“Now, mobile apps are considered as the most attractive stuffs for the youth as well as old. It has made our life much active and easier than before. Apps include a variety of requirements like day-to-day useful apps, entertainment apps, games and basic apps etc. Top smart operating systems like Android, iOS and Windows are in the industry to provide platforms for the users to use these useful apps from respective app stores. The number of mobile apps is increasing significantly yet consistently in the past few years; the number has reached at around 1.5 million each for Android and iOS. The huge population of mobile apps is creating a competitive environment for the mobile app developers to build better and more useful apps to attract respective target audience. Quality apps can only be achieved with quality testing i.e. the success pillar for any application. Hence, there is a potential terror among the mobile app testers who strive for quality testing. For quality testing, here are a few checklists for mobile app testers.”
Functional testing: This is the basic yet most important testing process that must be performed by the tester without any failure. Moreover, the tester needs to test each and every module of the mobile app to find if there is any bug or error in the application. He must consider every aspect of the application and he must ensure that, all the modules are working perfectly fine in every type of situations. All the modules should behave in a normal and expected manner without any failure.
Interrupt testing: This is yet another testing process that has been highly used with the embedded system development projects and now it is widely used for mobile app testing. While designing a smart app, the developer must ensure that its app works fine in different unexpected situations. Situations like incoming call, SMS arrival, Low power condition, Sleep mode, and Airplane mode etc. can interrupt your app’s regular behaviour. To tackle these situations, the application must be smart enough to understand and feel these conditions. Then, the app should behave in a different approach so that, there is no hampering to the user’s data inside the app like User’s Score, Highest score, Last transaction, and other related information should not vanish. It is the task of the mobile app tester to ensure that, such types of interrupts are properly handled by the mobile app itself.
Performance testing: Who doesn’t care about performance? Especially when an app is running under many constraints like memory constraints (both RAM and ROM), Bandwidth issue, hardware limitations and operating system limitations (multitasking issue) etc. Hence, we must gift an app to the end user that can run absolutely smoothly under these constraints and this can only be achieved with high performance mobile apps. The app should be optimized from every angle like efficient cache management, improved use of local storage on the browser, light weight graphics, animations etc. Here the tester needs to check if there is anything that makes the application load and run slowly. He should also test if there is any unnecessary server communication that makes the app run slower than expected.
Platform specific testing: There are many platforms like Android, iOS and Windows etc. The app should be either platform specific or cross-platform compatible. And as per its category, the tester should test the app to ensure its working in those platforms. Suppose an app is designed for Android and iOS, then the tester must check if the app works fine on those platforms without imparting any bad experience to the end user. This is usually performed by testing if OS-specific libraries (JS and CSS files) are called in proper time or not.
Version specific testing: Apps are usually built for multiple versions i.e. the latest version along with few previous versions. But, is the app working fine in all these versions? That is the concern of the mobile app tester. The app tester must ensure proper behaviour of the app in all these versions for which the app is built. Considerations like app functionality, app size and app look and feel must be tested to ensure that, the app is working fine in all these versions of Android or iOS or Windows operating system.
Device specific testing: Operating System like iOS is device specific i.e. it runs only on iPhones and iPads. So, the app must work perfectly fine on those devices. Usually, iPhones and iPads have less RAM as compared to Android devices of that cost; still iOS runs extremely smooth on those devices due to highly optimized core inside. So, users demand similar user experience in their apps too. For that, the iOS apps must be optimized enough to work smoothly with those devices and it’s the assignment for the tester to ensure the same. A Similar case happens with other device testers as well for other platforms.
Network specific testing: We can’t ignore the importance of networks in any Smartphone; because, Smartphone needs mobile networks to perform different app tasks that deliberately use the internet APIs. So, in that situation the tester must check if the internet API is executed perfectly fine without any issue. Moreover, it’s the duty of the mobile app tester to ensure if the app behaves properly when there is no internet connectivity or very low signal i.e. the app should give alert messages like “There is No/Low internet connection!” or similar symbols to the user.
Resolution/Responsiveness testing: Mobile apps are consciously designed to run on multiple devices, screens and screen resolutions. It should behave in a normal way both in smartphones and in tablets; so the tester should test the app extensively in these devices with different resolutions. It’s nothing but the test of the responsiveness of the app which is extremely important in the current scenario.
User interface testing: This is the most important part of any mobile app development. The tester must ensure that, the app’s look and feel is as expected and should be engaging enough for the end user. It must have an attractive interface with interactive event driven objects on the app to make it popular among the users.
Reliability testing: Last but not the least; an app must work as expected in different situations including critical circumstances. The tester must check its behaviour with respect to changes in the environment. And in every case; it should work just like a normal app.
In today's world, smartphones and many other mobile devices are playing a significant role in how the people are communicating, getting entertained, networking, work, shopping, banking and so on. The amount of smartphones and other smart devices worldwide has grown drastically in recent times and thus has got the challenges as how to protect these smartphones and the other devices. Although security software is usually used over laptops and desktop computers, a great deal of smart mobile devices at present continue to be without security coverage and so are encountered with a new and increasing variety of mobile malware. Malware may possibly lead to data loss, data corruption, the unavailability of essential data and much more.
Mobile phone malware isn't the same as PC malware in which it does not spread randomly through unidentified sources or perhaps random phishing fraud emails. Rather, mobile malware gets installed from users that download and also install infected applications through an app store, perhaps from Apple’s or may be from different Android stores. The store gets convinced by the attacker that the application is genuine which functions as expected for it gets a group of fans. Right after, it starts the malicious behavior. Just like PC malware, the mobile apps developers of malicious software are only concerned for making money. There isn't any one-size-fits-all solution for the mobile security challenge; however, there are certain things you can do to secure your device and subsequently, your private details.
