There has been a lot of talk lately about Apple’s new iPhone OS 4.0 restrictions. A lot of people are asking if Steve Jobs has gone mad, and if this will finally turn a lot of iPhone developers towards Google’s Android platform. Me? I’m not sure.

Apple is not the market leader in smartphones, as I see it. It’s the leader in the $599 segment of the smartphone market. And in the next 2-5 years, I anticipate a $499 and even a $399 price point - which will open up much larger segments. And who’s to say who will rule those?

They did the wise thing with iPods. You could buy an iPod for $50, $150, $225 or $300. No matter what your budget, Apple was THE company to buy from. That’s why they dominated the music player market. And except for the iPhone, each of their current product lines has that range of choices.

If Apple continues to dominate the new phone markets as they emerge (or create shiny new markets for their developer base, as with the iPad), those developers won’t be going anywhere. Otherwise, competitors with cheaper hardware and Android software are going to eat their lunch - and the developer herds will simply follow the new leader.

I can’t wait to see what happens.