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I've wondered about this myself. The only way that a mobile platform will survive is if there are apps for it, which means developers have to be willing to invest their time (and money) in writing those apps. But at this point, do mobile OSs other than iOS and Android have cooties? What would it take for a developer (or her client/employer) to decide to target BlackBerry or Microsoft? Maybe folks here can offer their views. Because I'm not sure of the answer.

all platforms should adopt NaCl for mobiles with one language like Vala to encapsulate the differences on all platform, oh WAIT, i just gave up an idea to how to cash on all mobiles regardless of they survive or perish ############################################################################################################################################################################################################################## :-p

It's a real conundrum. As I wrote, the number of developers creating apps for these two platforms was stuck at 16 percent for BB and 21 percent for Microsoft. It's worth noting that Microsoft actually tried paying developers to create apps and that hasn't helped. I don't really know how you break the cycle, and it's an interesting problem, which is why it caught my attention when I was reading the survey and I decided to write about it.

No single software is invincible.It depends on how Blackberry and Microsoft plan their stategy to attract the top apps developers of the world.

@estherschindler "What would it take for a developer (or her client/employer) to decide to target BlackBerry or Microsoft?" Millions of users and rags to riches stories.

andromida: No doubt, but the questions is how do you do that? It's much easier said than done. Both have tried cash incentives and that hasn't seemed to work very well (at least to this point). Fact is that developers have to put resources into learning the platform and building the apps. It's just human nature and good business sense that with limited resources you place your bets on the highest percentage platforms. I don't see a way for them to draw people away anytime soon.

@miguelalvarez: We are faced with the chicken and egg problem here though. Without millions of users, they can't attract the bulk of the developers and without developers they can't attract the phone buyers in those kind of numbers.

@rsmiller or if they made an SDK that could export to Android and iOS? I know it's their competition but hey they have to start somewhere right?

@miguellalvarez: It would be more likely a third party package that did that -- and there are multi-platform development tools out there. Just not sure what you lose by going to the lowest common denominator in each one.

@rsmiller yeah I know, I use Corona SDK and I know about some others, but these 3rd party tools cost money, Microsoft and BB are the ones who need developers so am just proposing that they make those tools and make them free.

@miguelalvarez: I like the idea, but I'm not sure BB & Microsoft would want to make it that easy for developers -- even though it would actually be a smart strategy.