The mobile application falls into the category of mobile computing. It has caught the attention of people for the last 10 years and has reached the mass market with smartphones, tablets, and personal digital assistants. Such devices cover a range of features that can run stand-alone or require web access for operation.
For many years, mobile applications have been run by mobile network operators. But now, with the arrival of new technology, people can control their smartphones remotely. There is also a significant improvement in hardware, which has increased its capabilities to a great extent. The independents and freelancers take the most advantage of these technologies. It also opens new ways for innovative changes. In this blog, we will discuss the emerging trends and technologies in mobile application development.
Current Platforms:
The mobile application development services include different platform providers. Platform providers are those people who provide operating systems and tools for the development of high-level applications. The current smartphone market is headed by five big platforms, such as
- Nokia (46.6%)
- Apple (17.3%)
- RIM (15.2%)
- Microsoft (13.6%)
- LiMo Foundation (5.1%)
Current Practices:
To understand the current practices, first, we examine the current mobile app development services as an individual app developer. For this purpose, it is classified into three main components; we will go through them one by one.
- Tools:
Tools for desktop application development include a software development kit (SDK), which is essential for every development platform where third-party developers deliver applications. Different platforms have different criteria for sharing their information. Some restrict access to their SDK, and some choose to disclose it.
Example: The bazaar is an open-source platform, while the cathedral is a closed platform.
- Portals
Once the application is developed, the next step is to pass it to the consumer; for this purpose, an application portal is created. For a mobile application distribution process, mobile portals are of crucial importance because they play an intermediary role between developer and consumer.
According to some experts, the number of portals is increasing, while others believe that the market will fuse into a few portals with time. But nowadays both conditions are seen. Some platforms have places for app purchases known as decentralized portals, while others have only one app store known as a centralized portal.
Example: For centralized companies such as Apple and Google. And for decentralized systems such as Nokia, Linux, Microsoft, and LiMo.
- Platform Integration
Platforms integrate to provide programming support to the developers. They are sometimes classified into different types according to the level of their integration.
- Full Integration: They have full control of every step of establishing the application. E.g. Apple and Nokia.
- Portal Integration: They manage their sales and manufacturing by integrating a portal. E.g. Google.
- Device Integration: They manufacture devices but do not provide the application portal. E.g. LiMo and RIM.
- No Integration: They just focus on their business and don’t provide any mobile device or application. E.g. Microsoft.
Trends:
Over the past few years, it has been observed that a stable market is in a strong trend in three distinct directions. It usually moves towards:
- Portal Centralization:
After the introduction of app stores by Apple and Google, other platforms are also trying to establish their own, such as the OVI store of Nokia and the Sky Market of Microsoft. The results have shown this type of marketing can play a significant role in business growth.
- Technological Openness:
It has been observed that moving from a closed to an open system can help platforms in future success, but it is still unclear how it affects the development. Most platforms are using closed systems such as RIM and Microsoft, while some LiMo and Nokia are open-source mobile platforms.
- Full Integration:
Apple is the only Microsoft company that has introduced a fully integrated mobile platform. Before it, no fully integrated system had ever been used. With time, other companies also showed a rapid trend toward full integration. For example, Symbian OS is a device-integrated platform with Nokia, and after launching OVI, it became fully integrated.
Implications for Developers:
Now we will analyze the implications of the three market trends:
- It changes how a developer can distribute his application and grow his business.
- It can help the developer to use a variety of standards for their application development and work collaboratively.
- It gives more possibilities to establish more efficient applications.
Despite the advantages these trends can give, they can also pose a threat to developers if they don’t have the proper knowledge of their platform.
Conclusion:
The situation shows that the game for mobile app development has changed dramatically. Now they have several opportunities to develop and distribute their application on the emerging portal. The platforms are now bifunctional; they can play both of the roles of manufacturer and application portal. The most challenging phase is choosing the right platform. A developer should have proper knowledge of the market trends; otherwise, it can cause serious problems.
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