money from smartphone apps: The iPhone app is so ubiquitous that it is becoming a must-have item for any business, whether its interest lies in typically developing for mobile delivery or not. Digital marketing started changing with the iPhone…