It’s day 1500-something in the new era of Mobile Manufacturer Wars. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, jumped out to an early lead, by introducing the idea of Apps to the world – specific, task-oriented programs that can be easily installed on your phone for a tiny fee, boosting its usefulness. The number of Apps available for the iPhone is approaching 600,000, while Google’s Android comes close to 500,000. Developers are starting to develop for both big platforms, and will soon start developing across three, including Windows Phone.

Razorblades

But Apple had a huge head start, and should stay in the lead for some time to come. Android developers have fewer hurdles to overcome in getting their product to consumers, but less revenue per consumer. This has a lot to do with Apple’s stunning ability to get users to fork over money, and the ease-of-use which Apple bakes into its products. Android seems to be attracting a breed of customer with less money to spend on apps, or is otherwise making it difficult for them to do so. So while Android might own as much as 49% of the world smartphone market (with Apple at 30%), Apple somehow takes in 70% of mobile revenue. That attracts a lot more developers, who take home 70% of that revenue. These numbers seem to shift week to week, and differ slightly in different countries – but a trend is emerging. Apple is successfully adopting the Gillette model- charging the market price for the razor (the phone), and then making all the money on blades (the apps). It doesn’t hurt that their razor and apps also have the best reputation for quality. Meanwhile, everyone else is hoping that by flooding the market with cheap razors, they’ll eventually be able to compete.

How many?!?

In the meantime, it’s worth asking – what’s the point of having hundreds of thousands of apps? Surely many of these are useless, or double-ups? Yes and yes. Apple takes a ‘curated’ approach, with Apps needing to pass a gauntlet of conditions before getting onto the App Store – some of the conditions include no explicit adult content, and Apple will decide on the whether or not the App is useful or worthwhile- leading to the welcome demise of dozens of apps to make fart noises, display an image of an emptying beer glass, and other ephemera. Android takes a more hands off approach, and so there is generally more chaff than wheat.

With that in mind, we asked around the CompareMobilePlans offices to see what Apps employees are actually using, and actually offer value. And to also suggest an app that has little to no value, but is fun anyway.

Sarah Routledge –Editor – iPhone 4 - I actually use TramTracker every day. Like a lot of the most useful apps, it’s free. Tram Tracker provides up-to-the-minute arrival and departure trams for Melbourne’s Yarra Trams network, and even includes a map showing the closest stops.

Skype (Free) allows me to connect with my family back in the UK, and friends from around the world. It now works on Wi-Fi and on 3G, so I can keep in contact anywhere I get a decent signal.

For sheer fun, I love Microsoft’s PhotoSynth (Free). It allows me to take a series of shots around a room, and then stitches them together into a 3D, panoramic shot, very useful when hunting for a new flat! In fact, Skype is now owned by Microsoft, and PhotoSynth is made by Microsoft…I might have to take a close look at a Windows Phone when they become available!

Adam Wajnberg – Writer – iPhone 4 - Like Sarah, I’m a big user of Tram Tracker and Skype. But being a big reader, I use iBooks (Free) a lot – even on the iPhone’s 3.5” screen, I’m able to keep myself entertained during long train and tram commutes. iBooks is free, with books starting from $.99 (and several free out of print titles as well).

I’m a bit of a Wikipedia junkie, and enjoy the odd phenomenon of Wiki Jaunts, where you start on one random topic (say, mushrooms) and through clicking on various links, end up 20 minutes later on a completely unrelated one (Germany). The free Wikipedia app is ok, but I find Wikipanion Plus ($5.49) to be faster and better formatted.

For fun, I used a gift certificate to purchase the expensive, but awesome The Elements app ($13.99) – one of the earliest and still best examples of what iPhones can do. A lovingly crafted guide to all 108 elements of the periodic table, with links to tell you the current market price, and stunning 3D pictures of each element in action. Completely unrelated to my work or lifestyle - just an excellent way to pass the time.

Michael Abson – Customer Service – HTC Desire Android Phone – I use Out of Milk (Free) to keep on track of everything, including non-shopping related tasks. I use TuneIn Radio (Free) to find streaming music from around the world, and also spoken word and talk radio from the UK.

For fun – Michael doesn’t have fun.

TramTracker (App Store)
Skype (App Store)
PhotoSynth (App Store)
iBooks (App Store)
Wikipanion (App Store)
The Elements: A Visual Exploration (App Store)
TuneIn Radio (Android Market)
Out of Milk (Android Market)