Mobile apps

Smartphone apps have become a part of modern people’s lives. Various types of mobile applications help organize work and leisure, learn the latest news, and communicate with friends. Every day there are new programs for iOS, Android, Java, Symbian, Windows, and other operating systems. In this article, today we will understand what mobile applications are, what types of mobile applications are, what are their advantages and disadvantages.

After reading this article, you can decide for yourself whether you need to create a mobile application, determine its type, estimate how costly its development will be, and also what benefits it can bring to your business.

What is the essence of mobile applications?

A mobile application is a type of software designed to run on portable devices such as smartphones or smart watches. Such applications can:

 

• use the specific capabilities of your device (for example, receive information from some sensor built into the gadget)

• take pictures or record videos 

• work online or offline, depending on the purpose

 

Targeted marketplaces, such as the App Store and Google Play (formerly Android Market), are used to download and install mobile applications. There are also mobile software distribution centers from major gadget manufacturers, for example, Huawei AppGallery, BlackBerry World, Samsung Galaxy Store.

Why do we need mobile applications? 

Mobile applications provide users with a convenient way to access various functions and services, as well as online information, web resources, social networks, and media content. For a business owner, mobile applications simplify the interaction with the user – a potential customer, helping to increase sales of goods or services. In addition to direct communication, it becomes possible to conduct accurate analytics:

 

• take into account user preferences

• its geography

• social status

• focus on input requests

• collect information about current trends

• evaluate the demand for a particular service

 

This software can be used for advertising, notification, confirmation of user authorization. Mobile applications help in online marketing to promote goods and services, for example, facilitating the process of buying tickets and booking hotels, making it possible to make an appointment with a doctor remotely, and so on.

Mobile software can be used for business and project management. For example, applications such as Slack, Trello, Asana, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts Meetings simplify teamwork and communication, make it possible to hold joint meetings and brainstorms, and communicate on webinars.

The principle of operation of the mobile application 

Mobile applications use the functionality of the gadget:

 

• work with the camera

• establish a connection in cellular networks

• connect compatible devices via Bluetooth

• use Wi-Fi to access the Internet

• enable GPS navigation

 

And this is not a complete list. The procedure for installing mobile applications differs depending on the platform. For example, on Android, you just need to run the APK file, and on iOS, you first need to register the device with Apple in a personal account (a kind of protection from the “black market of applications”, which, however, creates additional inconvenience for developers).

 

To develop a mobile application, you need a set of tools and a single development environment (Integrated Development Environment – IDE). Application development for Android is performed in Android Studio, for IOS – in xCode.

 

A development environment is an application that includes everything you need to write code for software, develop an interface. It also has a built-in emulator for testing software performance. Applications for different mobile operating systems are created in different programming languages. Most of the code for iOS is created using Objective C and Swift, and on the Android platform, Java and Kotlin are used. Swift and Kotlin are very similar, to the point where some parts of the code can match 70% or more. Swift is built exclusively for iOS, while Kotlin can be used on multiple platforms, including Linux and Windows.

Variety of smartphone apps 

For all smartphones, including the iPhone, the types of mobile applications are classified according to the same scheme. All types of AMS (from the English Application) can be divided into 4 categories according to the main purpose: 

• Smartphone games

• Promo apps

• Content services

• Social media

There are other types of programs. For example, business services created to manage companies. But other species are less in demand than the listed groups. According to statistics, 70% of smartphone owners have installed at least one program from the listed categories. 

Gaming 

This group combines mobile games of all genres: shooters, racing, arcades, quests, logic tasks, and others. It includes children’s, adult, family games. The main target audience of game projects is people under 27 years old. However, the popularity of mobile games among older people is increasing every year. The most common way to make money on games is to sell additional content. 

Promo Apps

Promotional programs are created to order for businesses, they serve to promote the brand. The main goal of the developers is the maximum coverage of customers who can use different models of smartphones. Through the services, users can order goods and services, read app reviews on Appnado, learn about discounts and promotions, and receive bonuses. Services for food delivery, calling a taxi, buying tickets to cinemas have become the most popular.

Content 

These are programs designed to quickly access certain content. An extensive group includes many types of applications for Android and iPhone. A few examples of the information they may contain: 

• News publications

• Motivational quotes

• Current exchange rates

• Weight loss or training systems

• Teaching language courses

Ad units are often used to make money on content services. The user can disable advertising for an additional fee, which replenishes the budget of the project.

Social media 

Services allow you to communicate in social networks through a smartphone or tablet. Every popular social network has a mobile application. Some of them can be installed even before buying a smartphone. For example, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube are sometimes included in the basic package of the operating system.

Mobile apps – pros and cons 

We have studied the types of mobile applications popular for iOS and Android. But before you engage in the development, find out the pros and cons of this business area. The main advantage is the demand for content for mobile phones. Even low-quality programs are installed by thousands of people.

 

Users need convenient programs, and businesses need tools for promotion. Creating content and applications for smartphones is a promising activity that will be in demand soon. But in a field where you can earn a lot of money, supply exceeds demand. Dozens of programs already exist to solve each problem. To stand out from the competition, you need to offer innovative content or a qualitatively new level of implementation of an existing idea.

 

The second main disadvantage of web development is the need for constant updates. New models of smartphones, new versions of operating systems enter the market. The application must work on any device, otherwise, users will delete it from their phones. Also, the program should adapt to the needs of users. If you don’t offer customers the new convenience features they need, your competitors will. So you need to constantly update features, add new content to maintain audience reach and user loyalty.