4 Trending Revenue Models to Build a Business, Not Just an App

It’s simply a greater number of existing businesses starting to use apps as a channel to reach potential customers. Examining which strategies carry the most risk and which have the greatest chances of success- here are the few successful models for your next app.

4 Trending Models to Build a Business, Not Just an App

App store payments and advertisers

One of the popular revenue models is relying on directly monetising an app: in-app advertising, paid download, in-app purchases and freemium. Although easy to implement, together they are the four most risky models with the lowest chances of profit. Even on iOS, the paid download market appears to be contracting fairly rapidly in the face of free app alternatives with in-app purchases.

Online Shopping

Ecommerce is the most successful app development model in terms of making comfortable profits and have by far the lowest risk of making a loss. There are some startups with mobile first commerce apps though and more than 50% of developers charge more to building apps when compared to others.

Online services

The next most popular and also relatively low risk and successful model is Subscriptions. However, implementing subscription based services is more complex than selling apps or virtual goods. Another interesting possibility is to resell generic cloud services by adding value on top as in like re-selling storage by adding document collaboration or photo management features on top.

Royalties or licensing

This strategy though doesn’t have much lower risk than relying on the app stores or ads, it is inherently a higher risk strategy with bigger rewards for success. One BIG downside is that the number of direct customers in the target market is less and requires a great connections/ a lot of funding/ both.

Before you start-off, create a business plan to have a path set beyond the launch of the app. Think about your 30, 60, 90 day plan after the app has launched.

The Crucial Decision: Pros and Cons of Cross App Development

When businesses were advised to develop a mobile strategy, developing apps for Android or iPhone, or Windows or BlackBerry had become the priority. With course of time, the competition has taken another level. It’s no longer enough to have on a single platform but for a myriad of target platforms. The problem is however comes in terms of development cost, time and resources.

This is when cross mobile application development frameworks like Appcelerator’s Titanium, Rhodes and PhoneGap came in to picture. The basic idea behind this is to help developers build mobile apps in dynamic programming languages and then compile them to multiple platforms. But then, there are pros and cons to taking a cross-platform approach to mobile application design and development. Let’s see what they are.

Pros of Using a Cross-Platform Framework:

1.       Reusablity: Instead of writing code for specific action or sequence for each platform- the tools let you write the code once and then reuse those bits in later projects or on other platforms.

2.       Plugins: Appcelerator and PhoneGap offer easy access to plugins and modules that can easily plug into other services or tools.

3.       Developer’s Desire: As most frameworks are dynamic or scripting languages, developers find it easy to work with. Also, these support HTML5 and CSS3 alongside the calls to more native functions.

4.       Reduced Development Costs: One of the biggest aspects is that it allows companies or brands to get an app onto other platforms without having to invest in a team or developer specific to that ecosystem.

5.       Supports Cloud Services: Beside plugins and modules they have the option to directly integrate with cloud services, including Salesforce.com, AWS, Box.net and others.

Cons of Cross-Platform Frameworks:

1.       Slower Code and Render Time: When compared to the native tools, these can sometimes be slower and any cross-compilation process has the chance to be slower.

2.       Limited High-End Graphics and 3D Support: Yes, this feature is limited but fortunately, game-centric development platforms, like Unity are here to help fill in those gaps.

3.       Less Supportive to Features of an Operating System: The framework you are using need not support the additional features to Google, Apple or Microsoft.

A good cross-platform application looks at home, doesn’t matter on what platform it is used on. How do you approach cross-platform design and development for mobile devices?

5 Unique Qualities Required To Built a Simple and Elegant Business App

Since Apple and Google have entered the fray the ability of business apps are teeming with potential to reach out to a massive audience. Besides, entertainment and news consumption, apps can be a great starting point for getting yourself and your business on the map.

But then the digital world emphasises the recipe for a successful app to include many ingredients to make it to the big leagues.

Firstly, Hiring The Right App Development Company with experienced developers who will understand your needs:

ü  discuss your ideas free of cost under a Non-Disclosure Agreement 

ü  Dedicated Apple Certified iPhone application developers

ü  Development of custom business apps with extensive web services and seamless integration with social media, APIs, SaaS models, mobile payments and ads.

ü  An average turnover time of under four weeks

ü  Developers having experience with a variety of apps in all categories.

Secondly, Serving the Purpose:

Let’s take an example. An app developed solely for marketing purposes can’t bring revenues directly, but then requires building a favourable consumer environment for your product. This way you can positively influence sales sheets.

