Survey Shows LBS Developers Least Interested in WebOS

Looks like developers of location-aware apps aren't very interested in developing programs for Palm's new WebOS or Symbian. Skyhook Wireless, makers of XPS, the world's first true hybrid positioning system, conducted a survey of mobile application developers to quantify developer attitudes towards the developing location-aware apps on leading mobile platforms.

100 developers from six different platforms including, iPhone, Android, Symbian, RIM, Windows Mobile and J2ME took part in the survey.

56% of all the developers surveyed plan to port their application to other platforms. Looks like most of the developers are interested in Android as 58% of non-Android developers plan to port to that platform.

40% of non-iPhone developers plan to port an app to that platform. Only 26% will port to RIM, and 20% will port to Windows Mobile.

The survey results show that developers are least interested in Palm and Symbian, with only 8% and 9% of developers planning to port their applications to those platforms.

There are some pie charts in the survey results showing the types of apps that use location awareness (above), the level of positioning required by apps, etc. The first pie chart shows that location-based service (LBS) is no longer about traditional navigation apps. A good example would be that 10% of the apps using LBS is Social Networking. And a good example of one of those apps is Google Latitude, a part of Google Maps that acts as a friend finder. You can see where your friends are and what they're up to, quickly contact them with SMS, IM, or a phone call, and control your location and who gets to see it.

Key findings from the Skyhook Developers Survey:

1. 73% of respondents want exact location positioning. City or neighborhood-level targeting is not sufficient for most applications.
2. Applications are designed to be used in metro areas. Very few applications are designed for use in rural areas.
3. Quick location results are very important.
4. 48% of respondents say location sets their app apart, or is a core component to their app. 46% say location increases app value, and would not have developed an app without location.
5. The majority of location-aware app developers will port to other platforms. These developers are most interested in the iPhone and Android. Despite Palm and Nokia’s best efforts to lure developers with the Pre and Web OS and Nokia’s Ovi Store, very few developers intend to port to these platforms.

You can read the survey here.

Hopefully more location-aware developers will show more interest in WebOS after the Palm Pre is released. The Pre will have Telenav included, and Sprint Navigation looks great. Plus there's Google Maps.

The Pre isn't out yet so I would think that there will be lots of developers interested once it hits the streets. Plus as mentioned before, the Pre is only the first of several devices that will run WebOS, so there will be plenty of time for location-aware developers to get a taste of WebOS.

Are you surprised that only 8% and 9% of developers are interested in porting their apps to WebOS?  Do you think there will be more interest once the Pre is released?

[via Cellular-News and IntoMobile]