5 Solid Reasons Why Android Apps are So Popular Today

Each user, nowadays, has options to choose from a variety of mobile devices running on different operating systems. But the Android, launched by Google on 21st October 2008, is hugely popular in comparison to other popular mobile operating systems. Unlike iOS and Windows, Android is free as well as open source. The absence of any copyright protection and restrictions encourage developers to launch new apps and upgrade existing apps to target the Android mobile device users.

Similar to the developers, many users love to download and use some of these popular Android apps. The smartphones and tablets, normally, come with some of the most popular and commonly used Android apps. At the same time, a user also has option to choose from a large number of free and paid apps available at the Android Market. Many reports have highlighted why Android is more popular than other mobile operating systems. But one can also cite some reasons that make Android apps popular among users residing in various parts of the world.
1. Huge Android Mobile Device User Base: Most users download apps that are compatible with their mobile device. So the popularity of mobile apps can be linked directly to the popularity of the mobile device and operating systems. According to a report posted on UnlockWindows, “Around 33 percent of smartphones operate on Android, which is an open source and Linux based OS backed by the giant search engine – Google, along with the big hardware and software players like Samsung, HTC, ARM, Motorola, Ebay (falling under Open Handset Alliance). Google simply operates the official Android Market that carries out around 150,000 apps, with more than 3.7 billion downloads. The current Android version is Android 4.1, and more advance versions are likely to remain on the top over the coming years.” The figures clearly indicate the reason behind the huge popularity of Android apps.
2. Regular App Launch and Updates: The large market share of Android mobile operating system encourages users to develop new apps to target the right segment of mobile users. The absence stringent copyright restrictions make it easier for companies to list apps at the Google Play. However, a developer has to comply with the content and ad policy of the Google. Many developers also upgrade their apps with new features to impress the existing and new users. The regular launch of new apps and updated version of existing apps also contribute towards making the Android apps so much popular.
3. Apps to Suit Your Specific Needs: Each Android mobile operating system upgrade enables users to download more apps developed by third-party developers. So a user has options to experiment with a variety of apps to suit his requirements and choice. The operating system further allows users to drag apps from the main menu, and add these to the home screen. Along with downloading the apps to meet his needs, a user can also run the app immediately to perform certain tasks. For instance, a blogger can use specialized Android blogging apps to note down the relevant information and ideas within a few seconds.
4. Large Number of Free Apps: Similar to the mobile operating system, the prices of the mobile apps also have a huge impact on their popularity. Each user wants to download and use apps without incurring any expenses. A large number of Android apps can be downloaded from the Android Market for free. At the same time, a user can use the free version of popular apps to check their features and performance. Once the user is happy with the free version, he can upgrade the app to avail additional features and facilities. Regardless of the need of a user, he has options to choose from several specialized apps launched by different developers.
5. Compatibility with New Mobile Operating Systems: A recent technological development will further enhance the popularity of Android apps. As many reports have highlighted, the Android apps can now run on the Windows operating system through popular software known as Wine. The cross-compatibility of apps will make it easier for users to access apps of their choice, irrespective of their mobile device model and operating system. The huge number of Android apps will become more popular among the users of Apple and Windows mobile devices.


Many analysts have highlighted why Android scores higher than other popular mobile operating system. Some of the key advantages provided by the operating system will also benefit the Android apps. These developments will further enable user to access the best apps without changing their existing smartphones or tablets. And this is how Android app development will evolve.

We provide Android app programming services. If you would like to know about our mobile app development expertise, please visit Mindfire Solutions.

8 Solid Reasons Behind The Growing Popularity Of iPhone Apps

One of the most innovative creations of Apple Inc, iPhone has changed the face of mobile technology through offering a brilliant user interface that makes it handy and powerful. The device with its varied features, also scores high when it comes to utilities and applications. IPhone application development has become one of the highest revenue generating businesses today, triggered by the immense popularity of iPhone apps, a phenomenon which is exponentially increasing with the passage of time.

