Top 5 Things You Need to Know Before Developing a Mobile App
So, you’re thinking about developing a mobile app, but you are not sure where to start? Before you jump into the app development process, take a look at this list of the top five points you should ponder, chosen by a top app development team that walks the app walk every day – Barefoot Solutions.
1. First, choose your platform
The most popular mobile platforms today are iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, and Mobile Web. The mobile platform(s) on which you develop your app depends largely on whether you want a web mobile, hybrid, or native app. Do most of your current and potential customers use iPhones, or do they use all types of smartphones? Do your research carefully so you know what platform will best meet the needs of your unique customer base.
2. Big decision number 2 - Decide what type of mobile app you want - Mobile web, hybrid or native.
If you’re not sure what works for which, here is a really simple breakdown for you.
Mobile web apps are fundamentally mobile versions of websites. They make websites easier to read, track through and interact with on phones and tablets.
Hybrid or cross-platform apps are coded and then wrapped for whatever mobile platforms you choose, using a framework like PhoneGap or Titanium Appcelerator. They allow for some very interesting give and take because they provide for cross-platform compatibility and can use the phone’s hardware (camera, GPS, user’s contacts). And it’s a timesaver because you only code the app once and can deploy across the various platforms.
Native apps are coded in the native language of a specific mobile operating system, like Objective-C for iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch apps. For apps that are a bit more complex and have a tad more interactivity, the native programming language provides a faster and more responsive experience. Native apps are speedy, dependable, and brawny. Still to date, games are mostly native apps.
3. Here’s the question that should define exactly what makes your app uniquely yours - what would you want your users to be able to do?
Write a detailed description of each and every basic function you want your app to perform and why. Sound daunting? Try writing it out as a user story. Start by filling in the blank: “I want my users to be able to ____”. Every top thing you want to do within the app should be outlined, defined, and explored. And you know you have a picture in your head of what you want it to look like – colors, graphics, etc. Put that in your description too.
Once you have laid out all this detail about your app in a descriptive narrative, you will be able to get a much clearer idea of how much it will cost to develop.
Oh, and remember that your first user story should just outline your minimum viable product, meaning that you should try to limit the features of the app to the "must haves" and think about postponing the "want to haves" for another version of the app. This will keep your initial costs down and will open up the door to some fast adoption rates and really good user feedback from the initial release. That way, the next release can include some user wishes that maybe weren’t something you’ve thought of already.
4. Know your user demographic.
You already know what you want your app to do, so who do you think is going to use it? Why? What age group? How much money do they have to spend? What kinds of smartphones do they use? What general interests/shopping habits do they have? How plugged in are they? Investigate the market, read pertinent blogs, ask questions, observe - and get your answers.
5. And, finally, there is this to consider – if you want to make money on your app, you need a monetization or pricing strategy.
Will your app be free, free with in-app purchases, ad-supported, or paid? If paid, how much are you planning on charging for it? How will you charge? One time? As a subscription? Per use? There are many things to consider when coming up with your pricing strategy and it is really important that you think long and hard about the pricing question before you start. With no valid pricing engine in place, your app can derail pretty swiftly.
Let’s wrap it up here and underline a few points
Your marketing plan plays a big part in all of this, but especially when developing your pricing strategy. Your app, no matter how stupendous, will not sell itself. You’ll need a strong app marketing plan that will help generate a rock-solid fan base of engaged and delighted users. Build all your marketing costs into your equation – both pre and post launch marketing.
Think, think, and think about your demographic. How much money do they have to spend? What smartphones do they use? iPhone users tend to spend more on apps, but maybe your app is more targeted toward the larger Android market.
Not just the demographic conundrum, but each of these five points should be really mulled over, look at again and again – and thought about in tandem with each other before you go forward with developing your mobile application.
A final note - - - Once you are headed down the app path, you may realize that you need a little guidance from a top scale mobile development group - like Barefoot Solutions. Because they walk the app path every day, they know every twist and turn, every potential hazard and have a clear view to the ideal final destination.
