The mobile industry is radically growing and reinventing applications using cutting-edge information in the mobile technology. The applications being developed for mobile are focusing on more connectivity, mobility and better usage for the user. The smart devices that are bombarding the market are of no use if they do not have attractive applications. The hardware does not count for much if it is not very useful. Applications are what matter in today’s technological world. The two most popular platforms that have made a niche in this industry are Apple and Android. Apple when introduced a phone that offered loads of compatibilities it revolutionized the mobile world. The different facilities need applications and to keep in with the market competition the iPhone applications are fast evolving, coming up with better options.

Android applications offer an open development platform, giving the power to the users. Open development platform gives the developers the opportunity to experiment and build more practical and creative applications. It makes the task of the developer easier as he is able to find local information, use the device hardware, run the background services etc. It is being observed that the market for Android application development therefore is witnessing a steady growth.

Both Android and iPhone applications have their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Both the two Smartphone platforms offer number of applications that suits the need of most of the consumers. Apple was leaping ahead as it offered more applications for apple devices. But the disadvantage on its part is that it did not allow the user much in terms of what it could do with the devices. Android’s openness attracts the developers to work on its platform. Apple bans cross platform application building tools which might prove to be discouraging for the developers.

Both the platforms provide the facility of mobile web and have applications designed to make internet browsing easy. Where Android applications are believed to be more web enabled, iPhone applications are considered better in terms of social phone activities. According to survey the iPhone applications are preferred when it comes to social net activities such as as picture sharing, spending time on social networks etc. However when it comes to video sharing etc Android again takes the lead. The two platforms struggle to excel one another by offering applications that give advanced functions.

The figure estimated for iPhone users is around 30 million. According to Morgan Stanley, an analyst the figures are bound to increase to 100 million users worldwide by December 2011. However according to NPD Group report Android was outpacing iPhone sales and coming up strong.

Although Apple enjoys the strong lead it has over other smart phone platforms, Android platform seems to be fast catching up. In different categories each platform has its own strengths. Although IPhone offers a huge number of applications but user prefers what works best for them. For instance it was just until recently that multitasking was offered when Android had already offered it a few years back. Android applications being able to work on more devices gives it the advantage and that advantage might prove to give it the edge over iPhone application development.

We can say both the platforms offer the developers and user with applications that have their set of strengths and weaknesses. The Android platform offers developers a more open source. IPhone softwares have been in the market for a longer period thus it has earned a trusted reputation. While one is more web enabled the other is better at social networking and so the case is different for every feature. Keeping in mind the statistics in terms of sales while iPhone is still in the lead, the Android application development market is also witnessing a sustained growth.