From businesses to individuals, everyone is inclined towards iPhones for completion of a wide spectrum of tasks. With such an ever-increasing demand, it’s high time we probe into the growing popularity of iPhone app development. Here are 8 reasons why iPhone Apps have created a ripple in the marketplace:

• High Interactivity: Iphones have become the choicest Smartphones offering an outstanding promotional tool to individuals and businesses alike. Because of the high level of interactivity, iPhones offer a perfect platform for addictive and interesting applications. With the unique functionality, iPhone apps have revolutionized the manner in which users interact with their devices, thus appealing to individuals and businesses across the globe.
  
  
  
• Enhanced Usability: IPhone Apps are immensely user-friendly and once downloaded, can efficiently utilize iPhone’s touch functionality for optimizing functionality and usage for the users. This implies that users irrespective of age can utilize these apps in a hassle-free manner, one of the main reasons why businesses are increasingly leveraging these apps for process enhancement and co-ordination within departments. Customized iPhone apps have helped a number of businesses bring about a remarkable change in their overall performance.
  
  
  
• Intensive User Engagement: Due to the seamless user interface, iPhone apps trigger user engagement, thereby ensuring that users make use of these apps from time to time. Hence it can be said that these application have significant shelf-life, while in turn implies high Return on Investment.
  
  
  
• Diverse Usage: On one hand iPhone apps offer a brilliant promotional platform for businesses, while on the other hand, individuals can manage their day-to-day activities with the help of these apps. From playing games to shopping, browsing the net or sending e-mails, these apps offer something or the other engagement to every user.
  
  
  
• Brand visibility: Since iPhone apps are embedded in the phone, it is highly probable that people will use them or at least look at them frequently. This is what gives businesses a brilliant chance to power up their marketing strategies. To be specific, if you have your organization’s logo on the phone screen, it will gradually lead to brand recognition through regular visibility.
  
  
  
• Ease of Client Retention: Apart from engaging potential customers, every business would love to retain its existing customers. These apps offer you a great opportunity to do just that! Suppose you are offering your clients some kind of discounts through the apps. The very process implies that clients will hardly ignore the discounts and will continue availing your service because the discounts can be easily accessed.
  
  
  
• Potential for Notifications: Businesses can effectively use iPhone apps to notify their users about the different offers. Notification once or twice every month about some great deal will indeed help your business register an increase in sales volume.
  
  
  
• Extensive Customization: This is perhaps the most important reason why iPhone apps are increasingly becoming popular. Standard apps do target a large section of the users, but a customized app can focus on a particular problem or area of interest, thereby providing an effective solution for the same.
  

These are some of the reasons behind the growing popularity of iPhone apps. However, with the wide range of acts catering to segments like media, entertainment, games, education, training, and so on, it is highly expected that the popularity of the apps will soon reach new horizons.


We provide iPhone application development services. Discuss with our expert iphone app developers about your project. We will be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

Are Your Mobile Apps Really Meeting Your Enterprise's Software Quality Standards?

With more and more users switching from their personal computers, it has become essential for companies to choose fresh and innovative options to suit the latest trends. As many reports have highlighted, a constant increase is noted in the number of people using mobile devices to access the web, obtain information, and stay connected with their loved ones.

So each company, nowadays, has to launch robust mobile apps to target the huge base on smartphone, tablet, and other mobile device users. Based on the needs and objectives of a business, it has options to launch specialized mobile apps to target its customers, employees or business partners. Along with the business-to-consumer (B2C) apps, a company can also launch the business-to-employee (B2E) or business-to-business (B2B) apps.

Regardless of the target audience, you have to ensure that the enterprise mobile app offers unique features while meeting the latest industry trends. In addition to the cost of developing and maintaining the app, you must concentrate on its quality and security features. While planning and developing the mobile app, it is important to consider certain points to ensure that it meets the software quality standards of your enterprise over a longer period of time.

Deciding the Right Mobile Platform
A modern user has options to choose from several mobile platforms. So a company has to design its mobile apps for a number of popular mobile operating systems. However, the Mobile app development project may become more expensive and complex, as you have to use different programming languages and tools. Also, the apps must be developed and launched within a few weeks to beat the competitors. You must deploy individual teams to develop apps for each mobile platform, and meet higher quality standards.

Developing a Robust Mobile App
The mobile device users can choose from a wide range of free and paid apps. So they always look for high quality apps with advanced features and eye-catchy designs. As the enterprise app will represent your company, it becomes more important to choose the design and features that keep the users engaged and covert them into loyal customers. Along with launching the app, you must upgrade it on a regular basis to encourage the users to access the app frequently. You must remember that the user experience will have a direct impact on the growth, revenues and profits of your business.

