Sources: Microsoft In Talks To Acquire Mobile App Development Startup Xamarin | CRN

Microsoft is in the final stages of negotiations that could lead to either an acquisition or major investment in Xamarin, a mobile startup whose tools make it possible to code iOS and Android apps using Microsoft development tools, sources with knowledge of the discussions told CRN recently.

When the iPhone SDK was first released, the fact that you had to use a Mac to develop for the iPhone was seen by many as a significant disadvantage – even more so once Android started gathering steam.

I don't know how much of an issue it is today, but I would guess that for developers, it is now seen more as a selling point for OSX than a disincentive to work on iOS.

(via Benedict Evans' newsletter.)