Thirdly, the User Interface of an App:

This is what really helps you enable the success of your product. While the main objective of any app creation us to satisfy the audiences- make it easy, efficient and enjoyable for the user. Besides, consistency is an important part of your user interface.

Fourth, the Navigation:

Once you get hold of the customers, isn’t very necessary for them to understand where to go next? YES. Many users will be unaware of the navigation experience and abandon it forever. Having a path through your app that is logical and easy to follow makes things better.

Fifth Optimisation :

Easy to Install, Easy to Access and Easy To Use- this being clear it is very important to ensure your business app is optimized, compatible and functional for multiple devices.

While most of us may not think much about what goes into the development of an app, you can even share us insight into the most important qualities of mobile apps.

Why PhoneGap is the Best for Enterprise App Development

Many websites have mobile app equivalents.  In today’s digital market, it is imperative to launch an app that can run on the multiple platforms and give the pleasing user experience. Guess what could be the consideration choice. PhoneGap.

Img Source - www.i95dev.com

It is a Cross-platform Mobile app development technology, based upon opensource open source Apache Cordova project, resulting applications that are neither truly native nor purely web-based but are packaged as apps for distribution and have access to native device APIs. With the support of the latest web technologies: HTML5, JavaScript and CSS3, the processing speed, screen size, network speed, touch events, etc..are improvised than ever before. Plus, it also offers cloud based service that is built on top of the PhoneGap framework.

Why Choose PhoneGap For Enterprise Mobile App Development?

Evaluating the potential solutions to create a mobile app, developers always prefer to use PhoneGap due to its advanced features and advantages. A few important features that are required by most of the applications are as follows:

Internet connectivity: It must be possible for the users to easily access the data via the net.

Animations: Usage of animations between the screens help you view slide off-screen in the left and show the detail view when the item is selected.

List view: This enables the users to scroll the list of offers, select to view more details.

Facebook SDK support: Despite the “No Login rule”, the platform should provide an interface that enables the user to log in to the application via their Facebook account.

Notifications: The user must be notified with respect to important information even when the application is not running.

Device detection: Through which, it is able to determine the kind of device that the application is specifically running on and the type of features that it supports.

Phonegap seems to be a good and cost effective solution that can be used for most of the renowned mobile platforms Like Android, IOS, Windows Phone, etc without much trouble. So, are you looking for a simple and quick app? PhoneGap is the Key.

The Marching Next-Gen OS War: Apple iOS 8 vs. Google Android L

Both Apple and Google have partly unveiled the newest version of their smartphone and tablet operating systems: iOS 8 with iPhone 6 and Android L on the Motorola Nexus 6. While both have become very competitive to each other in terms of their feature set though, there a few differences when coming user-acceptance.

Having gotten a niche, we have looked upon a few features which might help you find the right answer to the question.

Img Source : todoiphone.net

App Design Support for Target Users

Despite Apple and Google are enhancing each and every feature-strength, both keep a different set of target user-base in focus while designing the next version of their platform. In terms of user base, iOS users are more loyal than Android and have more spending power. While Android users play around and customise their device as much as possible with custom launchers, live wallpapers iOS users like to keep their devices straight forward and spend more time on trying out different apps.

Notification System

Both the platforms are getting close to each other in terms of notifications. While Apple has now introduced more interactive notifications it seems like Android is heading the same route with the Android L.

Operations in Vehicles

One major fight is between Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The Apple-based Carplay allows you to easily browse navigation and other content. On the other hand, the Android Auto works out in a similar fashion. But then it will finally depend on car makers as to which platform they want to follow.

Market Share Worldwide

During Q2 2014, Android had a significant lead over iOS in parts of Asia, South America and Africa while iOS leads in European and North American markets. Plus, 60 percent of Android devices that were sold in Q2 2014 fall under the low price tier ($0-$200) while over 80 percent of iOS devices fall under the high-end price tier ($400+). this means, only 44.4 percent of Android users intent to upgrade to an Android smartphone.

The fact that iPhone users are comparatively more loyal than Android users and thus revenue generating opportunities for brands targeting iOS users is more. Howbeit, only time will tell how their strategies will pan out.

#3 Deadly Sins in IOS App Development

Thanks to iOS app to letting millions of people benefit from iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone to share their lives with their friends and family. This count represents an ever-growing market that is ready to purchase mobile apps. However, we do have a situation here.

iOS app development is not a simple process but requires a variety of skills and a lot of experience to be able to navigate when encountering difficulties. Let’s take a look at these key mistakes and how you can sidestep them while building your application.

Refusing To Have A Free Version

Trying to get someone to download your app is tough, especially when it is a PAID one. There are about 100,000 other similar apps and it is worth their time to hit “download”.