Seamless Integration with the Back-end Systems
The popularity of a mobile app often depends on its seamless integration with the back-end database and systems. The integration also decides how information and content are delivered to the user. Your budget may not allow you to set up independent back-end databases and services for the mobile apps. So you must evaluate and modify your existing back-end system to work in sync with several mobile apps. It is also important to develop the right programmable interfaces that facilitate communication between the app and back-end systems. Also, the integration must be tested regularly to ensure a better and improved user experience.

Addressing the Privacy and Security Issues
The constant increase in the number of incidents related to mobile device frauds and scams has affected the popularity of mobile apps negatively. Many users, nowadays, are skeptical about installing new apps launched by comparatively unknown developers. Most of the operating systems are designed with advanced security features. Also, each app has to go through a comprehensive screening and reviewing process by the mobile platform owners. But you must address the privacy and security concerns of the users properly to gain the trust of the users, and convince them to download and access your mobile enterprise app regularly.

Overcoming Time and Budgetary Constraints
In comparison to traditional desktop applications, the mobile apps are developed within a shorter span of time. The mobile apps are required to be launched and developed within a few weeks. Also, the ongoing recessional phase of the economy has compelled many companies to develop mobile apps on a stipulated budget. So the team has to meet the schedules without compromising on the quality of the mobile app. It is also a good idea to manage the project through a manager who can manage software life cycles through dynamic and agile project management techniques.


If your company has prior experience in developing enterprise apps, the new mobile app can be developed without putting any extra time. But you must test each feature and specification of the app to ensure that it meets the high software quality standards of your organization. We also provide mobile app development services. If you would like to know what makes us expert mobile app developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.

Android app Revenue Analysis: iPhone Crushed by Android Growth

Android has taken over – a true fact. Any software application which runs on android devices like Android tablets, smartphones, google TV and other devices is starting to get perceived as a good app and has the probability of getting a larger number of downloads. Last year Android phone sales volumes soared higher than iPhone sales volumes. Google is marketing its Google Play store remarkably and sends off GooglePlay app with every Android OS which ensures all Android devices have access to the Android app marketplace. This brings forth great benefits, with more and more people loving these advanced android smartphones and helping in turn to spread the word.

The facts might be older as we speak – Android has powered hundreds of millions of mobile devices in more than 190 countries around the world. It's the largest installed base of any mobile platform and growing fast—every day another million users power up their Android devices for the first time and start looking for apps, games and other digital content.

Android users download more than 1.5 billion apps and games from Google Play each month, thus becoming the fastest-growing mobile OS. Every day more than 1 million new Android devices are activated worldwide. It caters to the diversified needs by building powerful, differentiated applications that use the latest mobile technologies, thus giving you everything you desire to build best-in-class app experiences and drive stronger growth in app consumption. Android apps have hundreds of millions of users across a wide range of devices right from phones to tablets and much beyond.

Android tools work wonders by creating flawless apps that look great and take advantage of the hardware capabilities available on each device. It automatically adapts to any user interface resolution to look its best on each device, while giving you as much control as you want over your UI on different device types. If you wish to get your apps in front of millions of users at Google's scale, then Android app development is the best choice.

Google Play is the top-notch marketplace for selling and distributing Android apps. Google is making more money off Android. If you want to publish an app on Google Play, you reach the huge installed base of Android. Google has created software stack for creating comprehensive Mobile Applications and Software to realize the full potential of one’s Mobile handset and its possibilities and therefore it has encapsulated all automation features in one OS called Android. Hence it’s a sure fire idea that developments are given the power and freedom to create customized mobile applications while taking advantage of everything that the mobile handset has to offer. Google Play revenue growth in the last month was 17.9% globally while iOS app revenue actually shrunk by 0.7%. Google has the highest Android activations around 700,000 a day. Last year it had $29.3 billion in revenue which is now being targeted at $36 billion to $38 billion range.

Android is growing faster than ever. Google 13% of total revenue is due to the android usage. No matter what you do, there’s no way to stop openness. A year ago around 20,000 new devices were being activated every day and the number has now grown to 340,000.

