Following a survey of 2000 developers by Appcelerator and IDC, it is clear that Windows Phone is now the third major ecosystem, with only iOS and Android ahead of it (reports All Things D). With 38% of developers "very interested" in developing for Windows Phone, the signs are good that Microsoft continues to build a strong base of apps to power Windows Phone into 2012 and beyond.

Of course a lot of help is being provided jointly by Microsoft with Nokia, and it's interesting to note that support for the Nokia Windows Phone devices is twice as strong as Symbian and Meego devices. IDC analyst Scott Ellison:

The third major mobile OS after iOS and Android is now clearly Windows, driven largely by the Microsoft / Nokia partnership and underscored by the new Nokia Lumia 800.

Back in the real world, it's not about developer interest, it's about applications. And at this point in the life of the platform, Microsoft has more applications than Android did at a similar point. Whether they'll get the chance to grow in the same way remains to be seen, but the initial signs are good. More of the same, now, please.

Medals by Quimby / CC Flickr.