Information technology professionals predict that mobile and cloud computing will emerge as the most in-demand platforms for software application development and IT delivery over the next five years, according to a new IBM survey released today.

The 2010 IBM Tech Trends Survey, conducted online by IBM developerWorks, provides insight into the most significant enterprise technology and industry trends based on responses from 2,000 IT developers and specialists across 87 countries.

According to the survey, more than half of all IT professionals–55 percent—expect mobile software application development for devices such as the iPhone and Android, and even tablet PCs like iPad and PlayBook, will surpass application development on all other traditional computing platforms by 2015.

With the proliferation of these mobile devices, industry analysts are predicting mobile applications sales will undergo massive growth over the next three years, with estimates of mobile application revenues expanding from $6.2 billion this year to nearly $30 billion by 2013.

Supporting the growing number of software developers creating new applications for mobile devices, IBM now offers no-cost mobile computing technology resources, through IBM developerWorks, for application development on mobile platforms such as iPhone, iPad, HTML5 and Android.

IBM also today launched the first developerWorks mobile application for the Apple iPhone, providing developers around the world with mobile access to build skills and network with colleagues using the professional social networking platform, My developerWorks, built on IBM Lotus Connections.

Additional IBM Tech Trends Survey findings include: 

• 91 percent anticipate cloud computing will overtake on-premise computing as the primary way organizations acquire IT over the next five years
• Mobile and cloud computing are followed by social media, business analytics, and industry-specific technologies as the hottest IT career opportunities beginning in 2011
• 90 percent believe it is important to possess vertical industry-specific skills for their jobs, yet 63 percent admit they are lacking the industry knowledge needed to remain competitive
• Telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, and energy and utilities rank as the top four industries in which respondents identify as having the greatest opportunity to expand their careers.

“To best understand where enterprise technology is headed, one must pay attention to those who have a pulse on market demands—the developers and IT specialists responding to these demands and creating the next generation of business applications,” said Jim Corgel, general manager, IBM Independent Software Vendors and Developer Relations. “These survey results clearly demonstrate that IT professionals see a combination of disruptive technologies and industry-specific skills as key to driving near-term business growth.”

The online survey, conducted by IBM developerWorks of its eight million registered users in August and September 2010, includes responses from IT professionals with expertise in areas such as enterprise and web application development, system and network administration, and software testing and architecture.

IBM developerWorks Announces New Resources

IBM today announced additional resources, through IBM developerWorks, to help professionals build skills to prepare for the next generation of IT and application development opportunities. The no-charge resources include:

• New cloud computing resources including online workshops, skills tutorials, cloud computing technical resources, and social networking tools that enable users to build online relationships, share content, and grow a worldwide network of peers to drive innovation.
• Cloud Computing for Developers virtual events this October, with four dates when IT professionals can learn how to solve business and technical challenges in the cloud. Through real-world examples of specific challenges and solutions as well as live demos of techniques and products, attendees can learn more about how to use and build cloud-based applications such as Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) using IBM and open technologies.
• An online Industry Resource Site that provides technical resources, collaboration forums, articles, podcasts and tutorials on key IBM and open technologies-based best practices in banking, energy and utilities, healthcare, government and chemical and petroleum industries
• Technical information on the IBM Industry Frameworks, a combination of software and hardware that bridges the gap between general purpose middleware and industry specific business applications to help organizations apply technology more easily to their unique industry.

Today, developerWorks is the largest and most visited global site to gain technology skills. Over four million IT professionals visit developerWorks each month to gain no-cost access to software tools and code, IT standards and best practices across various industries. Users also tap skills training in IBM software and open technologies including Linux, Java, XML and cloud computing.

For more information on developerWorks, please visit www.ibm.com/developerworks.