For a good long while, creating an app just for iOS (Apple devices) would ensure that you’d reach most of your target demographic. Most parents owned iPhones, or kids would get iPods and iPads as gifts. Things in the mobile world are changing, though.

New Gartner Data shows that Android’s market share is up 24% in one year and takes 79% of the market. Samsung smartphones take up 30% of the market.

This means more parents might be passing back Android phones to their kids to play games.

Ideally, it’s best to create an app that works on both operating systems. But yeah, I hear ya – this means you need to create more room in your budget for Android apps in addition to iOS apps.

How do you find out if it’s worthwhile to pay for an Android version of your app? Check out the analytics of your website.  See if more parents are coming to your website via iOS or Android. And be sure to take a look at the trending data. This means taking a good look at the last six months or year of analytics to see if one smartphone operating system is increasingly coming to your site over another.

If it’s allowed, you can also insert a questionnaire on your site. It won’t necessarily be scientific (kids may find the questionnaire on your website and answer). Alternatively, use your social media channels to get a response since they’re technically targeting an older demo. If you go the social media route – be transparent – tell the parents you’re considering creating an app and need to know which devices to start out with.

And if your budget dictates that you need to choose one operating system over another, also consider the marketing opportunities. Does Apple provide you with a better chance to promote your app? How easily will users find your app in the Android store?

Remember also that Apple is supposedly releasing a new phone next month, which may or may not change what device is best to choose for your app.

If you need to hire a consultant to help decipher this environment, be sure to ping me on LinkedIn at ca.linkedin.com/in/liannestewart/ or follow me on Twitter.