Mobile app development has come a long way since the introduction of the first iPhone back in 2007. Year after year, mobile phones are becoming more and more powerful – these new devices can achieve desktop computer-like performance, thus allowing them to run more complex applications.
With new mobile phones getting released almost on a monthly basis we’re all wondering where will all these advances in technology take us? What new features will these phones bring?
The hardware is only as good as the software running on it – this is where mobile apps come in to play. Currently, there are 5.11 billion smartphone users worldwide, meaning that unlike skeptics had predicted, mobile app development was not a bubble, nor was it just a trend that which would fade away in time.
Mobile apps have taken over our lives, we use messaging apps on a daily basis, we listen to our favorite music using Spotify, Apple Music or Sound Cloud, we use different camera apps with different filters to make our pictures stand out. We’re slowly beginning to use Google Assistant or Siri to help us get by every day. These location and sound based apps are powering unprecedented growth. In a report made by Statista, mobile apps are expected to generate $189 billion in global revenue by the year 2020.
We can safely say that mobile apps have become a culture we have all grown accustomed to and mobile app developers know that very well. They are always trying to innovate and build apps that can offer the ultimate user experience, whether we are talking about AR or VR apps, mobile games or personal assistants, it is important for them to keep an eye on the latest trends all the time.
So what are these trends that they have to look out for?
- Machine learning and Artificial intelligence
You can hear the terms “machine learning” or “artificial intelligence” all the time but you’re probably wondering how or where are they put in practice? Most smartphones these days come with virtual assistants – Google Assistant, Siri or Alexa – these can be considered the biggest proofs why machine learning and AI are very much part of mobile apps and cannot be separated. Even figures shown by The International Data Corporation are confidently saying that the AI industry will set another benchmark by rising up to $40 billion by the end of 2020.
- IoT apps
In 2018, we have seen Amazon launching their “Echo” line of devices, with this it firing up the race between global tech giants – who will own the largest share in the Internet Of Things ecosystem?
The other major players in this market are Google – with their Google Home and Nest brands, Phillips with their Hue brand and other new players such as Huawei or TP-Link.
- Wearable App integration – a new frontier for mobile app development
There is no denying the fact that the market of the Wearables industry is experiencing rapid growth, as companies are releasing watches such as the Apple Watch 5 or soon to be released Pixel Watch. According to Statista, wearable devices are expected to reach over $33 Billion by the end of 2019.
Today, wearables are highly dependent on the smartphones they are connected to. This means if you would like to create a wearable, the devices must be paired with a smartphone and they have to be within a close proximity. In order to be future-proof, applications have to be built in a way to work well with wearable devices.
- Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
When you hear the word Augmented reality the first thing that pops in your mind is PokemonGO. This AR game based on the popular TV series took the world by storm. It became the most downloaded game of 2016 and started a revolution in the industry. Nowadays there’s a trend of social media platforms to release integrated AR filters that have the ability to transform any human face into digital characters or enhance the selfie experience.
- Mobile Wallets and Payment Gateways
The demand for mobile wallet apps is on the rise! This frictionless payment method is what every customer loves to see in mobile apps nowadays. This eventually will change the way customers like to shop. Every successful mobile app includes at least 3-4 payment methods such as credit/debit cards, mobile wallets and gift cards – soon cryptocurrencies!
These are the new trends that you should bear in mind before deciding on developing your dream application! You don’t know what features to include? or you can’t find the right company for the task at hand? JustApplications has been developing applications since the launch of the first iPhone! For more information, please contact us on 0121 285 1050!