One of the best ways to capture customers is “TRY IT BEFORE BUY IT” strategy offering a free version of your app. This way you get them hooked and every time they use your app, encourage them to upgrade. Does it sound to be like free advertising? Yeah, you got it!

Don’t Overboard On Features 

The fact is it is impossible to make everyone happy. Yes, you need to build a unique app, but don’t go crazy with the bells and whistles. But introducing many features only slows down the app.

Try and tailor your app to your expected audience ensuring a clean and easy to use interface. It shouldn’t leave people guessing as to how to use your application.

Say NO to Bulky Boring Descriptions

The first sentence of your description is the most important as it can “WOW” your customers prompting to have them click “More”.

Also, many feel using large and, high-quality images is going to make application look great. Partly yes! But not to forget that this can slow down your iPhone app speed. You might also need to make some compromises when it comes to the type of animation you use as too many flashy animations can actually be a distraction.

As a bottom line, these are only a few and start researching on various ideas that can save you time and money while increasing your sales.

How Mobile Apps Can Help Small Businesses Make A Huge Profit

Small businesses, operating on a shoestring budget, don’t get to find a slew of free and low-cost mobile apps that can help in their way. But if you one willing to tuning your apps to improve business performance, generate sales leads, win new business, keep existing customers and promote their brand- Yes, you can NOW.

Consider how those factors played out in the results of a recent study by expert mobile developers. It says,

• 50 top mobile-commerce apps are available and on average, 52% of iOS monthly active users return to those apps to shop at least one a week. 
• 60% of productivity app allows users to store files offline, making it ideal for catching up on the work commute. 
• 37% of small business employees which is equivalent to 5 million UK workers believe to be more productive if provided with apps tailored to their job role.

Despite many popular big companies have demonstrated successful app strategies traditionally the small ones find doing so much more difficult. The sad part is most of them don't know where to begin or if they do get a mobile app off the ground, they have no clue on how to maintain it in a way that drives increased usage, growing conversion rates, and an overall positive return on mobile investment.

Here are some ways that can match the success and momentum of that of the largest brands to keep up the standards.
   
Implement an app-testing program: This gives marketers the power to evaluate performance factors and guide the ongoing optimization process

Bridge the real and virtual worlds in your app: This keeps consumers from getting diverted while shopping in a store. Say, Apple's introduction of the beacon feature in iOS 7 allows marketers to trigger messages within a mobile app whenever a user comes within range

Personalize your mobile apps: make your brand resonate with the individual wants and needs of consumers, the more it's likely to gain traction with a wider audience.

Summing up, this 2014 is the right time for small business owners to use various apps to make their businesses more productive.

10 Handy Design Tips for Newbie When Creating a Mobile App

Working on Android influences you to address a LARGER CROWD than the iOS community as it comes in different screen sizes, processor types, custom APIs, etc.. At the same time it also poses more challenges to maintain similar execution performances and user experiences in such variations.

So how do you create an excellent app you’re working on available to the masses? Buckle up; we’ve got 10 handy design tips to help you.

App Design Tips For Newbie’s

Designing an app is not simply using nice icons and images and a fancy typography. It is more about choosing the right colors and images that blends to convey the essence of your app and why it is useful.

1.Let’s be honest. A good app design doesn’t stand out for itself but helps users to solve any particular issue in a short span.

2.Good app design doesn’t distract users but focuses more on functionality and let them understand the application better.

3.A user can easily interpret the different icons and buttons in the app without affecting the functions and meaning. All these are to be attractive and beautiful while helping users have a clear idea of what that button will do for them.

4.In general, People use their thumbs for one-hand tapping, and therefore when concentrating on app design, it is advisable to place the button that users will use the most is placed where their thumb can easily reach it.

5.Avoid adding lots of details to the background of your app.

6.People use their handy devices on the go and do you think they find time to pay attention to the different hues of green you’ve used in the background?

7.As is obvious, the most appropriate app design makes applications intuitive and catchy.

8.Try to reduce scrolling as much as you can when designing your app. The more you brief it in a single screen the better is conversion rate.

9.When designing your app buttons ensure they are not so tiny to click. If buttons are too small users can never press them correctly making them so uncomfortable.

10.Last but not least, making the right adjustments will not only gear your App towards the right targeted audience but also aid you in customizing your App for its best market.

Following these simple guidelines can help you create apps that users are sure to love.