While it was reported mobile malware occurrences are reasonably low in total, McAfee Labs is observing the substantial rise in the mobile malware risk landscape. To protect from mobile malware as well as protect oneself and the data, there are some basic things that one should remember while purchasing or even downloading applications for smart mobile devices.
Malware in mobile devices is certainly not like the threat that is on Personal Computers, specifically Windows-based computers so far. Malware developers are certainly not seeking a challenge. They're going to make malware for all the platforms along with devices which have the largest pool(s) of possible victims, and the ones which are simplest to take advantage of. The first step in protecting your own is just to bear in mind that the threat is there.
Think before you decide to download. In the same manner it is sensible to read through a few Amazon product reviews before you buy a book, or perhaps a few Yelp reviews prior to testing out any new restaurant, it's a good idea to read through some of the reviews of any application before you decide to download. Overall recommendations support for any application is good, however, it is a lot better when you can find suggestions from the social networks, family and friends that you have confidence in, prior to downloading any application.
You cannot assume all 3rd party sources of applications can be harmful; however, the possibilities tend to be higher. For the platform such as iOS, you need to go from your option to jailbreak the device so that you can use applications which are not authorized by Apple. In case you have taken such serious steps, then you're maybe by now familiar with the potential risks involved too.
Android consumers are probably not as aware of the threat mainly because 3rd party application repositories tend to be normal for this platform. The most trusted way to obtain Android applications certainly is the recognized Google Android Market, or at the least an app store coming from a reliable source such as the Amazon App Store. In order to prevent suspicious apps, one should deselect for the Unknown sources feature within the Android Applications Settings.
Operating systems of mobile have sufficient security in position in which apps usually have got to ask for authorization to gain access to core features as well as services of a device. Look at the permissions which you are granting before you can simply touch and without knowing it properly accept them. Will a Sudoku app require accessibility of your contacts, location information, and camera function? While the mobile market expands, so as the malware developers pay attention and start to target, the security vendors are working hard and trying to stay a step ahead with the malware attacks through safety tools and software. These suggestions can certainly help you stay away from a number of possible threats, then again antimalware software can certainly help detect and recognize any sort of threats which might possibly slip past your protection.
Mindfire Solutions’ Mobile App Testing practice comprises of a unique combination of skilled software engineering and testing teams with proven expertise in testing tools and methodologies to offer a wide range of testing solutions. We offer our services across all major Mobile Devices, Platforms, Domains and Operating Systems. If you want to develop a robust mobile app send in your requirements to sales at Mindfire Solutions dot com.
The increase in the number of mobile devices results in various difficulties for those on the way to build and deliver powerful mobile applications. To be a successful, organization some basic things that should think about in order to make use of efficient, effective and complete functional testing during the app development lifecycle. Conventional, manual testing, that is the standard for the desktop and for the web apps, just can't get you away from the difficulties of testing mobile applications.
The period for the mobile application and the user creates extraordinary challenges for the functional testing staff.
Mobile devices are transforming and growing at the rapid speed. You will find a large number of latest devices launched each year. Along with new screen dimensions, form factors, and also operating system versions, such variations usually lead to further problems to assess teams, as they can't match the rate of change.
In order to maintain the speed to ensure an active competitive surroundings, mobile application development should be fast, and speedy. Mobile teams have to design, build, test, and have to release software in quick intervals. It's not possible to maintain speed at the agile world for the mobile applications with conventional manual testing at the same time it is difficult in ensuring the correct coverage on functionality.
Poor app quality can harm the reputation of an organization and its particular brands. As the consumers give ratings as well as public reviews about applications, it will be difficult for not to deal with consumer analysis in case you release a poor application, and also the effect about negative reviews and also a low rated application could be disastrous.
Since mobile applications turn into more complicated as well as rely on new technologies, including location based, near field communication (NFC), real-time events, along with pop-ups, the testing gets to be more complex, either manually or with automatically testing.
In case your organization off-shores testing along with app build solutions, your testing teams need to have the capability to run remote tests which validate functionality on the local devices and the carriers. Or else, the experience for the local users can be very unlike compared to the test cases. Such issues which occur to mobile devices along with the applications generate a new-set of needs for the functional test teams.
While mobile app development brings on many challenges for the user, it provides great opportunities for the companies equipped with the appropriate tools. The following are few important measures to take the functional testing processes to the era of the app and give attention to the user.
Test mobile apps on real devices - To get an accurate perspective of the real user experience, one should test on the real devices. The device emulators and the simulators could be helpful in the beginning during the development and testing process, however, they will not give you the exact user experience such devices having unique features.
Make use of the cloud in order to host your testing reference devices - It is an important need for an enterprise solution. It's going to enable you to stay away from the complexity in procuring, maintaining, managing as well as updating your testing reference devices. Additionally it allows your testers to safely and securely test and also check your applications on real devices connected with live networks.
Automate mobile app testing - Manual testing to individual devices does not scale. To maintain speed with the agile development processes as well as the requirements of the fast-moving business, the test teams must have automated tools that enable to write a test once then run lots of tests over number of devices within the small period of time.
Test mobile apps using different network conditions - The behavior of any application could depend very much on network factors. This means that you must understand and manage network issues at the time you test apps. One should make use of service which tests devices functioning in live mobile networks, not simply Wi-Fi networks.
Take advantage of your current procedures and tools - Mobile applications need to leverage the high expenditures towards software quality processes, teams, tools and the policies. Do not recreate the wheel. Get the best method to expand your current software development lifecycle functions and take advantage of the existing resources in order to include the mobile apps.
