The mobile market was essentially non-existent before the introduction of the iPhone in June of 2007. Since that time, the market has grown exponentially, and many experts predict that the app market will exceed $75 billion annually by 2017. This is in large part due to the massive sales of smartphones which will exceed $1 billion worldwide in 2015 alone. With so much growth, any company that hopes to grow dramatically in the next decade should develop an app. Mobile apps allow businesses to connect with their customers on-the-go, in a more personal and convenient way. They also give you the ability to connect directly to customers through real time notifications and updates.
Clearly, the mobile app market is a place of great opportunity, but choosing which mobile application platform to use can be a challenging decision for businesses stuck between Android and iOS since both have their own set of pros and cons. It’s important to consider each before investing the time and resources it takes to develop an app for either platform.
Pros and Cons of iOS Mobile App Platform
Apple, and iOS specifically, is unlike any other app development platform in the tech world. Apple is known for their high standards and consistent experience which is an advantage for those who can succeed within their ecosystem.
Apple’s Xcode is arguably the most advanced graphical interface builder and source editor. It allows you to develop high-quality apps that will be easy to use and Apple users will want to download. Developing on the iOS also provides you with the benefit of working across all Apple iOS devices like the iPod Touch and iPad.
On the other hand, iOS can be a challenge to work on because every app needs to be approved by Apple, which has particularly high standards. In addition, while iOS has a large market share in the United States (around 43% in late 2014), their global market share is only around 12.3%.
Pros and cons of Android Mobile App Platform
Getting an app onto the Android store is significantly easier than Apple thanks to less stringent rules and regulations. In addition, their massive global market share makes it easier to reach a large audience almost anywhere in the world.
The biggest disadvantage of creating an app on the Android operating system is system updates. Most users are not upgraded to the most recent version of the operating system making it difficult to create an app that utilizes the latest features. In fact, only 1.8% of Android users were on the latest operating system in February 2014.
Ultimately, it is important to determine what your company’s top priorities are when developing a mobile app, then choose the platform that best suits those priorities.
CompuSmart’s team of iOS and Android App developers have the talent and experience to create state-of-the-art mobile applications that will help attract and engage your customers and ultimately grow your business.
