Android Is Losing/Gaining App Developers & Will Be #1 Smartphone Platform by 2012 (depending on who you read)

So, based on an interview with a single disappointed Android development firm, Reuters reported…

Gameloft says it, others reining in Android plans

BusinessWeek, on the other hand, reported that Software programmers are designing apps for the Google-backed Android operating system, fired by frustration with Apple’s rejections and delays in this article…

Developers Look Past Apple’s Jammed iPhone App Store

…that quotes a single disgruntled iPhone development firm. Well, at least they used the same sample size = 1 firm. The other amusing aspect of the BusinessWeek article is this prediction based on some Gartner Research report: By 2012, Android is expected to become the second-most popular smartphone operating system after Symbian, leapfrogging BlackBerry, Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Mobile, and the iPhone, according to Gartner (IT).

You might recall this item I wrote last week…

Another 2012 End of the World Scenario? Bye Bye Nokia N-Series Smartphones in 2012

So, if Nokia really drops Symbian S60 from their smartphone line by 2012 (I suspect they may keep it around a bit longer), does this make Android the default most popular smartphone platform by 2012 (of course, it may not have any app developers left by then if we believe the Reuters report).

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