4 ms·

How are android sales? Is it possible make about $500 a month with android on average?

levirosol 17y ago
of course it's possible. Is that sustainable for your average single app? probably not. However, with 15 some odd phones releasing in the near future, if you're doing mobile development, you have to be putting more focus on Android.
- maxklein 17y ago
  It's not really so smart to go into a market right at the start of the bump, because the values at the very start will be way off the charts compared to when it is a stable store.
  - levirosol 17y ago
    agreed, however, the mobile app market appears to be very fast and finicky. Unless your building an application that is tied to, or supports another, already existing application, it's primarily a craps shoot on making money or not.
martythemaniak 17y ago
Being Canadian, I can't put up paid apps (yet), so I don't know. It's also a hard question to answer, because it depends on app popularity, price, complexity of the app, etc. For my next project, I am planning to roll over iPhone and Android nearly simultaneously, so I look forward to answering that question in a blog post, at least in a relative way.
- maxklein 17y ago
  You mean only U.S developers can sell apps in the android store?
  - martythemaniak 17y ago
    I just checked - currently you can sell apps from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, UK and US. From what I've read, the local carriers play a large role in where paid apps are available.
- fjabre 17y ago
  I'm not sure this app is possible on the iPhone. Apple doesn't allow access to call history, favorites and what not.. At least that's how it was last year when I 'used' to do iPhone dev..
  - cakesy 17y ago
    Not on an unlocked phone, anyway. You can still sell apps for unlocked phones, not sure what the returns are. Apple only gives you access to the address book, very annoying. Would love to get more access, to calendar, calls data etc...
- jsolson 17y ago
  I wonder if there's a market in being an American company that's willing to act purveyor of apps for foreign developers... As I'd be perfectly willing to do the minimal work of submitting your app for a small portion of the proceeds. Dealing with international tax law probably makes this not worth it for a small company, particularly as a side business, but it's a thought...
edawerd 17y ago
I've made about $200-$250/month on my Android app, but it looks to be on track of making $500 this month, possibly due to the launch of the Droid phone. Just did a post on this: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=938867 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=938867

of course it's possible. Is that sustainable for your average single app? probably not. However, with 15 some odd phones releasing in the near future, if you're doing mobile development, you have to be putting more focus on Android.

maxklein 17y ago
It's not really so smart to go into a market right at the start of the bump, because the values at the very start will be way off the charts compared to when it is a stable store.
- levirosol 17y ago
  agreed, however, the mobile app market appears to be very fast and finicky. Unless your building an application that is tied to, or supports another, already existing application, it's primarily a craps shoot on making money or not.

martythemaniak 17y ago

Being Canadian, I can't put up paid apps (yet), so I don't know. It's also a hard question to answer, because it depends on app popularity, price, complexity of the app, etc. For my next project, I am planning to roll over iPhone and Android nearly simultaneously, so I look forward to answering that question in a blog post, at least in a relative way.

maxklein 17y ago
You mean only U.S developers can sell apps in the android store?
- martythemaniak 17y ago
  I just checked - currently you can sell apps from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, UK and US. From what I've read, the local carriers play a large role in where paid apps are available.
fjabre 17y ago
I'm not sure this app is possible on the iPhone. Apple doesn't allow access to call history, favorites and what not.. At least that's how it was last year when I 'used' to do iPhone dev..
- cakesy 17y ago
  Not on an unlocked phone, anyway. You can still sell apps for unlocked phones, not sure what the returns are. Apple only gives you access to the address book, very annoying. Would love to get more access, to calendar, calls data etc...
jsolson 17y ago
I wonder if there's a market in being an American company that's willing to act purveyor of apps for foreign developers... As I'd be perfectly willing to do the minimal work of submitting your app for a small portion of the proceeds. Dealing with international tax law probably makes this not worth it for a small company, particularly as a side business, but it's a thought...

edawerd 17y ago

I've made about $200-$250/month on my Android app, but it looks to be on track of making $500 this month, possibly due to the launch of the Droid phone. Just did a post on this: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=938867 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=938867