Developer support for Windows Phone declines

A new report from the Strategy Analytics’ Application Strategies group finds that developer enthusiasm for Windows Phone and willingness to support the platform above other mobile operating systems has declined steadily.

According to the new report, Will Developers Declare Windows 10 DOA? developers continues to seek platforms beyond iOS and Android to support their ambitions to create sustainable businesses, but rank the Windows Phone platform low-priority. 

Strategy Analytics notes that Nokia's developer evangelism efforts in 2011 to 2013 with global events, aggressive outreach and frequent device seeding were one of the biggest reasons for enthusiasm to support Windows Phone. The perceived importance of Windows Phone has declined since Microsoft agreed to acquire Nokia’s devices & services business in 2013. In 2015 respondents ranked the importance of Windows Phone well below alternatives such as HTML5 and at less than half the importance of iOS and Android, the company said.

Much of this declining interest can be attributed to the continued dominance and ecosystem extensions offered by iOS and Android, Strategy Analytics said, noting that less than 2% of developers surveyed plan to support the Windows platform as their primary platform next year.

Said Joshua Martin, Director of Analytics Research Services at Strategy Analytics, “Microsoft finds itself in a catch-22. It needs apps to be competitive and it needs users to get apps. The decision to offer OS upgrades for free will help achieve market share but I wonder if these users will be interested in downloading, buying and using apps – which is essential to garnering developer support. The realisation of the long promised unified Windows across PC, tablet and phone is a compelling reason for developers to give Windows a second look but to truly win support Microsoft must offer engaged app users and a return to Nokia’s robust developer outreach. Microsoft only has one more chance to get this right.”

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