Nowadays, the mobile app industry hits the market. As technology advances, we are moving towards a highly dynamic digital world. The penetration of smart technology, growth of the IoT market, and increasing usage of mobile apps will continue to grow. According to a recent report, the global mobile app development market will expand at a rate of 14% from 2016 to 2022.
All developers are always looking up to something new on the horizon. It is quite hard to specify your approach. But question is, should you opt for iOS or Android? Which will bring the best results? What is the potential of each platform? Along with selecting a niche for your app, you should also know to pick the right platform.
If you want your app that hits and to give the perfect shape then you must start from the groundwork. Evaluate your user profile. Study similar apps in the market, spot their loopholes, and it will be great if you come up with a new idea.
If you want to keep pace with this exponential growth, you must play your cards right. Find the one that fulfills your requirements at the best possible level.
Here are some points that will help you to choose the right platform-
Study your Target Audience
Your target audience plays a key role in the process. If you want to direct your app or want to create an app like uber for tow trucks, dating app, fasting app towards the mass market, then you should move for popular platforms like Android and iOS. But if the app is available for the corporate sector, you should go for Blackberry or Windows.
Not only that but each of these platforms also differ geographically. iOS is the best option for these countries like the USA, Canada, Japan, and Western Europe. While Android holds a high market share in Russia, India, China, Middle East, and South America. Hence, locate the important sector of your user base and then choose the platform they prefer.
Calculate the Return on Investments
It is always a nice move to make calculations before you embark on any project. This goes into mobile app development too. When designing the app, you should know if it is going to pay back. Calculate the return on investments and how long is it going to take.
A study by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), Android users are more loyal than iOS users. This loyalty has been steady since 2016, and it has reached the highest level now. Findings like these help you to understand the potential of your app platform. They help you to figure out the revenue potential of your app.
Technical specifications
The technical details of each platform before you leap towards one. The design approach of the platforms widely differs in some areas. It specifies icons, colour palettes, tables, and other details. For iOS, there is the Human Interface Design guideline by the Apple Corporation. It includes a list of patterns and suggestions to create an intuitive application.
There is an ongoing debate among tech geeks that Apple offers more freedom than Android. However, we suggest you study the difference between each design guide to reach a final decision. For example, Google believes that animations enhance the design and uplift the users’ experience. Apple, on the other hand, considers animations to be a utility. They recommend animations that are simple and subtle.
Whatever approach you go for, make sure that the final product is error-free. Integrate a security system within your app.
Lower Market Fragment
On the opposite end of the spectrum are apps that target the business community. These apps need to follow a rigid frame so they can fulfil their purpose. It is essential to understand each of these frameworks in depth. Compare them with your app and pick the one that will bring higher profits for you as well as the users.
Two of these platforms are:
Windows
Windows phones hold around3.5% of the worldwide mobile market share. Because this platform lacks diversity, it is not a preferable option for many developers out there.
However, there are many positive aspects of this platform that you should not ignore. For instance, it supports a variety of languages like C# and JavaScript with HTML.
There is also an App Studio that allows you to design apps for instant publication. You can share it with stakeholders in your team and get their feedback. Even though Windows does not offer versatile features like Android and iOS platforms, the apps crafted on this framework are quite helpful for business needs.
Blackberry
Blackberry secures a good reputation in the corporate sector. The company has lost its former position due to Android and iOS apps catered for business purposes. But experts believe that it has a stable standing. If they start leveraging from the latest tech, they will beat complexities like encryption issues.
Final words
There are many ways to initiate a tech project. Before you set off with any approach, you must know your requirements, target market, and the budget. These may limit you from adopting a plan that you find attractive or responsible for your niche. Work hard to provide a flawless app to the market, and your conversion figures will touch the sky.
So, which platform would you choose for your app? Share with us. We would love to know.
