Windows Phone developer support jumps 521 percent year-on-year
Highlighting "continued headway" for Microsoft over the course of the rest of 2012, analytics specialist Flurry has published a report detailing a 521 percent leap in developer support for Windows Phone.
The firm claims the comparatively small nature of Windows Phone's current userbase has hidden the momentum the platform has gained with developers, with Microsoft's platform leaving the likes of BlackBerry standing.
Beating BlackBerry
"Over the past 12 months, project starts for Windows Phone have grown by more than 600 percent, now accounting for 6 percent of all new project starts in the Flurry system during June 2012," details Flurry in the report.
"As a percent of new project starts, RIM has remained flat. Overall, on an absolute basis, total new project starts within Flurry have grown by approximately 50 percent."
Indeed, even compared to the might of Android, Windows Phone is starting to make an impression.
Microsoft momentum
When looking at new projects built by developers per platform within Flurry, Windows Phone now accounts for 4 percent of the market up from 1 percent at the same point in the previous year.
"What is important to note is that all four platforms are growing, just at different rates," adds Flurry.
"Specifically, growth rates per platform for year-over-year growth are: iOS 66 percent, Android 82 percent, Windows Phone 521 percent, BlackBerry 13 percent. Viewing the relative growth rates show just how much Microsoft is gaining against the market."
Eye on Android
Flurry claims Windows Phone growth accelerated further in Q2 2012, with Microsoft now 'over-indexing' owing to its smaller userbase.
"From Googles point-of-view, this must elevate Microsoft from an 'also-ran' to a potential competitive threat with the resources and know-how to kick-start momentum and mount a campaign to reel in the second place player," concludes Flurry.
"Generally, Windows Phone could be gaining against the entire market as a result of developer frustration for Android fragmentation, concern for increasing competition on iOS and a lack of faith in BlackBerry.
"Whatever the reason, its clear that Microsoft still knows how to attract third party developer support."
[source: Flurry]