To get rid of many problems, your company must have testing tools which are designed for unique needs of the mobile devices and the platforms. Mindfire Solutions’ Mobile App Testing practice comprises of a unique combination of skilled software engineering and testing teams with proven expertise in testing tools and methodologies to offer a wide range of testing solutions. We offer our services across all major Mobile Devices, Platforms, Domains and Operating Systems.
“Android, iOS and Windows are three major players of smart phone industry. There was a time, when smart phone refers to iPhone or Blackberry; but things get changed tremendously and now the leader is Android and don’t think about the status of Blackberry- it is limited to as low as just 0.3% of the industry share! So the competition is now between Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS with a little ray of hope for Microsoft’s Windows in the coming future. Let’s discuss the market share of these smart operating systems and the triggering factors that has changed everyone’s life in the industry.”
Android- The smart Operating System Giant! Before a decade, things were in favour of iOS and Blackberry; but now the industry is flooded with Google's Android devices. The ecosystem is so large that it seems larger than everything. As per the data of IDC (International Data Corporation), the Android market share is around 82.8% of the global market!! The budget smart phone and open source operating system concept of Android made it possible over years. Though, the share was little more in past year during same period i.e. Q2 2014 with 84.8%. Still Google is the clear winner in terms of number of Android devices shipped this quarter as per IDC information. Many OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) like Samsung, Huawei, Xiomi, Lenovo and LG contributed tremendously in the global market for Android. On the other hand, Indian manufacturer like Micromax, Spice mobile and Intex also contributing as per their potential. Anyway, Android is the smart phone leader in the industry and it is expected to intact its position for another 5 years without any fear; if IDC assumption is considered as true.
iOS- For those who loves quality over anything: Apple is for those people who love quality over everything else. Apple does not allow anyone to produce hardware devices for its flagship operating system i.e. iOS. With Apple's iPhone and iPad iOS is at 2nd position with a hooping market share of 13.9% in Q2 2015 as against 11.6% in Q2 2014. So, it is good news for Apple lovers that, there is a growth of Apple's iOS devices in last quarter. Though many gossips are there over internet for the growth of iOS device i.e. iPhone6 that has contributed maximum; but neither of them is absolutely true. Many tried to make the industry confused by spreading news like iPhone6’s large screen helped Apple's market share to grow. But that is not true; because Google's Android Lollipop runs in many 5.5 inch or 6 inch screen now. Then, why their market share could not grow? Obviously, it is all about quality that Apple provides!
Windows- Still struggling to understand the user DNA! After the acquisition of Nokia, Microsoft tried a lot to be a second Apple; but all remain as a daydream only!! Now, Microsoft realized that the venture for Nokia mobile acquisition was a wrong decision. In fact, that was the time to concentrate more on its Windows Operating System instead of entering into the market with both hardware and OS. Lots of loss, lots of layouts and followed by a strong stroke from industry made Microsoft rethink its business policy. The CEO of Microsoft is now clearly announcing that in coming years they are going to revive windows operating system without much focus and money investment over Nokia. Anyway, Microsoft's Windows operating System has seen a slight growth in market share in this quarter from 2.5% (Q2 2014) to 2.6% in Q2 2015. Though there is decrease of 4.2% market share in Q2Q comparison in 2015. Now, Microsoft is going to focus only on few Lumia smart phones that may help it revive in the industry.
Devices that play important role in market: Apple's iPhone and iPad, Samsung, Lenovo (along with Moto), Huawei, Xiaomi, LG and ZTE are playing strongly in the global market for iOS and Android. On the other hand, Nokia's Lumia and Backberry are the in-house OEM products for Windows and Blackberry OS respectively. For Android Operating System, the biggest giant is Samsung and especially its Galaxy models are simply getting outstanding response from around the globe. In fact, Samsung itself shares the major part of the Android Eco that is larger than next 5 player’s together share. In developing countries like India and China, manufacturers like Micromax and Xiaomi plays important role in contributing to the market share of Android. For Apple, it’s only iPhone and iPad. For Windows, it was only Nokia but recently, Samsung made an agreement with Microsoft to produce OEM devices for Windows as well to keep its place safe for future. Now, you may find Samsung devices with Windows OS installed.
Smart app developer and their contribution: Apple's app store contains millions of iOS apps with soaring quality. If you iOS app development and would want to get it to the app store, you need to craft it very wisely and thoroughly; because, Apple may reject it at any moment of time. On the contrary, you can freely launch your app in Google Play Store without much hassle and worry for a permission. However, your app may not be successful if you are not able to get good rates by users; but that is a different story. Hence, smart developers inclining towards Google's Play Store as a result, the volume of Android apps is getting larger over time. In fact it is bigger than that of iOS apps in the industry with figures like 1,6 million Android apps against 1.5 million iOS apps as of July 2015. On the other hand, users will get enough option in Android Play Store to choose one from a lot. The number of downloads in Android Play Store is much higher than that of iOS like 70% more downloads w.r.t. iOS. But, if we consider revenue; here Apple makes a giant leap since iOS apps are usually more quality focused and of higher price. Anyway, we find sometimes quality remain suppressed by the size of the app, feature of the app and most importantly user experience of the app. User loves to install tiny size app instead of high quality heavy app having lots of unnecessary features that they might never use.
Verdict: growth of Smartphone industry in future is a damn sure: Anyway, we have reached at the end of our topic. Now, it’s time for Verdict. Undoubtedly Android is going to dominate the industry in coming decade; still there is no certainty in IT industry where IT giant like Microsoft get rejected by the industry in no time. But whatever may be the situation, the growth of smart phone industry is a damn sure; well in future the term Smartphone may be replaced with anything else, then that will remain at the top in the industry.
