The industry of mobile app development is currently seeing a huge transformation, due to micro-processing technology advancement that allows users to run their mobile applications on more than one platform. The desktop apps that we were mostly seeing in the past cannot be used on our phones, whereas the mobile apps of today are mostly made to be run on multiple platforms, from Android and iPhone devices to Macs and PCs.
All of this is also impacted by the habit of today’s customers being present on their smartphones. In 2021, the number of mobile internet users was 4.32 billion, meaning that a huge part of the global population uses their mobile devices to go online.
We are no longer using our phones just to communicate with each other, we are using them to get informed, entertained, and purchase things we like. This is why many businesses out there have decided to build their own mobile application and offer it to their target audience. With so many benefits, mobile apps are opening a completely new world to all those companies that wish to connect better with their customers.
Mobile App Development
Think of mobile app development as a process of building apps that primarily work on mobile devices. Once built, these applications are then preinstalled or downloaded and installed by the app users later. This is why the mobile app development process needs to have software that can be installed on the smartphone later.
There are many things to consider when creating mobile apps, from screen sizes and hardware requirements to every other element of the mobile app development process. With a growing demand for mobile apps, there is a need for both phone application developers and business owners to recognize this trend and constantly work on improving the process.
Mobile App Development Platforms
Of all mobile app platforms, iOS and Android are the two most popular and most used ones. If a developer creates a mobile app for an iOS device, it will run only on iPhones, while an Android-built mobile app will only run on Android devices. However, most businesses will decide to create an app for multiple platforms, which can work on both iOS devices and Android, but also PC and every other device you might be using.
When looking into iPhone apps development, it has many similarities with Android. That is why most developers you will reach out to will have experience in building mobile apps for both platforms. That said, the development process for them is not the same, although the final result to you might seem like it. That is why you’ll need to do proper research before deciding on the platform for your mobile app.
Mobile App Development Alternatives
Besides determining for which app platform you want to design your app, you can also consider alternative solutions that are often more beneficial than designing for iOS and Android apart. One of the most popular alternatives is building a progressive web app (PWA). Such apps are basically webpages but their functionality is usually wider than that of regular webpages. But it still lacks some features that would be available only with applications. Progressive web applications work only inside the browser, regardless of whether it is a mobile device or desktop. Developers add the link to the mobile which looks like an app icon, to ensure they run on both mobile and desktop.
Another common way is to build cross-platform native mobile applications. They can be written in numerous programming languages and compiled for every platform separately. Cross-platform native applications have a single code base for multiple platforms. For businesses looking to provide a unified user experience to their customers, cross-platform native mobile apps can give exactly that on various platforms.
Developers can also build hybrid mobile applications, which are built by using web technologies such as JavaScript, HTML, or CSS, and then tied as a mobile app for the desired platforms. JavaScript is the most widely used programming language in the world, with 64.96% global users.
In Final Words
There are many options to choose from when it comes to mobile app development, however, your customers will have the last say. Opting only for Android app development makes no sense if your customers are divided between Android and iOS, making you choose either a native app development or cross-platform app development.
That said, each of these options comes with its unique advantages and disadvantages. Whichever mobile app development type you finally choose, you will need to be aware of its potential and limitations. The best thing to do is to match your approach with your strategy because it will help you achieve the desired user experience and get you the business success you wanted all along. With such huge competition when it comes to mobile apps, we truly hope that this guide provides you with everything you need to launch another successful app that will thrill your customers and strengthen your name in the industry.
