Gartner’s recent report predicts more than 268 billion downloads will generate $77 billion worth of revenue in the year 2017. For brands, a mobile app will be the primary vehicle to engage and reach out to customers globally in the year 2017.
As for today, apps are no longer developed just for smartphones; but for wearable devices, smart cars, and connected homes. With iPhone apps escalating to over 2.5 billion downloads last year, there is an enormous amount of Android app downloads too. To survive the apocalypse, mobile app development companies are reassessing their priorities. Moving to the year 2017 there are some new trends which made quite a noise.
Also Read: Android Vs iOS: Which is Better?
In this blog, I would like to highlight some of the trends which will shape the mobile app industry in the coming year.
1. Rise of Location Based Services (LBS)
With the ease of GPRS service, users can access the latest happenings in their whereabouts via location-based services. What your friend is having for lunch? Alternatively, if you want to catch your friends having dinner without you, location-based service will just do that right for you.
Several businesses are putting lbs to good use by doing indoor mapping, offering deals, location-based payments, and security to make hassle-free instant payments. Leading tech giants have made vigorous purchases in the lbs space. Meanwhile, Beacon technology is growing at an exponential rate.
2. Augmented Reality Integration in Utility Apps
Apps that use augmented reality have long been labeled as a promotion gimmick. However, over time greater number of companies are using AR for more useful tasks. AR tools are now being used more efficiently and productively than ever before. In this context, if someone sends you a text or a video with some catchphrase, an actionable item just pops up with the related mobile app.
Also Read: Key Trends to Watch in Augmented Reality
Moreover, upon recognizing the word ‘cap,’ taxi service just pops up to offer some discount on your next ride. Moreover, the word ‘Meeting’ in Google Calendar reminds us of the coming attractions for the day.
3. Android Instant Apps are Globally Appreciated
For the love of apps, Google came up with a convenient solution to the problem. Users now, don’t have to install any app to use them. Instant Apps let you enjoy the apps with just a tap. Super fast speed with a dazzling interface makes it even more significant for enterprises to step into Instant Apps. No need to wait for a download or to kill your memory to install a new app, Instant Apps are on-the-go apps with enough functionality for users to love them and applaud them.
4. Embedding AI Apps within Apps Became the New Trend to Follow
What it feels like to experience the colors of an app change by your moods. Developers now are integrating more AI functionality into the mobile app; the industry is shifting the norms to follow the herd. Self-learning apps are now in demand by the users themselves. Apps that customize user interfaces and provide location-based services. Also known as Neural Networks, such services shift from data centers to everyday services like cameras, phones, and even IoT-enabled devices.
5. App Securities More Critical Than Ever
With the rise of ethical hacking security of a smartphone has become more important than ever because of the sensitivity of user data which can be accessed once breached. Surprisingly, a large number of people still don’t take mobile security to a thread which is a serious problem itself. Apps with built-in security features need to be prioritized for maximum usage.
Additionally, coding done on Apple’s iOS shifted from Objective-C to Apple’s own Swift. More developers are moving to adopt the change as it provides a better user experience and great features.
On the concluding note providing the user, with a quality and smooth experience is the key for all apps to succeed, especially in 2017. Design skills and customer experience have become the top priority for mobile app developers and remain at the heart of any trends that follow.