• The Wall Street Journal, Monday, January 31, 2011 3:42 PM

Google may now have the most popular mobile software on the market, but Apple is still seen to have the edge on apps. Likely as a result, Google reportedly plans to hire dozens of software developers to create apps for smartphones and other mobile devices. As sources tell The Wall Street Journal, the hiring binge is part of a "new strategy aimed partly at helping Google counter Apple Inc. in one of high tech's hottest sectors." Hires include software engineers, product managers, user-interface experts and other mobile app-focused experts. 

Some existing Google employees are now shifting their attention -- and job titles -- to focus their energies on apps. And, no wonder.

Gartner recently predicted that revenue from mobile apps -- including paid downloads and advertising -- is expected to triple this year to $15.1 billion wordwide. "Besides the potential of making money directly from such creations, more and better apps can help devices powered by Google's Android operating system continue to gain ground on Apple's iPhones and iPads," the newspaper adds.

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