Developing for the iPhone is straightforward due to its unified OS and interface. In contrast, BlackBerry development is complicated by numerous models and inconsistent behavior across carriers. RIM faces a critical decision: improve their platform or create a new one that streamlines development. As Android’s capabilities grow, BlackBerry’s unique selling points are increasingly challenged.
Developing on the BlackBerry
Toktumi on their BlackBerry vs. iPhone Development experience.
Developing for the iPhone platform was a piece of cake – one OS, one hardware platform, a powerful, well-documented API, and a simple submission process for the app store. […]
In sharp contrast, the BlackBerry was never intended to support an app marketplace for third party developers. As a result developing for the BlackBerry was a nightmare. There are dozens of different models, many with different screen sizes, features, hardware, etc. If your software works on one, it may not work on others – so you have to test every single phone, every time you make a change.
Even worse each phone might behave differently depending on which carrier network it is on, adding an extra dimension of complexity to the development challenges. For the Storm we had to write an entirely different version of the software to get it to work.
RIM only has two options. First, invest serious work in their current platform. Or second, develop a new platform that eases development and enables developers to target different devices with one code base. Currently, they seem to try to sit it out instead.
There is a stark and distinct relationship between the usability of a Software development kit and the amount of software being developed with it. Current BlackBerry users buy the device because of the email and texting features. But with the increasing feature set of Android, this primary BlackBerry advantage will diminish. A wide range of apps (or a small range of high quality apps) are increasingly influencing purchase decisions. RIM has neither.
(via Andrew Keen)