Has the iOS platform become fragmented similar to Android? Speculations about iOS fragmentation is on rife in the market as a report on the Zdnet claims that Telenav has recently announced that it has released a different version of the app for the Verizon iPhone. The app maker has made certain changes in the app to make it compatible to Verizon’s iPhone. The development if true may bring startling outcomes for iPhone developers.

Telenav, the maker of AT&T Navigator app for iPhones available on the network, has today released a Telenav GPS version for Verizon iPhone only. The app is similar to the one developed for AT&T iPhone, but works on the Verizon phone only.

As per the report on Zdnet, the GPS app needed certain modifications to make it work with the new device. The Telenav app released for the Verizon’s iPhone will not run on any other iPhone due to these modifications.

The report further says that the required modifications on Telenav app has raised the question whether other apps that directly interact with the hardware of the iPhone would also need similar modifications. This will make the job of iPhone app developers tough as they now have to come up with different versions for different iPhones, much similar on the lines of Android developers.

It is interesting to hear from Apple how it aims to make sure that iPhone application developers don’t meet the Android developer’s fate, coming up with different versions of the same app for different devices.

iPhone application developers were having a good run till a few months ago. Apple’s iPhone was ruling the market and going strong. RIM’s BlackBerry then was largely an enterprise segment player. With very little competition in the app market, iPhone developers were really having a good time. Android’s introduction and growing popularity in the market coupled with app stores from rivals has now made going a little tough for these developers. Worried with the growing influence of Android platform on users, they are now expecting Apple to expand its market so that the app market too widens.

iPhone developers can now breathe easy as the recent figures from IDC shows that Apple has improved upon its global market share. Furthermore, it has made good progress into the enterprise market and is fast emerging as an alternative to BlackBerry. The report also shows that overall smartphone shipment volumes too have significantly increased registering record figures.

According to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, there were 100.9 million shipments of smartphones in the last quarter of 2010, a jump of 87.2 percent from the 53.9 million units shipped during the last quarter of 2009. Moreover, 302.6 million smartphones were shipped globally in 2010, up by 74.4 percent from the 173.5 million smartphones for the year 2009.

The market for smartphone apps is really heating up. All the key players and mobile app developers are striving hard to attract customer attention. In that background, a new study by Localytics finds that first impression counts a lot in the commercial success of an application. The study reports that customers are willing to try out new apps but 26% time they never give an application a second try. The report also advises mobile app developers to look beyond download figures of their app and make an attempt to understand real customer engagement.

The study was done by analyzing thousands of smartphone apps using real-time app analytics service. The company first looked for the first time each user used the app and if there was any follow-on usage through January 26, 2011.

The study found that 22% of the users never open the app again in the first quarter whereas one-time usage remained stable at 26% in 2^nd and 3^rd quarters and grew to 28% in the last quarter.

The reports says that smartphone owners in US increased from 42.7 million in November, 2009 to 61.5 million in November, 2010 but the number of mobile app has also increased and hence advised developers to understand their loyal user base and make efforts to grew it. It also advised developers to look beyond download stats which has become a popular measure for the success of app. It finds that download statistics often give incomplete view and therefore engagement of the user with an app should be studied to get proper understanding of the consumer.

As Verizon starts to rolling iPhone 4 on its network, uSamp, one of the world’s leading technology and online sample companies, recently released a countrywide survey of AT &T and Verizon customers to find out their plans for the February 10 launch. The study finds that huge groups of iPhone aficionados plan to buy Verizon’s iPhone 4 on day one, come what may!

The survey was done on a sample size of over 700 smartphone users including AT&T customers and existing users of Verizon’s Android and BlackBerry phones. The survey finds that around 29% of AT&T customers plan to switch to Verizon are prepared to wait in line on the launch day to get iPhone 4. 24% of existing Verizon customers who are willing to get an iPhone too are willing to stand in line on February 10^th.

Youth have the most dedication towards getting an iPhone 4 with 35% in the age-group 18-24 and 50% in the age-group 25-34 are prepared to wait in line. For Verizon’s existing users who intend to switch to the iPhone, 46% in the age-group 18-24 and 34% in the age-group 25-34 are willing to queue-up on launch day.

The survey bodes well for Apple, Verizon and iPhone developers who are expecting big boost to their respective businesses with the success of Verizon iPhone 4. Apple’s deal with Verizon is an important part of Apple’s strategy to retain its dominance in US market.