Whatever be your preference, Mindfire Solutions is clearly a leader in Mobile App development and has been wowing customers ever since with its flawless mobile apps. If you need a mobile app for your business just send in an email to sales at Mindfire Solutions dot com.
"Both Google and Apple are the next generation IT players after the golden era of Microsoft! There is a stiff competition between the two and it is obviously common. Apple’s iOS is designed keeping the high end user’s demand and perspective whereas Google’s Android is for all and sundry. There are many factors through which we can differentiate their core business plan; but at the end of day, it sounds odd that iOS outdoes Android especially considering the recent scenario. How? Let’s check it out."
User Experience: User experience is the key feature of every operating system to decide its fate! If today, Windows operating system is going to lose its grip from the industry then it's only due to its not up to date user experience; though it ruled the industry for many decades due to its upmarket user experience in the DOS era. With time, Apple's iOS and Google's Android understood the user demand and made their operating system quite user friendly to penetrate into the market. Now between these two rivals, Apple's iOS has better user experience than that of Android. Apple understands customer requirements and latent needs and designs products accordingly. On the contrary, Google's Android L and now upcoming M are aggressive enough to change the whole things in a single shot. Android Lollipop has received tremendous support from around the users for its iOS looks like in design. Now, with Android M, it is going to repeat again. In fact, experts believe that, this time Android M might beat iOS9!!
Cost effective: Apple gives better user experience and quality and reliable hardware devices but at a premium cost. It produces both the Operating system along with the smart phone (iPhone) and tablet i.e. iPad and those cost much higher than that of Android devices which are built by different manufacturers of the industry. So, there is no comparison between them in the cost effectiveness point of view. In fact, Google is quite ambitious to provide android device in everyone's hand at an affordable price of just $100 with its Android One project. Here Apple will not be able to outdo Android in any manner.
App population: There was a time, when the industry had a great respect for Apple device and iOS; but things have changed a lot since then. Now, with the introduction of Android, the industry got an amazing platform as an optional way to reach the user in a seamless manner. App developers are also encouraged to develop smart apps for Android operating system. To become an iOS app developer, you need lots of effort to put a quality app in the Appstore. On the contrary, Google's android play store is absolutely free for the android app developers to put and launch their app in the platform. Indeed it works like a heaven for the android developers. No need to struggle for permission from Apple. You just need to put your app in Google play store and make it live for your customer; you have enough time to modify and enhance your app later on. This made the population of android apps much more larger than life and expectation. Though you will get only good quality apps in iOS; you will also get similar or even better quality of apps in Playstore with many optional apps. Again, since there are a huge volume of apps in Playstore now, the new apps that are being developed by the android developer will be of better quality to sustain in the market. So it’s a win-win situation for both android developer and users. No way, here iOS can outdo android.
App Quality: Yes, undoubtedly iOS has much more quality apps; but the situation is getting reversed with time. With increasing volume of apps in Playstore, it becomes a challenge for the android app developers to develop better quality apps for the user to get accepted. Though, iOS app store is filled with extremely quality apps but the volume is limited; whereas you will get much bigger volume of android apps in the Playstore which will trigger better quality apps from the developers to fulfil the user demands. In future, the quality of android apps is supposed to be of much higher standard to compete with a larger number of apps already available in the Playstore.
Up-To-date: Yes, this is the only issue with Android. Android does not produce devices instead it only focuses on the quality of its operating system. As a result, many manufacturers get associated with android in developing devices for smart phone users. Now, these devices are not of uniform hardware specification in any manner. As a result, it is next to impossible to design an operating system that can run smoothly in all standards of hardware. In fact, many manufactures are producing budget smart phones that cost one tenth or even one fifteenth of the latest iPhone 6. So in that case, it is not possible for the manufacturer to provide up-to-date operating system to its user at such a low amount. Though high end devices like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Moto will get immediate update from the manufacturer; on the contrary, apple produces both device and OS from its in-house building. There are some issues with the compatibility with the Operating System and device. So, an apple user will get instantly updated version without any fail.
Finally, market penetration: When iOS started its venture into the industry, it received exceptional response from the users. But, the price and limited hardware has been always a great concern for Apple since its inception. The in-house smart phone i.e. iPhone and the tablet i.e. iPad is extremely premium and isn’t affordable to everyone. Now, on the contrary, Google’s Android has the benefit of the same i.e. budget smart phone or tablet for everyone. As a result, over the years the market share of Google’s Android is making a new milestone with every passing year. Now, Google’s Android Operating System is around 800 % -900 % ahead of that of iOS. Still the market share is in favour of Google. The cost effectiveness, quality service and better design have made it possible though. Anyway, after all, it’s entirely win-win situation for both Google and the common user altogether.
And while the battle is on as to who would dominate the scene, it would be beneficial to bring to your notice an offshore development company that boasts of the best mobile app development talent. They have designed apps that have been a rage on Appstore, Playstore and both. If you have an app in mind and need help to create it, just send in your requirements to sales at Mindfire Solutions dot com and we will get back to you in 72 hours.
