Big Changes in Mobile App Development Are Just on the Horizon

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Based on just how disruptive mobile apps were to the software industry in the first place, it should be shocking to no one that the mobile app development industry itself is in a constant state of flux. User preferences and behavioral patterns are constantly changing as technology evolves, forcing designers to adapt or get left behind in favor of the competition. There are a number of big changes to mobile app development that are just on the horizon that you’ll definitely want to know more about.

Context Aware Apps

Mobile App DevelopmentSince the advent of the smartphone, location-based apps have seen a massive explosion in popularity from nearly every angle. When you search for a particular retailer through the Google app on your iPhone at work, you might get slightly different results than you would at your home 50+ miles away due to where you happen to be making the search from in the first place. Contextual apps are not only a logical extension of this idea, but they’re also a disruptive trend that is about to change the face of mobile app development in a big way moving forward.

We’re already seeing this in motion with technology like Apple’s iBeacon or with “contextual stickers” that are designed to act as a “way point” between your smartphone and the Internet, providing you with exactly the right information that you’re most likely to be looking for based on your location, the time of day and more. Expect this extension of mobile app functionality into the contextual realm to continue significantly over the next few years.

It’s All About Security

Did you know that an estimated 75% of mobile applications fail even the most basic security tests set forth by industry experts? Consider for a moment that BYOD (“bring your own device”) is itself a trend that is gaining in popularity in many industries. Now, when you pair that idea with the fact that the cost of an average data breach for a business regardless of size is approximately $3.8 million dollars according to the Ponemon Institute, suddenly that 75% number has a shockingly high dollar value attached to it.

Security has always been a massive concern in mobile app development, but it will become an even bigger one over the course of the next few years – particularly as data breaches become all too common. Expect security to possibly become the single biggest factor that companies have to account for during custom app development, perhaps more important than even the user interface/user experience itself.

Real-Time Apps

Part of the reason why applications became so popular in the first place is because of the laundry list of ways that they’ve made our lives more convenient. Between allowing us to work from any location on earth with an Internet connection and making connecting with one another easier than ever before, this convenience factor (coupled with the popularity of the associated hardware) is a big part of the reason why this industry exists in the first place.

Based on that idea, it should come as no surprise that real-time apps are poised to take this concept farther down the line towards its logical conclusion. End users don’t just want functionality – they want it on their own terms. They want their apps to take into consideration their preferences, their work habits and even the speed at which they feel comfortable working. If you’re in the office, you shouldn’t have to manually search your phone or e-mail for new messages from clients, other employees and other sources. Your mobile phone (and the custom apps) should provide you with that information automatically, in real-time, based on your current location – thus saving you a huge amount of time and effort in the process. Real-time apps that allow for customizable engagement like this are expected to continue to be a massively disruptive trend in the future.

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