Android market share varies by location. In July 2012, Android's market share in the United States was 52%, and rose to 90% in China. Day by day more users are concerned with deploying their apps in android device as it is the hot technology and much in demand now.

According to Asymco Analyst a growth curve based on the data available, shows that Android has grown nearly three times faster than iOS. While iOS is available only on handful of devices, Android is available on more than 100 devices, the variety and diversity leads to the win-win situation for Android.

iOS growth is limited by the ramp rates of a limited portfolio of products. Android growth is limited by how quickly vendors can bring out products. In October 2012, there were approximately 700,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications downloaded from Google Play. In the second quarter of 2009 Android had a 2.8% share of worldwide smartphone shipments. By the fourth quarter of 2010 this had grown to 33% of the market, becoming the top-selling smartphone platform. By the third quarter of 2011, Gartner estimated that more than half (52.5%) of the smartphone market belongs to Android. By the third quarter of 2012 Android had a 75% share of the global smartphone market according to the research firm IDC. From September 2012, 500 million devices had been activated with 1.3 million activations per day. Android is surely getting on top in respect to other mobile technologies and getting more demanding by its extensive usable features.

If you are toying with an idea to get mobile app development done and you would like to know what makes us a solid team of expert android devs, visit us at Mindfire Solutions.

Mobile Apps Help Bottom-line Growth For Businesses

While it is still correct to say and feel that the whole world is going mobile, it is perhaps more appropriate to understand the fact that the world is already addicted to it. The fascination of having all information at fingertips, on the move, is what makes the world so dearly cling to mobile and the world of mobile apps.

In most cases, our mobile devices are the first things we reach for when we need information. Whether we are waiting at a bus stop, waiting to pick our kids from school or soccer practice, at the grocery store in the queue or wherever we go, we are completely hooked to our mobiles devices. So appreciating the amount of time every one of us spends on the device, it becomes imperative for businesses to focus on delivering increasingly more and more information via this medium.

In this day and age, it’s more convenient and easy to own a mobile device that can connect you with anyone, anywhere and at any time. For some, mostly youngsters and senior executives with various firms (who you aspire to reach out to!), mobile devices are the most preferred medium to access the web.

According to a recent AC Nielsen study, 37% of all US mobile consumers now own smart phones with app-based, web-enabled operating systems and that average data consumption for smartphone users grew by 89% in the last 12 months. It is said that mobile will be the primary way people access Google in 2013. Mobile searches have increased 200% to-date in 2012. On YouTube: 25% of traffic and 40% of views on now come from mobile devices, a 300% increase in 2012. Total mobile traffic to YouTube may soon 50%, as it has already in Korea. Mobile is another Internet channel, so not being a part of it, puts you noticeably absent from the commerce sphere.

The challenge for a lot of companies is that on average there are about 75 apps on people’s phones and they use about 11 of them. When a company is designing an app they need to figure out their business strategy -what will drive people to use the app and what will they do on it. Dunkin Donuts’ mobile app makes a lot of sense because they maintain both a brand and retail presence. However, a company like Kraft could design a mobile app, but would face a big challenge defining the app’s consumer need.

For many large enterprises and big consumer brands, launching a successful mobile app can directly impact growth. For others, “success” can be a bit more indirect. The advantages of having mobile apps for your business is speed, volume of information and advertising. Hence mobile app development will continue to grow, at a pace much faster than it has been. These mobile apps are fast becoming functional and popular among consumers, a Forrester Research report (FORR) predicted that by 2015, nearly half of all corporate-issued devices will be mobile.

A major player like Google, considers itself “mobile first”. Then every business large and small needs to examine what they are doing to thrive in a mobile world. When the web was first introduced, companies scrambled to launch a web application.

The rush to get into the game produced some very poor quality web sites and web tools. History is repeating itself as companies are rushing their mobile strategies and mobile executions. While forming a mobile strategy is critical for most businesses, businesses should take care to engage developers and testers that are focused on quality.

More and more of our interaction online, occurs on mobile devices. Over five billion mobile subscribers – about 77% of the world’s population – are online. We must understand the importance of Mobile apps usage which will take our business to greater heights.


To know more about iPhone App development services at Mindfire, or to know what makes us Expert Mobile app developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.