Microsoft, Google step up battle for mobile apps developers

A battle to woo local mobile application developers to build their apps on Windows and Android platforms is taking shape between two US giants Microsoft and Google.

The firms, both with offices in Nairobi, are keen to have as many apps developers and handset manufacturers as possible under their roof with the hope that the techies will build solutions around their tools.

This will eventually spur uptake of their products and services.

Google’s Android is currently billed as the most popular app globally and has attracted leading handset manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung.

Local firms such as Safaricom and mobile labs said that the competition between Android and Windows based applications has heightened.

Last week, Microsoft partnered with four mobile labs in Africa in a move aimed at drumming up developer interest in its Windows platform. The firm is closely working with Nokia to drive this agenda.

Mteto Nyati, managing director Microsoft South Africa, said the global software giant will spend $70 million to support such projects under the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative in the next three years. The firm will invest in ventures in Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

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“We anticipate that by reaching out to these software developers they will be able to come up with Window based apps and in the long term increase product uptake and usage,” Mr Nyati said in an interview at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on Friday.

The four labs are 88mph in Kenya, Cchub in Nigeria, Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi) of Tanzania and Afrilabs, a pan African hub network.

A Google spokesperson said that the best thing about Android is it’s open-source, which means it can be used on a large number of mobile phones and other devices including low cost ones.

“Our manufacturing partners are helping to put Android in the hands of many more users, particularly in emerging markets, which means an ever-growing potential audience for developers,” the official said.

“Consumers are spending more money on Android apps and games than ever. The amount spent on playing in the first quarter of this year exceeded the total amount for 2012.”

Google is supporting local developers by providing them with support and advice they need to build and distribute their apps through its Google Play store.

Google also offers a collection of tools for developers to help them design, develop and distribute their apps and games locally, she said.

There is a growing number of mobile app developers, however a majority are interested in developing apps for Android-based smartphones and tablets, showing how Google’s Operating Systems (OS) is becoming more accepted. On the other hand, a few developers are willing to spend resources on Microsoft’s OSes.

It is for this reason that Microsoft, which recently announced a shift of focus from traditional software to devices and services, is enhancing its relationship with developers through partnerships.

Microsoft believes that the partnerships will provide fertile ground for the developers to build applications using Windows products and eventually lead to increased use of their products.

“The android platform happens to be the largest operating system with the lions share worldwide.

‘‘It therefore follows that a majority of the mobile application developer community perceives that there are more opportunities within this platform and hence this trend,” said Joe Ogutu, Director of Strategy and Innovation at Safaricom.

Gravy train

There is a sizeable number of developers who are keen on making applications based on the Windows platform.

“This also goes to show that there are app developers who prefer the IOS and are therefore not following the gravy train,” said Mr Ogutu.

Earlier last month Microsoft announced that it would buy Nokia’s devices and services business.

Nokia, which mainly uses the Windows operating system and a former market leader in the handsets segment, has lost ground to Samsung and Apple whose operating systems are android based.

Microsoft’s partnership with 88mph will help provide startups with mentorship, seed funding and joint selling opportunities.

The company’s expansion drive in Africa led to the recent launch of the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative which will prioritise startups in key sectors including agriculture, education and healthcare.

The company will select startups based on the globally established criteria of Microsoft Ventures. Applying firms must have a full-time founding team, a bold vision for tackling problems, technologically driven solutions and less than $1 million in their kitty.

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