Cross platform mobile application framework

I just learnt the are some cross platform mobile application framework which allows you to develop once and deploy to multiple platform , for example, application developed in Android and deployed into IOS.

The concept is to develop everything in HTML5, Javascript and CSS using the framework. The application then will be compiled via service provider and you will have your application in the platform you want.

One of the framework is called PhoneGap. What attracted me in PhoneGap is the storage features which I do not find in other framework.

Here is the features list.

1. Accelerometer
2. Camera
3. Capture
4. Compass
5. Connection
6. Contacts
7. Device
8. Events
9. File
10. Geolocation
11. Media
12. Notification 
13. STORAGE

That's all about the good stuff. The bad thing is that you have to pay for it, it is not fully free. The service you have to pay for is the compilation in the cloud, PhoneGap Build. 

I'm not sure how it works. What is the definition of developer? and how to define public apps? Further look at the support issue, I realized that it is not cheap at all, even for basic, it costs $249.99 per year. It is clear that not every individual developer could affords it. It does come with a price uh! I can't find FAQ section in the website, hence I still cannot understand how's the pricing works. There is PhoneGap Build service included in the support package, does it mean the FREE for developer is never going to happen because I do need to pay even for the basic package. 

Another thing to note that, it is not easy to switch to another language, in this case, Javascript and the framework when you have already familiar with your current language so well. Simply put it, you have to rewrite everything from the start. It is not a easy task! However, the advantage of multiple platform deployment does outweigh the effort of re-development.