Google is planning to rapidly accelerate the number of mobile apps it makes in a bid to counter the iPhone's more popular choice as an app platform, insiders claimed Monday. The company is reportedly paying small Google engineering teams worldwide to write apps that would go beyond the usual search tools, such as check-ins and even games. The WSJ heard that only some might be Android exclusives and could consequently reach the iPhone or other platforms as well.
To spur the development, Google is hiring dozens of app developers, managers and others whose experience is specifically in mobile app design. An unspecified number of existing Google workers have reportedly switched over from what they were making before to help out. Product management lead Ben Ling has reportedly been called on to head up the app plans.
Most would be free but possibly ad-supported.
Most would be free but possibly ad-supported.
The plans would likely be to get a better foothold in mobile apps and possibly grow Android Market. While it hasn't updated its count for months, Google has only officially touted about 100,000 Android apps. The quantity is significant and roughly ten times larger than smaller competitors like RIM, but it trails well behind the 350,000 apps Apple claims for the iPhone's App Store.
Google's shortfall has been blamed on a number of factors, not all of which were in its control. Android Market has been criticized for being relatively tough for getting exposure and for rampant piracy, where some apps are either bootlegged for free or are copied and published under a slightly different name. It has robust 3D support for games and more app flexibility than iOS, but the sheer number of devices has left many developers either writing a lowest common denominator app that reaches everyone or else intentionally limiting an app to just a fraction of phones, even excluding some sold the same year.
Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds, wrote versions of the game for webOS and iOS first because it expected to make more money from sales on those platforms. The Android app has been successful but is free to deter piracy and uses ads to recoup its costs.
An expanded Google app push could create a halo effect by showing developers what could be done with Android. It could alternately squash some developers by providing official Google apps that replace similar titles, especially on Android.
Read more: http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/01/31/google.hiring.for.andorid.iphone.app.work/#ixzz1Cdkm51Rp
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