Mobile App | App Development

Building a Mobile Application: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses

What is a mobile application? What kind of benefits does it bring to businesses?

Read this guide to learn about the process of building a mobile app.

Mobile is a growing industry that attracts businesses from every marketplace. No wonder – mobile app revenues are projected to reach almost $600 billion in 2020. The exploding popularity of smartphones and tablets has made mobile application development an increasingly popular trend among business owners all over the world.

But what exactly is a mobile app? What kind of benefits does it bring to businesses? And what does the process of building a mobile application look like?

We prepared a guide that answers all of these questions and more! Read on to learn everything you need to know about mobile apps and their development.

All this knowledge comes from our 9 years of experience which we have gained as an Android app development company and iOS app development company.

1. What is a mobile application?

A mobile application (also called a mobile app) is a type of application designed to run on a mobile device, which can be a smartphone or tablet computer. Even if apps are usually small software units with limited function, they still manage to provide users with quality services and experiences.

Contrary to applications designed for desktop computers, mobile applications move away from integrated software systems. Instead, each mobile app provides an isolated and limited functionality. For example, it can be a game, a calculator, or a mobile web browser.

Because of the limited hardware resources of the early mobile devices, mobile apps avoided multi-functionality. However, even if the devices used today are far more sophisticated, mobile apps remain narrowly functional. This is how mobile app owners allow consumers to handpick exactly the functions their devices should have.

2. Key mobile app development technologies

Native apps

Native apps are built for a single mobile operating system. That’s why they’re called native – they’re native to a particular platform or device. The majority of mobile apps today are built for systems like Android or iOS. To put it simply, you can’t install and use an Android app on iPhone, and vice versa.

The main benefit of native apps is their high performance and excellent user experience. Native applications can only be downloaded from app stores and installed directly into devices. However, this also means they must pass a strict publishing process.

Web apps

Web apps are software applications that behave similarly to native mobile apps and work on mobile devices. However, they use browsers to run and are usually written in CSS, HTML5, or JavaScript. Web apps require minimum device memory but depend on a stable internet connection to function.

Hybrid apps

Hybrid apps are built using web technologies such as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5. Essentially, they work like web apps wrapped in a native shell. They are easy and fast to develop, offer a single codebase for all platforms, and lower maintenance costs. However, they may suffer from performance issues compared to native apps.

3. Types of mobile applications

Mobile applications come in many shapes and sizes. Here are the most popular types of mobile apps to help you understand the current trends in the mobile landscape:

• Gaming apps: The most popular category, making up 33% of app downloads and 74% of consumer spending.
• Business or productivity apps: Tools for tasks like booking tickets, sending emails, or tracking progress.
• Educational apps: Apps that help users learn new skills, like Duolingo or educational games for kids.
• Lifestyle apps: Covering shopping, fitness, dating, and diet apps.
• M-commerce apps: Shopping apps like Amazon or eBay for seamless mobile commerce experiences.
• Entertainment apps: Social media and streaming apps like Instagram, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video.
• Utility apps: Barcode scanners, trackers, or healthcare apps with short user sessions.
• Travel apps: Helping users with navigation, accommodation, or transportation, like Google Maps or Airbnb.

4. How to build a mobile app

If you’re planning to build a mobile application, you can choose from three main options:

• Build an in-house development team: Offers full control but comes with high costs, including salaries, overhead, and software licenses.
• Hire a specialized software development agency: Balances expertise and efficiency while ensuring your project stays on track.
• Rely on freelancers: A cost-effective solution, though it depends heavily on the skills and reliability of a single person.