5 Exciting Reasons why iOS8 is going To Be Incredible

iOS 8, the next iteration of Apple's mobile operating system is the upcoming revolution in this field. In recent times the Android market grew at a rapid pace and gave amazing features as well as assistance to the developers for developing apps. However, iOS8 has got some extensive features that growing businesses as well as iPhone app developers need to get accustomed with before inheriting them.

Here are some of its highlighting features to be familiar with while making applications for iPhone or iPad.

Toolkit for Developers
iOS 8 has some of the best in-built control which developers can consider for enhancement of application. These features will become compatible with iPhone 5S and the latter versions. Thus developers need to be thoroughly aware of all these in order to develop astonishing app using the above mentioned toolkit.

HealthKit
Stored in a centralized and secure location, HealthKit allows apps providing health and fitness services to access shared health-related information in one place. Your app can access any shared health-related information and can provide information about the user without you needing to implement support for specific fitness-tracking devices.

Touch ID
With Touch ID, it is now easier to authenticate a user before accessing some or all content in your app. Fingerprint data is protected and never accessed by iOS or other apps.

PhotoKit
PhotoKit provides new APIs to work with photo and video assets which include iCloud Photos assets too. This way your app can edit photos directly in the Camera roll without having to import them first.  Few of its key features include a thread-safe architecture, requesting changes to assets, and resumable editing of asset content.

CloudKit

With the new CloudKit framework leverage the full power of iCloud and build apps more easily, securely store and efficiently retrieve your app data like structured data in a database or assets right from iCloud.

Summing up, it is believed that iOS8 will make the iPhone app development environment smooth and interactive for developers as well as users. Plus, these addition functionalities will ease the way of workarounds to develop apps reducing the time taken for application commitment on app store.

Significant Features Every Mobile App Should Strictly Consider

Everybody loves to witness their app ranked in the top slot, but how many of them get to it? Very Rare!

This growing completion in the mobile market has compelled developers and every app marketing agency to constantly examine and analyze different facets of the app features and the app market as well. And the result is mind-blowing. As per the reports, The only solution to beat the competitors is to induce a few must-have app features that consistently boosts the app store optimization efforts.

So, here we Go...

Make Social Media an Integral Part of Your App  

There are tons of apps in the market who have managed to have a better grip over their marketing efforts. For instance, the game app- Candy Crush compels the existing users to make a shout out for the app on social networking site in order to continue playing.

Here the point is to allow your users to share what they just enjoyed by clicking on buttons that signify different social media sites. This way you get to reach out more number of potential users constantly meanwhile are easily influenced by suggestions and viral posts that they come across.

Inculcate Mobile app localization To Hit Global Users

Have you targeted literally a small group of audience? No, right? Then, why not use your app as a medium for being successful and winning hearts across many countries by simply localizing it in more than one language?

Mobile app localization comprises of localization of keywords, app name, screen shots, app description and language strings. No longer it is a choice, but is bound to decide the fate of the application and to suffice their needs.



Get A Better Hold Of The App Analytics.

Integrating newer features to your app or optimize the existing ones is no longer going to bring any outcome WITHOUT ANALYZING.

main objective is to attract more users and see the existing ones coming back to indulge with the app, consistently.  And it is possible only when you start measuring the app analytics.

These are some of the most crucial features that need to be dealt with. For all these reasons and more, at Openwave, besides providing multilingual services we give definite importance to carrying out app marketing tactics in respective local languages.

Is Mobile App Right for My Business? Or Should I Stick With A Website

A recent study says 80% of a business' traffic access websites on mobile phones and yes, businesses that aren't optimized for mobile devices are falling behind losing both sales and brand credibility.

But the problem is deciding between: Either creating a mobile presence through an optimized mobile website or create a dedicated app for users to interact with their business.

Mobile Apps vs. Mobile Websites
Optimized mobile websites can be a great asset to any brand, especially when a business simply needs to continue their brand presence. However, it doesn’t provide any unique and engaging experience with their brand on mobile.

On the other hand, mobile application not only create more brand loyalty and value than a mobile website but can be customized to do whatever a business wants – starting from entertainment and user engagement to customer service and easier purchasing options for B2C companies.

A Few More Added Values of Having a Business App

Mobile apps provide businesses

• a way to engage with users outside of their mobile browsers
• solidify user trust in a business at a greater level than a simple mobile website
• mobile platforms like iOS and Android devices increases in sales more effectively drum up social media awareness than a mobile website

If you are running a business that only offers basic information that could be conveyed in a website, it isn't worth the time or resource to develop an app that will likely not be approved by the Apple or Google Play stores.  But you would like to stay in closer contact with your target audience making more trust, sales, social media awareness and brand recognition? Then, a well-designed app is the right choice.