As reported in this blog yesterday, Verizon iPhone 4 went on sale yesterday at 3 AM EST wherein existing customers of the carrier could pre-order the iPhone device through the company’s website. Verizon’s customers gave a thunderous welcome to iPhone on their network and within hours, iPhone 4 was a sell-out with the company pulling out its pre-order webpage. Prospective buyers, wishing to order iPhone 4 from the website, are met with a message- “We are no longer taking pre-sale orders. Experience yours when it’s available online and in stores.”

iPhone 4 was expected to boost the fortunes of Apple, which is fighting a tough battle with Google, Verizon which is engaged in tight contest with AT&T and iPhone application developers who are worried about their apps with the growing popularity of Android. Yesterday’s response from customers may confirm many predictions which said that the Apple-Verizon deal would have huge impact on the smartphone market in United States.

The deal with the Verizon on iPhone 4 was part of the strategy of Apple to retain its hold in the smartphone market and app marketplace. As per an analysis by research firm IDC, the iPhone app market is expected to grow more than double with the Apple-Verizon deal, and will boost revenue from apps to $6 billion from last year’s $2.8 billion.

Verizon’s iPhone 4 has surely started with a bang and iPhone app developers would surely be rejoicing it as they now would be getting bigger market to sell their apps.

Verizon Wireless is offering an exclusive opportunity to its 94 million existing customers. Customers of the network can pre-order an iPhone 4 online beginning at 3 a.m. EST today. To offer an unique opportunity to its customers, the carrier has set aside a limited number of iPhone devices which will be shipped to them on or before February 10. iPhone 4 on the  network is priced at $199.99 and $299.99 for the 16 GB  and 32 GB iPhone 4 respectively on a fresh two-year contract.

In a released statement, Dan Mead, chief executive officer for Verizon Wireless says “We appreciate our many customers who told us that iPhone 4 should be on the nation’s most reliable network. We heard them and we agreed, which is why we are letting them be among the first to own an iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network. We thought it fitting to say thank you to our customers by giving them the phone they want, a week before the general population.”

The release of Iphone 4 on Verizon is expected to boost the prospects of Apple and iPhone application developers who make various applications for iOS devices.  As per a study by IDC, the iPhone application market could grow double with the Apple-Verizon deal, taking revenue from apps to $6 billion from last year’s $2.8 billion.

A new report by renowned market research firm Forrester Research Inc. reveals that online retailers in United States are showing great interest in mobile applications with many planning to use apps for their business. The figures are based on a sampling of 63 online retailers in U.S. growing interest of retailers on using apps to reach out to their customers will surely open up new opportunities for iPhone OS application developers.

The report also shows that there has been a huge jump in retailer’s investments in apps. More than 44 percent of retailers are planning to invest in apps this year as against 15.1% last year. Moreover, 47% of retailers plan to have an app in the next 12 months.

The recent report is in sync with the view where market watchers and analysts are predicting on mobile application market to grow hugely in the coming years. Apps are getting very popular with smartphone users and therefore both, small and big businesses are using it as an important medium for brand promotion and reaching to their audience.

Apple today cleared the air over its supposed policy change for in-app purchases of e-books. The Cupertino based company today responded to the furor and claimed that there has been no change in guidelines agreed with iPhone application developers. However, the company has made it clear that accessing content that is not available on its App Store will be a no-no.

Commenting on the issue Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller said “We have not changed our developer terms or guidelines. We are now requiring that if an app offers customers the ability to purchase books outside of the app, that the same option is also available to customers from with in-app purchases.”

On Tuesday, there was a buzz around that Apple has made a key policy change regarding in-app purchases which could seriously impact e-book business and could affect the business of Kindle and Sony Reader. The New York Times reported that Sony’s e-reader application has been rejected by the App Store, citing Apple’s new policy change on in-app purchases. However, today’s statement from Apple shows that actually it was not a new policy. The company has an agreement with iPad, iPhone developers which don’t allow iOS application developers to sell content if that content is not available on the company’s environment, where Apple gets a 30 percent cut.

The response will surely calm down many iPhone app developers, having apps selling e-books, who were worried that the rumored policy change might impact their business.

Apple is all set to ban iPhone appdevelopers from selling eBooks directly through their applications. As per a report by New York Times, Apple has rejected one of the applications from Sony that would allow users to buy books available at the Sony Reader Store from their devices.

Steve Haber, president of Sony’s digital reading division, said “We always wanted to bring the content to as many devices as possible, not one device to one store”. It’s the opposite of what we wanted to bring to the market,” We always wanted to bring the content to as many devices as possible, not one device to one store.”

“Unfortunately, with little notice, Apple changed the way it enforces its rules and this will prevent the current version of the Reader™ for iPhone® from being available in the app store. We opened a dialog with Apple to see if we can come up with an equitable resolution but reached an impasse at this time. We’re exploring other avenues to bring the Reader experience to Apple mobile devices. We know that many of you are eagerly awaiting the application and we appreciate your continued patience” Sony said in a statement posted on its website.

Apple has not commented on the issue yet but the new rule for in-app purchases could be a reason to worry for iPhone application developers and readers.