Apple launches a new range of computers and software applications for customer acquisition and retention of software developers, in the conditions of increasing competition from Google, Microsoft and Facebook, reports Bloomberg. At the World Developers Conference in San Francisco starting Monday Apple will release Mac computers with high-definition screens and applications for iPhone and iPad. Leadership position in the consumer electronics industry depends on the way a company is able to persuade developers to put in the forefront their products, for the design of a large application, such as “Angry Birds” or “Shazam”.
With over 600,000 games and other applications, Apple is the leader in the field. Microsoft is still behind Apple before the launch of its next operating system, Google will host this month a conference of developers, and Facebook has just opened its first online store for applications. “It is not only a battle for the hearts and minds of buyers, but also for developers to attract the next successful application,” said Charles Golvin, an analyst at Forrester Research who studies mobile technology industry.
Apple’s App Store success has helped create an industry for downloading mobile applications that in 2014 will reach sales of 58 billion dollars, according to market research company Gartner. Over 25 billion applications have been downloaded from the Apple store, and developers have received $4 billion from sales, according to Apple.
Facebook launched last week its own online store application. Google Play stores more than 500,000 applications, while Microsoft has attracted design companies and recruited staff to promote its store. At the event this week, Apple will draw attention to the larger screen of the next iPhone and will request developers to write applications compatible with its larger area, said Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities in Portland, Oregon. Apple also plans to announce an agreement that allows users to post photos and content from different phones and tablets on Facebook, said sources familiar with the matter.
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