The challenges posed infront of a mobile app developer is a huge one nowadays. While the opportunity to work in this industry is vast but the constant evolution of handheld devices is redefining usability as well. Thus, such a development poses new questions like which device to target, how to secure data or how to create effective and user friendly apps. The mobiles explosion dictates that in the next few years it will become imperative to improve the services while delivering mobile experience. The scenario is similar in the IT departments as well where more corporate users are resorting to handheld devices for accessing enterprise data. Thus, the need of the hour for the developers is a cross or multi platform development initiative.Rapid development in the mobile world leads to a number of challenges The first challenge that the mobile app developers will face is the Context. This includes the preference, situation and attitude of the customer. Preferences refer to the information that the customer has shared personally or via social networks. The situation and action of the customer are dependent on his location as well as the conditions he is presently experiencing. Context is important because it helps in delivering the right kind of app solution only when there is ample information about the device the customer has, local context of the same device, what are his preferences and the sensors around the devices. Gathering this kind of data is always a challenge. Hence, it has to be stored across multiple systems to which the app requires to be connected. Another problem is the pace with which the smartphones are progressing. Apparently it sounds easy to develop as well as submit an app for a 7-inch or 10-inch screen to an app store. But the process is not that easy as in the near future, the developing process will become tougher with devices in new sizes coming to the front. The need for flexibility for the apps will rise too for ensuring better user experience. Currently, there are tablets, phablets and the Window 8 smartphones. In the near future there will be further modifications and collecting data will expand significantly as well. Every mobile app developer realizes the importance of security but for them this means that each operating system has a separate custom architecture. There are times when various mobile platforms offer varying degrees of support to secure data that is stored on the device. On the other hand, every mobile does not require same amount of attention regarding security. Whatever the situation, the responsibility to secure data lies with the app developers. Hence, incorporating encryption is an absolute necessity. At the same time the developers also look for alternate ways to protect data. The other options include the archiving of the data periodically. The mobile app developers face real challenge in creating vital apps every year. They are also engaged in created various versions of the existing ones. In an agile market, it is difficult to keep up with the development, design and operational methods without the DSL program model. This approach is recommended as it is compact and offers codes that can run across all devices and multiple platforms. It also helps to build variants by providing a code base that is slightly different. How to turn the challenges into opportunities? Whilst the challenges in the mobile app development world are a reality but it cannot be denied that the opportunities to succeed are numerous as well. Sustainable app development and accurate delivery system are all it requires to ensure that these challenges are converted to opportunities. Development and testing efforts should be enhanced so that the platforms to target can be properly identified. This will further ensure that better returns are gained on development investments. The development practices should be reliable as well as consistent across all the leading platforms. The look and feel of the app will render a consistency and the code components can be reused as well. As the mobile technology is still developing, there are end numbers of ways to ensure that they perform more efficiently. The greatest opportunity in this regard is that with the outstanding growth potential in the mobile app industry, the developers will also be highly in demand. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules. We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to hire mobile app developers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.
Despite the undoubted popularity of mobile usage as well as mobile apps, some business still ponder whether creating apps for their business is a must-do thing or not, due to the expense and complications involved. However, the recent figures can vouch for the fact that the pains taken for the development are certainly worth it. According to recent survey, 45.8% consumers declared that they bought items since the app in their mobile caused them to actually visit the store in the first place. In fact, in 2013’s Black Friday, more than 50% shoppers did their shopping through mobile devices. These figures are staggering, necessitating the need to harness this potential.Effective mobile strategy and creative apps are thus the need of the day. However, just a great app does not necessarily translate into great revenue since the app must be promoted well; also the customers must be offered great reasons so that they download it in the first place. So, here are some ways and features that should be included in the applications so that they generate maximum revenues. Recommendations instead of ads- When using apps, most people get really irritated when they are disturbed right in the middle of something by some ads. This is especially true in case of banner ads which take up a lot of space. Very few people seldom click those ads, so it is best to avoid them completely. Instead of such ads, it is best to go for recommendations. The recommendation engines are improved on a regular basis so that the best suited ads are provided to specific users which might lead to high conversion rates. It actually makes better sense. In fact the various formats of the ads that you give should be mixed and matched so that they are just right. Smarter push notifications- Conventional advertising cannot suffice as a factor for driving up revenues. Smartphones has made it possible for you to be connected with your customers on the go, so it is best to take advantage of that situation. Push notifications allow retailers to use targeted messaging so that customers can be driven to use their store. Use the notifications for sending of updates such as upcoming sales, stock notices or shipment status. Allowing mobile orders- Now this is the main aim of any mobile app- generating revenues and what could be more direct than allowing them to carry on their transactions through the applications. According to the data mentioned earlier most customers prefer this method of shopping, so it has become almost must that apps allow this. Creating internal apps- Internal apps help employees so that better customer service can be delivered. These should include features like complimentary lines, latest product information, etc which would motivate browsers to convert into buyers. This lends you an edge over normal procedures of selling, in which the sale is totally dependent on the competency of the sales person; if he or she is not competent enough you would lose a potential customer. But in this case, the browsers will get all the needed information and more from the apps. Loyalty rewards- This time-tested method can help you multiply your business through your app. Introduce the mobile loyalty program so that the frequent shoppers can be rewarded without any extra hassles. This takes the minimal effort but sales can be increased just through the mobile devices of users. Businesses today must focus on the various facets of mobile applications so that they can reap full benefits. It is not simply about putting countless ads; there should be a good as well as matured business strategy in place in combination with creativity. Unless that happens it will be difficult for them to increase their revenue or deliver great ROI. To get maximum benefits of mobile apps, you may consider hiring services of a certified mobile app development company. We provide offshore mobile application development services. If you would like to hire mobile app programmers for your projects, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.
The frequent changes in the choices and preferences have made mobile application development complex and time-consuming. But each enterprise wants to develop the app at a rapid pace to beat competition. If you are planning to build a long lasting mobile application, it becomes essential to concentrate on its functionality and UI design along with the coding. As a key part of the designing process, you must plan and wireframe the mobile app to curtail development cost and time.
In simple words, a wireframe can be defined as a manually drawn diagram that visually represents a process or a system to various stakeholders. However, the visual representation of a process or system needs to be extensive enough to cover all significant elements. That is why; a wireframe is considered to be the most effective way to create the outline or skeleton of the mobile application development process.
Why Use Wireframe to Outline Your Entire Mobile App Development Process?
