Wireless developers are dissatisfied with testing and debugging tools, and with wireless emulation tools, says Evans Data Corp. (EDC). Additionally, an annual EDC survey found wireless developers increasingly hosting on Linux, deploying server-side software on Linux, targeting smartphones and Java ME-enabled devices, and using open source or Linux tools.

According to EDC, 78 percent of respondents called testing and debugging tools “extremely” or “very” important. Yet, only 34 percent rated available tools “excellent” or “very good.”

Additionally, 63 percent called wireless emulation tools important, with only 28 percent expressing satisfaction, and 18 percent saying the tools need work.

EDC's COO, John Andrews, said, “The state of tools in wireless development represents a big opportunity for any vendor willing to step up, develop a killer tool set, and take over the space.”

Additional findings from EDC's Fall 2005 Wireless Development Survey include:

• Smartphones are in a “virtual tie” with mobile phones for fourth place among device categories most frequently targeted by wireless device developers
• A quarter of wireless developers host on Linux, and deploy server-side applications for Linux. Only Windows Server 2003 claims a higher percentage.
• Sixty-six percent of wireless developers target Java, with 56 percent targeting Java ME (formerly known as J2ME). Java is strongest in the Asia/Pacific region, where 71 of wireless developers target it.
• A majority (52 percent) of wireless developers use open source or Linux tools in the wireless development.

 
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