Survey: 48% of developers expect 50% increase in sales in 2011

Even the briefest of glances at a new survey of developers, publishers and advertisers conducted by Millennial Media highlights one thing: the stark amount of optimism flooding the industry.

Millennial's study was designed to take a snapshot of the state of the apps industry as it stands, looking at both publisher support and confidence.

With 90 percent of publishers questioned expecting their revenues to rise over the course of 2011, it's clear most believe they're in the right place at the right time.

Revenue riot

Indeed, 31 percent of publishers think their app revenue will rise by 100 percent or more in 2011, with a further 17 percent expecting at least a 50 percent increase.

Only 10 percent think their revenues will remain flat.

New pastures

It is the range of platforms now on offer that gives studios such confidence.

While both iPhone and Android naturally account for the majority of publisher support in 2010 – 30 percent having worked on iPhone this year, with Android taking second spot on 23 percent and iPad third on 21 percent, many publishers are considering branching out in 2011.

Android appears to be the platform attracting the most amount of fresh support from publishers in the coming year, with 29 percent planning to work on apps for Google's OS in 2011.

However, there are also encouraging signs for Microsoft's renewed smartphone attack. Holding joint second spot, 20 percent of publishers plan to support Windows Phone 7 in 2011 – the same number that are set to develop on iPad.

The full report – State of the Apps Industry 2010 – features analysis from Wall Street analyst Jordan Rohan of Stifel Nicolaus, and can be downloaded for free from Millennial's website.