Can Microsoft Leapfrog Android In Enterprise Development?

This article suggests that it will be a long time before Apple is ousted from the #1 spot in enterprise app development, if that ever happens.  Android’s at #2, but the Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 and the Metro interface is scheduled to debut this fall.  Will developers (and the markets they serve) embrace the Windows environment?  A lot of signs are pointing to ‘yes.’

Three quarters ago, 44% of developers believed Apple would win over all, compared with an even 44% for Android.  The current numbers? 53% for Apple, 37% for Android with Microsoft waiting in the wings.

The report and survey from Appcelerator and IDC seems to indicate that Android will concentrate its efforts on consumer-based apps, leaving an open space in the enterprise marketplace.  Reports of malware and a hardware line that is too diverse appear to be hurting Android adoption.  Malware, viruses, bugs, etc. are an annoyance for consumers but could be deadly to a business environment.

At Ai2 we continue to develop sales force automation, remote ordering and enterprise content management apps for iPad.  We’re excited to see the Surface this fall and we certainly haven’t counted out Google/Android yet.  At the end of the day it’s about what OUR customers need, just as it always has been.