With the increasing number of smartphone users, the scope for mobile apps is also increasing manifold. The availability of smartphones with different operating systems have allowed users to freely switch between each type according to their requirements or fancy. Popular smartphone operating systems include Google’s Android, Apple Inc’s IOS and Microsoft’s windows for mobile. While the android community is a lot more accommodating to newer applications that cater to different requirements, Apple employs stricter regulations when it comes to the quality and security of the applications that get deployed on its app store. If users get a sense of security and privacy, they might be willing to try out more applications, thereby increasing the market share.
The use of AI in developing applications has become a very attractive prospect. With the use of AI, applications that can recognise and process images, text, emotions and features can be developed. Personalisation of apps can be made possible with the use of AI as the underlying AI architecture will be able to understand the behavioural patterns of a user and predict/suggest personalised services. If you are interested in learning more about AI, you can read all about it on our website.
The integration of Extended Reality (XR) technology in mobile apps have been popularised. XR is an umbrella term that is used to refer to Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies. Using such immersive technologies, the gap between the real and virtual worlds can be bridged. It can be used to develop applications that can help children in learning things in an interactive manner, healthcare applications that can help physicians to learn about the physiology and anatomy of bodies, and improve entertainment by building immersive environments – be it gaming or movies. With the market expected to reach USD 571 billion by the end of 2025, it is safe to assume that the combination of XR and mobile applications are here to stay. If you are interested in augmented reality, we write more about it in the article “Extended Reality – An In-Depth Look“.
By building applications that include the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, mobile phones can be used to control a number of connected devices. In fact, many applications have been developed that can control light bulbs, music systems, automobiles, and sensors with various functionalities. One can control numerous devices from any part of the world through their smartphones.
The popularity of e-commerce applications have skyrocketed during the past few years and it has only gone up during the pandemic. Millions of people have relied on such applications to shop for essentials as well as non-essential goods, without venturing out of their homes. One could even say that such applications have played a major role in helping people stay indoors while having whatever they need delivered to them.
With the rise of digital payments, more and more applications that belong to the category have cropped up. With every iteration, the applications aim to improve security and enhance user experience through attractive UX/UI and reward schemes. Due to the ease of use, such applications are gaining more traction and are being used by millions across the globe, generating massive revenues for the developers and investors alike.
Gaming applications have gained a lot of popularity during lockdowns as people seek alternatives to make their days more tolerable. As such, the number of users downloading and installing gaming applications have risen over the last few months. In fact, this rise is calculated to be nearly 40%, according to statistics.
Social media applications and those developed exclusively for conducting business have seen a lot of takers over the last year. These applications have simplified the whole work-from-home setup and have enabled teams to host online conferences and meetings. Video conferencing applications are being downloaded by swathes of Internet users for various purposes such as lectures, workshops, conferences, meetings and even family gatherings.
Many small players have entered the game of app development as more and more native and indigenously developed applications are becoming popular. The tides may be in favor of such small-scale groups or organisations as they have capitalized on the pandemic and are developing applications that offer much better functionalities and features.
Many industries are seeing a high demand for application developers and these opportunities are expected to shoot upwards in the coming years. Let’s look at some of the industries where mobile applications are expected to make a big splash.