Several important factors have to be taken into account, to determine which of the mobile application development platforms currently available would be the best for a new app. The following discourse presents a few of these factors that app developers have to pay heed to.
The ultimate success of a mobile app depends a lot on choosing the correct development platform for it. There are several alternative platforms (ranging from the market leader iOS, Blackberry and Android, to the fast-improving Windows, Symbian and Titanium platforms), and several things need to be factored in, while deciding the right one for your new applications. Any professional mobile app developer would emphasize the importance of the following points:
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Popularity among users – You cannot possibly get into the business of mobile app development, without gauging the potential market size of the apps you would be creating. An in-depth research survey would reveal the most preferred models of smartphones among users, and the platform/OS they operate on. The results can vary according to your target markets – although creating apps for the Apple Play Store is almost always a good idea.
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The required costs – Financial viability assurance is essential, before you get down to the actual app-creation process. Executives from any established mobile application development company would first prepare a budget plan – with calculations for all the mobile application development tools and general maintenance and marketing expenses. Apps for certain platforms offer high initial returns, but their profitability fizzles out later – and you should stay away from them.
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Profile of the intended buyers – You also need to ensure that the smartphone application(s) you create actually appeal to the targeted group of people. For instance, Blackberry apps enjoy maximum popularity for business purposes – while iphone applications for kids are deemed to be the best. Study the demographics of your target market carefully, determine the primary purpose of your app – and choose a mobile application development platform accordingly.
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Carrier availability – This is, once again, vital in determining whether new apps would manage to get adequate visibility. If you are into iphone app development in India, you have to consider whether there are enough reliable carrier networks to support the platform. In general, iphones operate on the AT&T network (in the US), while T-Mobile is the most popular carrier for Android phones.
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Tools and coding support – When you are preparing high-end smartphone apps, it is of essence that you get comprehensive app development graphics, coding and API support from the platform you select. There should also be multiple options for you to prepare the concerned app. From Objective C and C++, to Java ME – each platform has its own set of proprietary coding support, and you need to decide which one would be most suitable for your application.
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Prospective return on investment – You might be offering some free smartphone apps to start with – but, at the end of the day, advanced mobile applications have to yield sufficient revenue. Depending on whether you wish to create an app for a mass or a niche audience, you have to set your target ROI – and find out which of the platforms is most likely to help you achieve it. Apart from the potential customer base, preferences for free apps versus paid apps also have to be considered.
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Stability – If you have an exclusive Blackberry, Android or iphone application development company in India, you won’t probably have to worry much about this factor. However, before creating mobile apps for any other platform – you have to make sure that its backend architecture and technical features are robust enough. Hosting a high-quality application on a sub-standard platform can lead to lengthy system downtimes, and you can start losing clients as a result.
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Promotional support – Thanks to the presence of the iTunes store, the iOS platform probably has an edge over the other ones on this count. The process of getting apps approved on the Apple Store can be slightly time-consuming, however. You should get in touch with representatives from all the online app stores, to find out the sort of promotional support they would provide to your products. Once your new app gets featured on the Android store, the Apple store, or the Blackberry App World – the download figures would automatically show a significant growth.
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Accessibility – The web stores of most app development platforms (with the notable exception of iphones) are accessible only across certain select countries across the world. Hence, it is important to select a platform which would allow you to market your app in the country(ies) where the majority of your clients are based. In case you are developing an enterprise app (not targeted to general buyers), you have to make your choice of platform accordingly.
For developers involved in creating smartphone apps with cross-platform compatibility, it is of essence to find out the modifications that have to be made – to ensure that they run perfectly well on all the platforms. Review your initial choice of platform once, to check whether it might pose any problems in your mobile application development processes in future. Select the right platform for your custom mobile applications, and boost their chances of success manifold!
Hussain Fakhruddin
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