Predictions 2009: After the App Store, what's ahead for developers in 2009?

Before I look ahead at 2009 I first have to look back at 2008, a year that changed virtually everything for mobile developers. First and foremost, 2008 was the year of Apple's App Store, the virtual storefront that in one broad stroke transformed the distribution and sale of mobile software. The App Store, which opened to iPhone 3G and iPod Touch owners on July 11, had already boasted more than 10,000 applications by early December, with consumers downloading more than 300 million apps during that time. Almost as noteworthy: The official introduction of Google's Android mobile OS and its accompanying Android Market storefront, not to mention Nokia's commitment to team with Sony Ericsson, Motorola and NTT DoCoMo to create an open Symbian platform. Mobile operators also made significant strides toward a more open network environment in 2008, spearheaded by Verizon Wireless' Open Development Initiative and T-Mobile USA's devPartner Community program. And throughout the year, a host of sophisticated ... (link)