Chances are you have a smartphone and, if so, you likely use apps on it. Whether it be to play games, get directions somewhere or read a book or the news, you’re most likely familiar with the app store. The fact is, mobile apps have come to dominate our everyday lives. This is something any mobile app developer will know, but what about everyone else?
While apps are fun and convenient, most people download them without much thought as to what has gone into their back-end development. When a mobile app developer designs a new product, there is more than just the user experience to consider. The mobile app developer also has to think about how the app will be paid for, what kind of information the app will gather from the device in order to function, who is responsible for protecting that information, and so much more. Let’s take a peek behind-the-scenes of this process:
App basics every mobile app developer should know
Put simply, a mobile app is a downloadable software program that can be accessed from your phone, tablet, music player or another mobile device. In order to download and use an app, one must have internet access. It is also important to note that apps will not work on all mobile devices.
Here is the key thing to note: Once you buy a particular smartphone (READ: Operating System), you will be locked into using apps that are designed specifically for that operating system. And while some online retailers offer app stores, the app themselves will have been designed specifically to function within a certain ecosystem.
When it comes to downloading an app, users can do so through data plans or Wi-Fi. In most cases, Wi-Fi is the fastest way to download a mobile app. In many cases, public Wi-Fi is available if the smartphone plan in question does not offer unlimited data or if you are working under a data cap.
Why are some apps free and not others?
Mobile apps work under different payment and revenue schemes, depending on the mobile app developer and the client the app is being developed for. There are several ways in which a mobile app developer can build in specific revenue models for their clients.
1. The app is built in such a way that advertising space is sold within the app. The mobile app developer/client then makes money from the ads. The app is distributed for free to as many potential users as possible, as to maximize ad revenue potential.
2. The app is built as a basic version, which can be downloaded for free. The hope is that if you like what you see/use, then you will be willing to pay for an upgraded version with more features.
3. The app can be downloaded for free, but the mobile app developer has built-in features that can be purchased. These are referred to as in-app purchases, for which billing occurs through the app store itself. In some cases, your device will provide settings to disable in-app purchases.
4. The app itself can be a form of advertising for the client. The app is provided for free but is designed to drum up interest in the company or client’s other products, whether it be in the form of images or messages.
Bringing you more than the basics
While we have provided you with an initial look at the basics of a mobile app, there is so much more going on beneath the skin of your device. Here at Clever Coding, we take great pride in being experts at not just the basics of app development, but the complexities, nuances, and intricate capabilities as well. Work with a mobile app developer you can count on. That’s us.