Mobile Application Development : Trends & insights

These lessons supply an important understanding in how app developers should go about thinking about app development, and more importantly, how the app and smartphone experience may change.Having developed a variety of apps across categories for many different clients and mobile OS platforms, SDI predicts major trends & insights  in mobile app development.GamificationThe concept of gamification is simple - mimic the points, challenges, leaderboards, and to some extent the design language of games in non-game situations.Gamification is being woven into apps across categories. Workout apps, for example, "gamify" by allowing users to post achievements, unlock new real life challenges (a new difficult cycling route, for example) and brag about successfully completing a certain challenge to other participants.Even cooking apps have borrowed the mutual competitiveness by allowing users to post photos of their dishes to other users, and compare and critique them. More notably, multinational cafe chain Starbucks awarded discounts to cafe visitors who have won the 'Mayor' ranking for FourSquare check-ins at Starbucks locations.Smartphones are essentialGoing back maybe eight years ago, it was hard to believe that one would spend a lot of money on a phone. However, the last two years have shown how smartphones are not only productivity and entertainment devices, but have established an emotional appeal among users. They are now not only lifestyle tools, but enablers of a fast, constantly connected lifestyle.The freemium model worksWhile one would think that the oversaturation of the app market would lead to developers of paid apps losing potential buyers, the reality is the opposite.With the common acceptance of the “There is an app for that”, and the rush to crank out apps, people are in fact willing to pay a bit for a high quality app. Apps are not really programs anymore – they are considered assets in a smartphone-enabled lifestyle.Users will gladly pay for a little more functionality if they are satisfied with your app’s performance and utility.The future is cross platformThere are two critical reasons to consider why cross platform, and not loyalty to one app platform is the key to thrive in the app marketplace. Firstly, looking at major successful apps across categories, one can see that being available on the web and across devices is part of the reason for their success. From gaming to note-taking, consumers are looking for rapid convenience, and you cannot discount web versions of mobile apps.Apple got this right when they developed the iCloud. Secondly, there is no more loyalty to a certain OS. Samsung’s march towards monopolizing the smartphone market has been marked by Apple losing potential customers heavily.At Software Developers India- SDI , the effort is always to give clients the best apps solutions for their money. The team of developers comprises people who have years of experience in this domain and are well-versed with the entire development process - from taking brief from the client to delivering.  To know more email team@sdi.la or you can visit our website m.softwaredevelopersindia.com