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Apps and Mobile Changing How We Fly
When cellular phones first hit the mainstream, the airline industry maintained a measured distance to keep mobile use at a minimum. Since 1991, the FCC had prohibited cellular use due to concerns that they could interfere with wireless networks on the ground, as well as disrupt Captain to traffic control communication. Passengers were instructed to turn mobile devices on “airplane mode” or even have mobile phones completely powered down for the duration of the flight.
Additionally, customer satisfaction reports showed consistent resistance to cell phone use, given the concern that voice calls may be a nuisance in such small quarters. Yet since the original iPhone release in 2007, cell phone use has dramatically changed, and just this year the ban on mobile use in airplanes has been lifted by regulators. This new freedom provides pilots and airlines the ultimate decision whether or not to allow cellular phone use in-flight.
There are still agencies such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) fighting to bring back the ban on cell phone use in flights, however the forward progress is an indicator that technology may be utilized more in the airline industry. As previously mentioned, the decision to allow cell phone use is currently up to individual airlines, and some are fully embracing new mobile technologies to add convenience for customers as well as efficiency across the board.
In-Flight Music
Yes, in-flight movie and music entertainment have been around since the VCR. But some airlines are taking in-flight entertainment to the next level, moving beyond in-flight radio and on to mobile apps.
One example is Air France, with their app Air France Music. The app is intended to help flyers discover new music given the region that they travel to. By giving passengers a “sensory” experience, Air France Music provides a unique selection of music onboard with rare and exclusive content from artists all over the world. Touted as helping passengers find, “music in the sky,” users can download and save the new tracks they enjoy to playlists.
However the app isn’t intended only for those flying - users with feet firmly planted on earth can interact with the app as well. Exclusive pieces of music are “hidden in the clouds,” and users can enrich playlists by lifting their mobile device up to the sky. Music notes appear in the app’s tracking screen, and by clicking on the note the user can view the artist, listen to the song, and save it if they wish. Every region from Paris to Tokyo to Buenos Aires have their own tracks, intended to give a nod to the cultural flavor of each region.
Gaming
Games aren’t just for kids, especially during a long flight. Virgin Airlines’ mobile app comes equipped with many tools most airlines include in mobile apps - check-in capability, flight status updates, and seat selection. However Virgin also offers in-flight entertainment by providing not only destination videos, but 2 video games to play during the flight. Similarly American Airlines is also in the gaming arena, offering a trivia game that passengers can play with each other over the WiFi network in-flight, providing entertainment and engagement with other flyers.
Mobile Boarding Passes
One of the biggest changes in 2014 was the release of mobile boarding passes. As a customer checks in for their flight, they have the option for which kind of boarding pass they would like, either printed, online, or mobile. Those who select mobile no longer need to visit an airport kiosk, agent, or print a pass at home. They simply need to scan the open mobile pass at the gate. Airlines that released this feature this year include US Airways, American Airlines, Southwest, and British Airways as well as several others.
For iOS users the mobile boarding pass brings another convenience. With the latest iOS 6 update Apple released the Passbook, a multi-functional app to store reward coupons, loyalty memberships, gift cards and of course, boarding passes. When checking in for flights and selecting the mobile boarding pass, these passes can be stored in a user’s Passbook for easy retrieval upon arriving at the airport.
Real Time Flight Tracking
Those tasked with picking up a friend at the airport tend to have the concern of flight delays. This concern could be alleviated by calling the airline or checking online to see the status of the specific flight. However new apps are available that not only alert you to whether the flight left on time, but will display real time progress of the aircraft, showing specifically where the plane is in the sky. This is great news for those traveling long distances who may have been slowed by turbulent weather or sped up by tailwinds.
The airline industry has been through a myriad of changes in recent years, and it’s refreshing to see the embrace of mobile apps. In fact this year American Airlines, fresh out of their own mobile app ideas, invited 60 developers to compete at SXSW to create the latest app to be supported by the airline. This demonstrates that the future is bright for those interested in building mobile apps for the airline industry.
Do you have an idea for mobile app development? Let us know and we’ll be happy to help you get started.
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