Eric Schmidt: Developers will prefer ICS to iOS within 6 months

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Google’s Eric Schmidt recently took the stage alongside Android Product Management Director, Hugo Barra, at Le Web conference in Paris to talk Ice Cream Sandwich and the future of Android. Most of the interview and demo consisted of showing off some of the new flagship features of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich like face unlock, but the Google chairman also took some time to talk competition (via Cnet). While noting that Android is now ahead of iPhone by unit volume, price points, and number of vendors, Schmidt shared his thoughts on why he thinks developers will perfer Android to iOS in the near future:

Ultimately, application vendors are driven by volume, and volume is favored by the open approach Google is taking. There are so many manufacturers working to deliver Android phones globally. Whether you like Android or not, you will support that platform, and maybe you’ll even deliver it first.

When asked about iOS apps beating the Android versions of apps to market, he had high hopes that would change with Ice Cream Sandwich:

My prediction is that six months from now you’ll say the opposite.

As for the future of Android:

All the interesting new applications are going to be some combination of social, mobile, and local. Social, local, mobile has been true for humans for at least 10,000 years, so I don’t think it’s going to go away any time soon.

While in Paris, Schmidt also attended the opening of  the new 10,000-square meter Google HQ with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Situated in a 19th century Second Empire building, the offices will act as the headquarters for France, Souther Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. You can check out a walkthrough of the new building here.