So Many Platforms, So Little Time: Tips on Dealing with Fragmentation
Notes from the “So Many Platforms, So Little Time: Solving Fragmentation” panel at the AppNation Conference in September 2010
Panelists:
- Peter Biddle, Intel
- Bruce Jones, GetJar
- Steve Schwarzhoff, Appcelerator
- Dave Williams, AT&T
Key takeaways:
- Cultural fragmentation—and taking an app to different user bases across platforms and geographies—is an issue, not just technical fragmentation
- GetJar: if you are looking to meet small developers, find them in places online where they go to solve their problems
- A lot of companies are offering open data or infrastructure through APIs; this can be used for lead generation too.
- GetJar: “People discover apps through lunchtime conversation” and by searching to fulfill a need.
- AT&T Interactive: people are looking for recommendations and guidance on what apps they should download; expect to see more here from operators and other parties.
- Intel: componentization is an emerging adjunct business model for developers in its AppUp program; that is, offering a component created during development to other developers.
- Getjar: apps are democratizing development, creating an extreme opportunity for small developers; we’ll see a long tail of app development.
- GetJar: think low tech (SMS is still the dominant app globally), not just for high-end devices.
- Think of your cost basis when you’re planning cross-platform development so you aren’t caught in long, difficult development cycles for each platform.