Can be Used for Several Purposes
Both mobile application developers and designers can use wireframe. The designers can use it to outline the user interface process, whereas the developers can use wireframe to control the app’s functionality concretely. At the same time, it can also be used by information architects and UX designers to describe the navigation path.
Similarly, wireframe can be further used by business analysts to support the communication and business rules needs visually. On the whole, wireframe can be used as part of several mobile application development processes to optimize the app design by seamlessly combining both objectives and requirements.
Helps in Making the App Compatible with Different Mobile Devices
Often mobile app developers and designers find it a daunting challenge to display all requirements on the stipulated space of the mobile screen. They have to explore ways to deliver the essence of the project by displaying all requirements on the screens of different mobile devices. The issues can be resolved easily through wireframes. The designers can create wireframe to organize the desired options on the mobile device.
Further, they can experiment with different ideas to present the requirements on the mobile screens. The wireframe will allow them to note downs the requirements and ideas, along with adding comment on each screen. It will further make it easier for programmers to understand the expectations by referring to the wireframe, and optimize the coding process.
Allows to Incorporate Changes without Any Hassle
Most mobile applications are being changed during the development process to deliver richer user experience. Wireframe enables the developers and designers to incorporate changes in a smart and cost-efficient way. Before making any changes to the app, the developers can create a wireframe. So they can save time, efforts and cost by outlining the entire process before implementing it in real time.
They can further use a several diagramming tools to outline the process to include new features or functionality. The wireframe can be further shared among the stakeholders to facilitate close coordination. Also, the collaboratively built wireframe will help developers in integrating the changes in a quick and hassle-free way. At the same time, it will further eliminate the revisions required due to poor coordination among different stakeholders.
You also have option to use several tools to wireframe the mobile app or mobile website development process by targeting a specific mobile platform. Some of the widely used wireframe design tool like Proto, Moqups, UXPin, Balsamiq, Justinmind and Fluid will help you in optimizing the app design process to form the layout of the app you want to develop. However, you have to choose the tools and applications by keeping in mind the specific requirements of your project. You can hire developers from top offshore mobile application development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.
We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert mobile app developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
Before one learns more about PhoneGap, let’s take a look at what it can do, so that the tips shared here can be practiced in a better manner.
What is PhoneGap?
According to experts, PhoneGap is a program that is the best for development of iPhones as well as Androids. This is because apps can now be easily created using;
Tips on effective PhoneGap development unveiled
With the help of PhoneGap, one can disable as well as enable features on the device while the app is being developed. Imagine having all the features on your phone running at the same time, this would make loading of an app slow. This isn’t bad but why have lag for no reason, so if you don’t want an app for the moment to run, use PhoneGap to disable it. This will help apps run faster as well as with more efficiency. All you have to do is to go to the “features” menu and get the app disabled or enabled, whenever you want.
PhoneGap now allows the user the freedom of clicks as well as touches of the screen. Since the developers understand how much time is lost for registering with clicks, faster registering through “voice and listening” is a boon. Users get to save their time. Moreover, work done through this method is faster.
Choose any library with PhoneGap you want to work with, and this is the same for interfaces too. Right from Sencha to JQuery or even JQTouch, it helps with all. Developers love it since switching between interfaces now is cakewalk for them while developing apps as well as programs.
Better use of CSS Animations is possible, and with that being said, the value of an app rises automatically. Javascripts were used in the past for such needs, but that’s okay if it is a web app, and not for mobile apps. The latter wouldn’t react well with javascripts, say experts, because extra coding is needed. Use better CSS animations and feel the difference, especially when loading is concerned and the time taken to do so. With animation creation through PhoneGap, CSS works best with the right coding in place.
With javascripts there are various hurdles to overcome, for example, dealing with many graphics to load, the headache of coding etc, but with PhoneGap you now can load as many things as you want, without any problems as such. The mobile device wouldn’t have to deal with javascript for good performances anymore. Put everything now in one file and watch how the loading time takes up lightening speeds.
While working on one app, the other apps need to be put into a background. However, when you have PhoneGap, this wouldn’t be the case. Switching between apps or working with multiple apps at the same time would be possible sans hurdles or issues. Lag time is less and memory is minimally used as well.
Testing PhoneGap on any smart device, android or iphones, is possible. Users as well as testers would learn how it performs in real time. If there are flaws that stare, it would be covered up or removed too.
The competitive world of apps is ever increasing. If you as a business owner wants to have it all, you then have to make things happen. There are new tools as well as technological advances available for free online, most of the time. One of them is PhoneGap, which has created waves in the recent past amongst testers as well as clients alike.
It would be wise to read reviews and check if the PhoneGap application can be of any help for your needs, expectations and the lot before investing in it. This is why it is important to speak with experts to learn more, so that you benefit in more ways than one doing so.
PhoneGap is sure the next best thing for iPhones orAndroids, and it helps apps run at their best. Check online and you would learn more as to why testers love this program, over other testing methods. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.
We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert mobile app developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
If you are running a business, having a mobile enabled website provides you an unparalleled advantage, especially when it comes to fixing your marketing strategy or plan. Frankly speaking, a mobile website is an absolute necessity in modern business fraternity as you will find a huge chunk of internet users more inclined towards accessing websites through a cell phone than anything else.
That is why, it is the need of the hour to develop as well as design websites that are accessible via devices like iPhones and smart phones so as to extend your business reach to a larger ambit of customers. Here is where the greatest challenge lies. Although almost all these websites may appear perfect on modern smart phones, navigating them on these devices might be an uphill task mainly because of the small screen area as well as other technical limitations. The users might have to zoom in or out, scroll up or down, left or right, or do other kinds of adjustments in order to access the information they are in search of.
