We see a lot of reports on consumer data, comparing Apple to other players in the mobile market, but we don’t see many other perspectives on the matter. Appcelerator, the company behind the Titanium software for developing native mobile apps, has released a report offering some developer data on iOS, Android, Symbian and other mobile platforms, in partnership with IDC.

The insight is forward-looking in its ability to gauge development interests across devices and platforms, with notable points on specifics for Google TV and other anticipated opportunities in the mobile field. In fact, developer interests lead for Google TV at 44%, with only 40% looking to build for Apple TV.

Android received a great deal of support overall, with 72% of participants saying Google’s mobile platform is “best positioned” to power a large number and variety of connected devices in the future, with only 25% feeling the same way towards iOS. Long-term, it’s clear that Android is a predicted winner, and is currently succeeding with gains in the developer community.

Another area of excited potential is the Android tablet, with 62% of participants expressing strong interest. Looking comparatively at iPad numbers taken prior to its launch, showing a 58% interest rate last January. Outside of these two, interest greatly falters, with webOS and BlackBerry tablets taken less than 20% interest.

The report goes on to offer some interesting finds on mobile app categories with the most potential, leading with the consumer app genre, which includes social networking, commerce and media, advertising and analytics working their way up this top 5 list.

Another point of interest Appcelerator covered in this September report was developer thoughts around Oracle’s lawsuit against Google over Java patent infringement, or the lifting of iOS development restrictions. When it comes to developer interest in Android, the outside politics have little impact at all, with 93% and 83% response rates for Oracle and iOS announcements respectively.

Looking at the pattern of development for mobile apps, it’s also interesting to peek into the decision-making process. Appcelerator’s VP of marketing, Scott Schwarzhoff, explained to me that this pattern typically starts with the iPhone, and shifts to Android before heading to the iPad, with developers completing their smartphone app presence, then moving onto tablet apps.

One thing remains clear: smartphone interest is a prerequisite for tablet interest, based on the results of the study. This means current tablet manufacturers, like Dell and HP, will need to also keep developers in mind when plotting marketing and sales tactics around their devices.

The differences in developer tools are a driving factor for this methodology, especially for Appcelerator clients using its platform for creating mobile apps. This typically involves a company with an existing website, wishing to extend into the mobile realm, retaining certain social and account features for deep integration.

This enables us to look at developer interests over time, and in relation to certain events, such as a tablet launch or new distribution projects. The survey, a precedent for the mobile industry, gives a snapshot projecting future interests, giving us a look at where the market is likely to go.