Imagine a day without a click, a swipe, or a tap on your mobile. How different would the world feel? Some may feel uneasy or even lost with the connectivity that a mobile app provides. They have become an integral part of our lives.
Significant changes were there when mobile technology advanced from 2G to 3G. The main changes were in mobile phone memory, communication, and data transfer capabilities. In 3G, the high data transfer capabilities with faster internet was possible. This was the primary reason for the rapid development of mobile apps. And this enabled users to access, content, social media, and services in real-time.
Some people consider that ‘The Snake ” game of Nokia mobile is the first mobile app. But it was a game app that worked in offline mode. But in 3G, the mobile apps worked in online mode. But nowadays, a mobile app has become a part of our daily life. We use mobile apps now for banking, shopping, ticket booking, gaming, and more. During the Covid pandemic, medical apps to consult online doctors started. Now every doctor in every field has started online consultation with a mobile app. All these advancements lead to the growth of the mobile app development industry.
What is a mobile app and mobile app development?
A mobile application, whose short form is mobile app is a software application. But these applications run on smartphones or tablets. Mobile app development is the steps and process included in making a mobile app.
Mobile apps can be either native apps, that can run on specific mobile operating systems. Or they can be web-based apps, that function through a web browser. The mobile developers optimize the web-based apps for mobile users. Thus they work smoothly to give better results in a smartphone.
Major mobile platforms
- The introduction of 3G technology laid the foundation for mobile app technology. Now mobile app development focuses on two main platforms. They create apps to run on these two platforms only. They are iOS for Apple phones and Android for non-Apple phones.
- We can use apps created for iOS only on iPads or iPhones. Apple's review process helps in creating high-quality apps with high security. iOS apps are available from the Apple App Store. Anyone can download it and install it on an Apple phone to access it. Mobile app developers use Swift or Objective-C to develop an iOS App.
- Android is an open-source operating system used in all non-iphones. Developers use Java or Kotlin languages to create these apps. Android apps are available in the Google Play store.
- This feature helped developers to develop many types of apps- simple to complex. These distribution channels helped the users to download them and use them with ease. The app economy started to rise gradually.
- With the advancement in mobile technology, more changes in mobile apps took place. Now mobile apps are available for different categories. Nowadays there are apps for education, healthcare, finance, stock-market, and social media. People do their shopping through shopping apps. The money transactions can be effectively done through the customer's specific banking apps. Competitive exam results, allotment, and joining details are now available through the app. The current shift of mobile technology to 5g will show an advanced shift in mobile apps. Companies and businesses find apps as a tool to speed up their growth. It also helps them to enhance their customer engagement.
Mobile app development tools.
To create mobile apps, the developers use certain languages, tools, and frameworks. Their main functions are to design, create, test, and deploy an app. Such tools that assist app development are mobile app development tools. Some have pre-built libraries and coding help. The selection of these languages is based on the platform and app type.
Categories of mobile app development tools:
- Native mobile app tools: These tools help to create apps that can run only on one platform.
- Cross-platform app tools: These tools create apps that can run on any platform.
- Integrated development tools: These tools provide an environment for coding, testing, and debugging.
- Back-end and Front-end development tools: Back-end development tools help in designing and coding the database of the app. Front-end development tools help in designing and coding the front end of the mobile app. UI/UX tools are also used for the designing part of the front end to make smooth navigation.
- Testing tools: help the testers to test the developed app's working and functionality.
There are many open-source tools available for mobile app development. For example BuildFire.js, Framework7, etc.
Mobile app development framework
A mobile app development framework is a software framework. This app development framework provides developers with the tools, libraries, and pre-built components. It is like a foundation to simplify the app development process. The advantage of a framework is it reduces time and development costs.
Main function and services of a mobile application
The currently available mobile app has the following important services. They are the user sign-up-sign-in option, push notifications, and user engagement data.
Some apps also provide a social media login facility. These services allow the user to use the app with security. They also enhance user experience.
Mobile App Development roadmap
- The roadmap starts with understanding the basics of app development. After learning the essential tools, you can choose tools depending on the platform. The practice of frameworks and different development tools comes in the advancement study. Start by applying your knowledge and testing the apps you created.
- If you are looking to make money through apps you can monetize the apps. For this, you can add a subscription, in-app buy, sell the app, or affiliate marketing.
- The best mobile app development companies in Noida provide apps for any type of business. They can help you to create an app for your specific needs. Apps for personal use are also created by the mobile app developers at Noida companies.
Future of mobile app
Mobile apps continue to play an important role in everyone’s life. Businesses and brands find apps an easy way to reach their customers. Future mobile apps may use real-time AR/VR experiences. The expansion of IoT applications will increase in the future. If you are looking for a career in mobile app development, the opportunities are endless. Many mobile app development companies in Noida create apps that stand out.
Conclusion
The shift from 2G to 3G was the turning point in mobile app development. Fast internet speed and better mobile hardware made mobile apps available to all. Nowadays apps have become an integral part of everyone’s lives. The technology continues to evolve making the future of app development exciting.