Now this at times becomes a cumbersome experience. Naturally, the onus is on the mobile website designing companies to design these sites in such a way that the users can navigate through them without any difficulty whatsoever and access them with ease. As per the statistics, difficulty in accessing websites often acts as a deterrent for the users and they grow a tendency to drift away to sites which they find relatively easier to access and browse.
Hence, the success or failure in catering to newer customers almost entirely depends upon effective creation and designing of these websites along with their ability to persuade customers into repeatedly visiting them and availing the product or service offered. Now let us discuss why you need to put maximum emphasis on having mobile-enabled websites for marketing your product or service.
The increasing use of smart phones
The use of smart phones have more than doubled over the last few years since their inception. In order to keep pace with the growing demand, manufacturers of these devices are also coming up with high tech devices that are complete with several value-added features, making these devices more and more popular amongst people. Thus, but for a mobile website it is nowadays virtually impossible for a company to create a respectable client base.
Increasing popularity of mobile internet
As per a recent study, almost 40% of people use some or the other kind of mobile device for using internet and browsing through websites at least once a day. This itself explains the amount of popularity mobile internet enjoys these days. Naturally, having a mobile website vastly increases the chance of your company website to be browsed by a sizeable amount of people on a regular basis on a given day, thereby increasing the amount of potential customers by a considerable extent.
Because it is a cost effective way of marketing
Since you already have a website that is specifically designed to be viewed on a PC, it will hardly cost you anything to make that site accessible via a mobile and help it reach out to a larger ambit of customers. In other words, you are just making some adjustments and alterations to the specifications of the site to make it accessible on mobile phones. As you are not creating any fresh website but suddenly reaching out to a larger and hitherto unexplored pool of customers without any extra cost, that pays off in terms of revenue at the end of the day in a great way.
Use of GPS
Nowadays, people vastly use GPS technology for finding directions, services, businesses or things that they need in their daily lives. Hence, availing a mobile enabled site will invariably provide you an edge as your business will constantly appear on the GPS search whenever or wherever people enable it. This will increase the viewership of your site by many folds.
However, an effective mobile enabled website should have the following features to increase its traffic:
- User-friendly design customization that is suitable for screens of any type of cellular phone
- Tap-to-Call function to a particular selected number or a set of numbers
- User-friendly navigation menu for drawing potential leads
- Tap-to-Email function to a particular selected address
If your phone website fulfils all these conditions, it is invariably going to play a pivotal role in increasing your client base to a large extent, thereby increasing your ROI as well without any sizeable investment whatsoever. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.
We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to hire mobile app programmers for help on your projects, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.
As a powerful development framework, ASP.NET enables developers to build a wide variety of websites and internet application using HTML, JavaScript, CSS and server-side scripting. The programmers also have option to pick from three distinct development models, i.e., Web Pages, Web Forms and model view controller (MVC). Web Forms allows programmers to create event-driven and data-driven web pages by combining HTML, server scripting and server control.
Further, the Web Forms are compiled and executed on the server, and the output is displayed to users as HTML web pages. The web controls and web components provided by Web Forms can also be used to create rich mobile internet applications. However, each developer must keep in mind certain things while creating mobile internet apps with ASP.NET Mobile Web Forms.
Important Things to Remember while using ASP.NET Mobile Web Forms
Mobile Web Server Controls
You can always use the System.Web.Mobile namespace to access mobile internet development in ASP.NET. The MobilePage base class can be used to create a mobile web page, while the System.Web.Mobile namespace will add web server control to the page. In .NET framework, the mobile web server controls has several specialized adapter. You can use the adapters to build robust mobile apps by targeting a wide variety of mobile devices. At the same time, the web server controls are also available to meet specific development needs. ASP.NET further provided additional mobile-control device adapters that support major mobile devices and their markup language.
Adapter Configuration for Different Requesting Devices
As most ASP.NET web server controls adhere to unified adapter architecture, they behave dynamically according to the requesting devices. These controls can further call a custom adapter to provide appropriate behavior for a specific device. For instance, the custom adapter can generate markup according to the calling device. But you have to configure the adapter in the browser definitions file found inside the Browsers folder of the .NET Framework Config directory. Once you configure the adapter, it can adjust the rendered output, while handling the device-specific requirements.
Customization of Adapters and Mobile Controls
Microsoft provides updated adapter for major markup languages. But there are always chances that the adapters may not complement the behavioral requirements of newly launched mobile devices. So you have to consider modifying the existing adapter or create new adapters to make the internet app compatible with new mobile devices. Nowadays, most applications are being designed by targeting mobile device and desktop computer users at a time. The customization of adapter will help you in addressing the behavior variations required by web browsers and mobile devices.
Detect the Requesting Device Type
With enterprises launching new samrtphones and tablets at frequent intervals, it has become essential for mobile web application to render the most appropriate output by identifying the requesting mobile device. ASP.NET allows you to make existing internet apps compatible with the latest mobile devices simply by adding the following META tags in the header section of the page.
<meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />
At the same time, you also have option to use the Request.IsMobileDevice option provided by ASP.NET Web Forms to check if the requesting device is a cell phone, smartphone or tablet. Alternately, you can also create custom control to detect the device type, and redirect the user to the most relevant web app according to his mobile device.
Each programmer also has option to build mobile web apps rapidly by using Visual Studio Express which is a free version of Microsoft Visual Studio. The drag-and-drop web controls and web components provided by Visual Studio Express help programmers in building mobile websites without putting any extra time and effort. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.
We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert mobile app developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
An offshore mobile app development organisation can do wonders, for it would bring down the costs to a large extent for the mother company. In this age, it is all about providing the best to customers worldwide, with the least amount of costs involved. This is why firms across the globe are looking at India for an answer, one that would curb expenses as well as bring in high quality apps. However, it would also be wise to learn more on why outsourcing the job of developing high quality apps would be feasible.
