Windows Phone has a promising future despite only being on track to represent 2 percent of all app downloads in 2012, according to ABI Research.

Senior analyst Aapo Markkanen said many developers feel Windows Phone is an appealing platform in technical terms, meaning that if it ends up on relatively high-end devices and avoids fragmentation, “it won’t even need to achieve a remarkably large market share to attract a vibrant app scene."

Markkanen added that the arrival of the first Windows 8 tablets and next version of Windows Phone should give the app ecosystem a boost with developers able to re-use code for different screen sizes.

However, there are currently four factors hampering the uptake of Windows Phone apps. As well as the small device market share for Windows Phone, the slow roll out of Windows Marketplace has been a limiting factor. In addition, Microsoft has been slow to bring in in-app purchasing, meaning many apps require up-front payment, while no tablets have been built for the platform. “Advancement on any of these fronts will have a positive impact,” the report said.

ABI's Mobile Applications Market Data report forecasts that Android and iOS will account for 83 percent of all downloads in 2012, with BlackBerry and Symbian also heading Windows Phone.

However, ABI Research associate Lim Shiyang saod Windows Phone’s predicted share represents double that of 2011: ?“Microsoft is gaining momentum, but its starting point is frustratingly low."