What is mobile application?

A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch.

OR

A mobile app is a software application developed specifically for use on small, wireless computing devices, such as smart phones and tablets, rather than desktop or laptop computers.

Introductions:

Mobile application development is the process by which application software is developed for small low-power handheld devices such as personal digital assistants, enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones. These applications are either pre-installed on phones during manufacture, or downloaded by customers from various mobile software distribution platforms. Mobile software is developed by using different platforms and programming languages based on the target mobile device. There are many different hardware components found in mobile devices so their applications are developed using different software architectures. Most of the methodologies in use are based on the model-driven approach which has three different views of the application development process:

(1) the application itself and its structure,

(2) the business logic and

(3) the graphical user interface of the application.

Weapons of Mobile Development

• Hardware
• Computers
• Mobile Phones
• Framework
• Programming Language
• Integrated Development Environment
• Compiler
• Simulator
• Monitors

History of mobile applications:

• Mobile communication is so integrated into our lives that many people feel uncomfortable without a cell phone. Once upon a time; the most popular functions of phones were calling and sending texts.
• A smart phone is a multifunctional device that not only communicates, but helps to learn, earn, and have fun. This is made possible by the development of mobile applications.
• Mobile applications date back to the end of the twentieth century. Typically, they were small arcade games, ring tone editors, calculators, calendars, and so forth.
• The beginning of the new millennium saw a rapid market evolution of mobile content and applications.
• Operating systems for smart phones (Windows Mobile, Symbian, RIM, Android, Mac iOS), are open to the development of third-party software, unlike the conventional programming environment of standard cell phones.
• Manufacturers tried to make their products more attractive for customers by introducing more and more applications.
• But quality matters as well. Cell phone development needs to be easy and intuitive. Every company tries to facilitate the process of development so that users are able to customize their devices.
• Motivation: Juniper Research estimates in 2014 the direct and indirect revenues from sales of mobile applications will total 25 billion dollars.
• Mobile users demand more choice, more opportunities to customize their phones, and more functionality. Mobile operators want to provide value-added content to their subscribers in a manageable and lucrative way.
• Mobile developers want the freedom to develop the powerful mobile applications users demand without restrictions.
• Finally, handset manufacturers want a stable, secure, and affordable platform to power their devices.
• The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X was the first commercially available cell phone. First marketed in 1983, it was 13 x 1.75 x 3.5 inches in dimension, weighed about 2.5 pounds, and allowed you to talk for a little more than half an hour.
• It retailed for $3,995, plus hefty monthly service fees and per-minute charges. It made calls, and there was a simple contacts application included in the operating system.

History: the first apps:

• First-generation mobile phones were designed and developed by the handset manufacturers.
• Competition was fierce and trade secrets were closely guarded. They didn’t want to expose the secrets of their handsets, so they developed the phone software in-house.
• Developers that weren’t part of this inner circle had no opportunity to write applications for the phones.
• It was during this period the first “time-waster” games begin to appear.
• Nokia was famous for putting the 1970s video game Snake on some of its earliest phones. Other followed, adding games like Pong, Tetris, and Tic-Tac-Toe.
• These early phones changed the way people thought about communication. As mobile phone prices dropped, batteries improved, reception areas grew, and more and more people began carrying these handy devices.
• Soon mobile phones were more than just a novelty.
• Customers began pushing for more features and more games. But handset manufacturers didn’t have the motivation or the resources to build every application users wanted.
• They needed some way to provide a portal for entertainment and information services without allowing direct access to the handset
• What better way to provide these services than the Internet?

What is the Mobile Application Distribution Platform?

Smartphone apps are developed to run on smart gadgets such as tablets, iPods, Android phones, and other devices. The distribution platform for mobile applications is the channel from where the end-users search and download their desired apps for use.

The app distribution platforms enable the smart app owners to deploy and configure their applications for directly linking or reaching the targeted users. The platforms use common application designing scripts and languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to easily deloy of mobile apps on different screens.

List of mobile app distribution platforms

Many people are aware of the Google Play for downloading and installing Android applications, while the App Store is famous for iOS. However, many other distribution platforms are also available for smart application deployment, as given below:

1). App Store (iOS)

Apple Inc. has developed the App Store to support smart apps for iOS. This digital distribution channel enables users to install apps developed in the iOS software development kit. So, the iPad, iPhone, MacBook, and other Apple users can download applications using the App Store iOS.

App Store iOS is a secure distribution platform for mobile apps. It is easy to use. Owing to this, business people prefer getting their apps developed in the iOS environment. For this, you can hire a mobile application development company In Dubai for a stunning design and successful deployment.

2) Google Play:

Google has developed it as one of the most widely used digital distribution services. Google Play was previously known as Android Market, as it is the official store for all android apps. The store enables the users to search, download, and configure many applications developed using the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) by third-party developers.

You can say it a one-stop-shop for all you need for installing apps. Due to this, businesses prefer hiring an Android mobile app development company for app design, development, and successful configuration on Google Play. It helps in reaching their targeted audience quickly!

3) Windows Store:

Windows Store is a digital distribution platform for Microsoft. Windows Store is formerly known as Microsoft Store. It is a series of retail shops and an online shopping site, owned and served by Microsoft and dealing in computers, computer software and consumer electronics. It began as an app store for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 as the primary means of distributing apps. With Windows 10, however, Microsoft merged its other distribution platforms like Windows Marketplace, Windows Phone Store, Xbox Video and Xbox Music into Microsoft Store. Also making unified distribution point for apps, digital video, digital music, and e-book.

4) Amazon App store:

The channel is used for Android applications. You can install your favorite games using Amazon App store. The platform shows the recommended apps based on the user history of the search. The individuals can also download and install the paid apps using the secure payment methods available at the Amazon.

The best thing about Amazon App store is that you can get the same money to play games. The Amazon coins are available for playing for free. The feature of “Free App of the Day” is highly attractive. It helps businesses in promoting their gaming apps to allure the targeted audience.

Difference between Software and Application:

Application:
Application is package that performs a specific task for end users. It is a product or a program that is designed only for end users requirements. All the applications may be in category of software but vice-versa is not possible.

Software:
Software is a collection of programs that co-ordinates with the hardware to run the machine. It is set of instructions or data that operates the computer how to work. Software is opposite of the physical aspect, i.e., hardware and it is a complement to the hardware in computer.