Let’s then take a look at the number of benefits companies across the world gain, using outsourcing schemes.
Benefits of outsourcing mobile app development services to India
1. To begin with, when outsourcing is done by the parent company to India, the company wouldn’t have to deal with large costs. Large costs happen when they have to hire or recruit developers as well as pay them salaries for the job in hand, along with benefits as per the law of the land. Apart from evading these costs, companies wouldn’t have to worry about depreciation or equipment costs, hired or bought, since that would be taken care of by the outsourced party. The money saved by the parent company then would be channelled to the outsourced team, but this doesn’t mean it has invested the money, rather the company only pays for the mobile app development services, not for infrastructure set up or recruitment costs.
2. High quality levels are assured with outsourced vendors in India. They follow the policy of honouring every request of the client. In house employees could be a little wayward with their attitude towards the task in hand, the same wouldn’t be with an outsourced company that dwells on an “I can do it attitude”
3. With off-shoring, a company wouldn’t have to involve internal employees for the task in hand. Rather, the company can now invest the internal sources time as well as energy into other core functions of the business, especially for profit making.
4. Talking about technology to be used while developing an app, an outsourced vendor would have all the updates and latest knowhow, technological inputs and state of the art tools to develop an outstanding app, which means the parent company doesn’t have to invest in research and development, testing etc.
5. Outsourcing also brings in stability when it comes to pricing, and parent companies wouldn’t have to waste time shopping around for price comparisons too. Budgets would be stable, operations would be efficient resulting in on time deliveries.
6. When you outsource you start getting recognised in India. Other companies would want to know more about your venture, and maybe tie up with your company as a business friend too. When that happens, they would want to invest in your company shares, which might result in maximum output.
7. Government coalitions wouldn’t affect the developmental process; the markets in India are very liberal and open at all times to work with.
8. The opportunities for investment using incentive schemes are wide and in abundance for parent companies to choose and indulge in. There are special economic zones created for lower imports and lower tariffs too.
9. The consumer market across India is huge. Moreover, with more than a billion consumers waiting to try your apps, imagine the amount of revenue flowing in for the company.
10. You get highly qualified, well trained and updated young men working round the clock. Tech support or assistance is available even in the middle of the night. Universities and colleges of repute are churning out more than half a million tech graduates every year, and the resource pool boasting of innovation is in abundance for parent companies to tap into.
The Indian scenario has always been of prime importance, especially for it’s time difference when it comes to outsourcing for companies big or small. Big players such as USA, UK, European nations and Australia look at the 24x7 support, which they get from India with glee. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.
We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to hire mobile app programmers for help on your projects, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.
Within a very short span of time, mobile app development has become a hugely profitable business venture. Many new enterprises, nowadays, invest in mobile application development to get more revenue and profit. Along with launching rich and powerful application to target specific mobile devices, an enterprise also need to ensure that the application is wanted and used by customers regularly. The innovative digital marketing techniques can help you to target more relevant users. But it is also important to emphasize on rapid iteration for mobile app iteration to deliver good user experience consistently, while encouraging the users to recommend your mobile application to others.
5 Effective Techniques to Iterate Mobile App Development Rapidly
1) Keep Users Addicted: Despite a large number of new mobile apps being launched on a regular basis, many reports have highlighted that about 15% of the applications are being used by customers on a regular basis. So you must explore options to build a base of habituated users by picking the most innovative ideas, features and functionality. You must remember that the application must be offering something refreshing and extra to users to keep them addicted. Before implementing your mobile app idea, you must do a thorough brainstorming to decide what the app needs to seduce users to come back to it on a daily basis.
2) Try to Gain User’s Trust: Often apps require users to complete registration process without understanding their nature and features. The login screens of such apps, normally, ask users to register by creating an account or using their social media profile. You must remember that no user will share his personal date or social media profile access details without understanding the usage and functionality of the app. So the value of your app must be conveyed to the user to gain his trust before asking him to register or give access to his social media profile.
3) Find Out If Users will Miss Your App: While investing in mobile application development, each enterprise need to differentiate between actual usage and number of downloads. The popularity of an app will remain intact in the long run, when users will miss it badly, instead of being disappointed. So the application must use some efficient feedback mechanism to receive user feedback and responses consistently. Based on the user input, you must identify and fix the flaws in the application to make it more successful and sustainable in the long run.
4) Check if the Users Recommend Your App: There are several ways to promote a mobile application. But the application can be marketed most effectively through the word of mouth and recommendation of existing users. So you must check if the users are recommending your mobile application to their friends. It is also a good idea to encourage the users to rate your app, along with answering questions like whether they will recommend the app to others. The question can be included as part of the user feedback, while asking customers about what the application lacks.
5) Avoid Simultaneously Targeting Multiple Mobile Platforms: Most enterprises, nowadays, launch multiple versions of the same app by targeting different mobile platforms. You can always get more revenue by moving across multiple mobile platforms rapidly. But you must remember that the developing and testing the app for multiple mobile platforms is both complex and time consuming, while being prone to additional bugs and flaws. At the same time, you will find it a daunting challenge to deliver better user experience across each platform. So you can always make the app sustainable in the long run by focusing on single mobile operating system at a time. After launching the app for a particular mobile platform, you can start planning to develop a different version for another mobile operating system.
The mobile app development strategy also needs to consider the upcoming trends in technology and user demand. An enterprise must avail mobile app analytic services to observe the behavior of existing users, along with identifying certain features that need improvement. You can hire developers from top mobile app development companies in India who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.
We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert mobile app developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
