Skyhook Wireless, which provides location aware WiFi and cell-tower positioning to the iPhone, chip makers and mobile developers generally, has released results of a survey of mobile developers. It's a small sample (n=100) but it's likely representative of current attitudes among mobile apps developers. What it shows is that they don't have equal interest in all platforms: 

56% of all developers surveyed will port their app to other platforms. Developers are most interested in Android. 58% of non-Android developers plan to port to that platform, while 40% of non-iPhone developers plan to port an app to that platform. 26% will port to RIM, and 20% will port to Windows Mobile.

Developers are least interested in Palm and Symbian, with only 8% and 9% of developers planning to port their applications to those platforms, respectively.

This could of course change, but it suggests that the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry will have the strongest apps stores and offerings and that Symbian and Palm will suffer and lag behind. 

If, for example, the Pre really sells well it would likely attract developers to the platform. But there's a catch 22 of sorts potentially operating here. The lack of a competitive apps offering could impact demand for the hardware, which in turn could affect developer interest in the platform. First movers have an advantage, assuming they continue their momentum.

While Symbian and Palm might see these data and be very concerned, Microsoft also might find some cause for concern with only 20% of the developers saying they were going to build Windows Mobile versions of their apps. Attitudes and behavior are two different things. But Windows Mobile is an established platform in the US with millions of existing users. So the apparent lack of interest should be of concern. (To its credit Microsoft is trying to be highly responsive to developer feedback.)

Here are some additional findings from the Skyhook survey:

• 73% of respondents want exact location positioning. City or neighborhood-level targeting is not sufficient for most applications.
• Applications are designed to be used in metro areas. Very few applications are designed for use in rural areas.
• Quick location results are very important.
• 48% of respondents say location sets their app apart, or is a core component to their app. 46% say location increases app value, and would not have developed an app without location.

Here are two charts from the Skyhook report, showing the distribution of location-aware apps across platforms and the level of location targeting required by the apps:

Source: Skyhook Wireless