5 Current Trends In The Mobile Development Industry

By Mfidie Last updated Sep 16, 2021

The mobile development industry is one of the most rapidly evolving and innovative ones. Each day, more than 1500 new applications appear on each Play Store and App Store market. That’s absolutely logical, considering how important smartphones have become for our daily lives.

We can’t even take a step without them anymore. Before you go outside you need to check the weather forecast. While traveling to the destination you probably listen to music. And when you finally arrive there, checking the phone every 10 minutes for new unread messages is a usual thing.

These are only a few common examples, as in today’s world, you can use your phones for programs that even computers couldn’t handle 10 years ago. All that is possible thanks to Android and iOS development services. They push technological progress further with each day. Even virtual or augmented reality apps don’t surprise us that much anymore.

But the rapid evolution of the industry also means the fast shift of market conditions and trends. The big companies need to adapt fast to sustain their positions. Still, small ones often disappear or completely change their directions. To help you understand the current situation better, we made a list of some current trends in this sphere.

5G Connection

This trend is only at its start, presenting a perfect opportunity to become a part of it and gain maximum profits. 5G is many times faster than the more common 4G, sometimes reaching speeds of 1 Gbit per second. That means, the applications developed by iOS application development services will be able to use not only media of higher quality (up to 4K) but also download it faster than now.

It opens a whole new horizon for mobile developers and manufacturers. Imagine how much more data you’ll be able to send and receive. Operations that were impossible due to low speeds and quality will now have a perfect chance to use the benefits of mobile platforms. And for people who work in the media sphere, exchanging enormous amounts of data will no longer take hours.

However, 5G is far from being common right now, as the equipment is just being installed in the biggest cities and countries. So, the market isn’t that large yet, being both a downside and a benefit. Because right now it’s harder to predict the changes in the industry, meaning that the risks are pretty big. But it’s also a chance to dictate these changes and shape the market yourself.

Beacons

Beacons is another great example of a technology that is only rising but is really promising. Of course, mobile beacons aren’t as large and noticeable as their thousand-year-old prototypes. Moreover, they serve a slightly different purpose. Instead of providing ships with an understanding of where the land is, this technology can track or scan data from mobile devices.

Don’t worry, it won’t steal any personal information without your consent. It can just tell the store some basic things like your location. For example, let’s say you’re working in the iOS development center. The beacon is installed on the main entrance to the building and workplaces. So, whenever you arrive and start working, the software knows that you’re there doing your job.

For retailers, it’s an ideal opportunity to gain statistical data. They can install beacons wherever they need to understand where customers spend the most time. They also can track what products they pay most attention to, and so on.

AI and Machine Learning

Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence aren’t that surprising nowadays. Everyone knows about them and most of us use these technologies in our daily lives. Right, you may not know about that, but even search engines use AI to provide you with the most relevant search results.

It has been a trend for almost a decade now, but it keeps gaining popularity and evolving. The number of spheres where machine learning is used increases rapidly. But the most basic and well-known example was created by iPhone application development services. We’re talking about Siri, of course.

Remember when it could only perform very basic commands and barely understand anything? Today, it sometimes knows you need something before you even tell it about it. And the more you use it, the smarter it becomes, as its artificial mind learns to understand you better.

Here are some surprising everyday instances of algorithms and features that are based on AI:

Google Maps – traffic direction predictions and accident reports
Ridesharing applications – price determination and prioritization
E-mail services – spam filtering
Writing software – creative writing, plagiarism detection, grammar checking

Banking – credit limit calculation, fraud prevention
Online retail – personalized offers and filtering
Media services – personalized search results and recommendations

And there are many other examples you don’t even notice!

Cross-Platform Approach

Why enter only a single market if you can invest more, enter a few ones at once and gain much more profit in the end? That’s the basic logic behind the cross-platform approach of many development services. And it works, because making an application for multiple OSs and device types provides you with many more opportunities.

Of course, it does require a lot more money, time, and professional employees. And it also can limit the usage of particular features due to their incompatibility. But for applications that aren’t based on the platform’s unique features, becoming cross-platform means gaining multiple times more customers and revenue.

Let’s take social media as an example. Such applications are pretty simple to create and aren’t limited by any device’s specifics. So, there are no reasons to create a program for only a particular program. Especially continuing that we’re talking about social media, where connecting users with each other is the primary function and the main goal.

That’s why it’s so popular nowadays. Most applications on the market are based on simple concepts and don’t need to be completely changed to be ported to other devices. Just create a single solution for all the platforms, and you’ll get a lot more customers and opportunities. Yet, remember to take the differences of the hardware into account. Some minor adjustments may still be required.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) might be a pretty complex concept in its full form, but it’s pretty easy to understand. Basically speaking, the Internet of Things is any network of any devices (even heart transplants or auto-engine sensors) that can transfer data or signals inside itself, without the need for human intervention.

The most common example is the modern automobile key. It automatically exchanges data with the car when you approach, and particular sensors may even trigger the lights inside the car to turn on.

For years, this technology was neglected, but it’s finally gaining a lot of popularity in the mobile development industry. Smartphone-controlled lights and equipment, health monitoring software, automated machinery, and so on. The benefits of IoT are endless, and the more we use them, the easier our lives can become.

Wrapping Up

Some of the modern trends may be new, while others have been around for a while. In any case, the crucial thing to understand is whether the trend can be used to gain revenue for your company, and how it can be achieved. So, don’t fall for any trends you see, but analyze the market carefully, and only enter those that can gain you maximum profits with minimum risks. Good luck!