The mobile app market is growing at an incredible rate. There are currently 2.71 billion smartphone users, rapidly increasing as more countries catch up. They spend approximately 90% of their mobile screen time using apps. We have a growing market.
Add in a global pandemic, and everything from shopping to education has shifted to the virtual world. This has accelerated innovation and growth, particularly in tech-related industries. This accelerated growth will make the future of mobile technology and apps exciting.
Although we cannot predict the future of technology with any certainty, we can make educated guesses about where it might go. Based on recent developments, we can safely assume that specific trends and technologies will significantly impact the future and growth of mobile apps.
Five of the Most Prominent Trends in Mobile App Development
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IoT
Over the last few years, the IoT market has grown steadily and is poised to dominate the world. Statistica states that global IoT product spending is expected to reach $1.1 Trillion in 2019. The trend remains, although the growth was slowed by the pandemic.
The Internet of Things refers to linking physical objects within a network. Thanks to their sensors and software, these interconnected "things" can exchange and process data over the internet. In the last few years, we have seen a steady increase in IoT devices. Smartwatches and intelligent refrigerators are just a few examples. This is where mobile apps can help since smartphones (apps)act as an interface to most IoT devices.
IoT devices will be ubiquitous in all walks of society. Still, they will also play a vital role in the manufacturing, cloud computing and medical industries. IoT devices are becoming increasingly popular and demanded in smart cities and homes.
App developers will have to learn how to build apps that are not only compatible with but also take full advantage of the IoT network. IoT will be a significant part of the mobile app market, particularly in the US and UK. This emerging trend offers enormous opportunities to capitalize on mobile app development. The IoT app market will explode when combined with rapidly expanding technologies like 5G or AI.
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5G
The fifth generation is about to become mainstream after years of testing, innovation, anticipation and testing. The 5G network testing has demonstrated a marked improvement in speed, latency, and reliability. This will be crucial for the development of future technologies.
The arrival of 5G connectivity is expected to open up a new world for mobile apps. It will be ten times faster than 4G and virtually eliminate latency. Apps will not have to rely on local limitations because 5G connectivity is quicker and more reliable. This will allow mobile apps to use cloud computing more efficiently and increase connectivity across all devices.
The standard for multimedia apps with 4K resolution will be 5G. IoT devices will significantly increase their functionality as networks can simultaneously handle more of them. This will allow for the proliferation of IoT applications. AR and VR technologies will become more mainstream and practical in the app marketplace through 5G connectivity.
5G is a significant technological leap that will change how we create and use apps.
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AI & ML Applications
AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML(Machine Learning) are the new buzzwords. Although almost everything seems to be AI-powered these days, the mobile app market has AI and ML with profound and innovative implications.
Apps can use machine learning and Artificial Intelligence to create a better user experience. This is how almost all apps could benefit from using ML models to understand their users better. Cloud computing can also have significant advantages, and AI can provide a tremendous boost for apps that use it.
AI will be a crucial component of the upcoming apps that will dominate the market. AI will support many more innovative technologies, such as facial recognition, NLP and image processing. This will allow for new and exciting innovations within the mobile app market.
E-commerce apps that are machine learning-based will have a significant advantage over generic alternatives. They will be able to offer better-customized offers and recommendations to their customers. Artificial intelligence and app self-learning models are two of the most disruptive trends that will continue to influence and shape the mobile app market.
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Instant Apps
Although instant apps are not new, they are rapidly growing in popularity. Apple recently introduced App-clips to add to the excitement. While Google launched Android Instant apps several years ago, Apple is still in beta. App clips and instant apps are miniature versions of full apps that can be run by users without downloading.
Instant apps work in the same way as a trial version. You can use them without installing them. You can always download the full version of the app which proves helpful. Instant apps cannot replace traditional apps. They are used instead to increase user adoption for the parent app because they allow users to test it without having to install it.
Instant apps are a practical and convenient solution for those who occasionally use their phone or have limited storage. Multiple mobile games have adopted instant-app models, offering players a stripped-down version of their games.
Instant apps have the advantage of breaking down multiple functionalities into modules that are focused on a single function. This allows developers to test specific features and target users interested in certain aspects of the app. This will enable developers to learn and do more with their apps than they could with traditional apps.
Instant apps can be used to serve almost any industry. They can be quick browsing and buying e-commerce instant apps or instant mobile games that players can play without downloading and registering. Developers can benefit from instant apps' greater adoption and discoverability, as Apple and Google strongly support the idea.
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VR & AR
Virtual and Augmented Reality may be the most promising mobile app trend of the future, despite being the least practical among all the technologies mentioned above. Although both technologies are well-established, they have yet to be mainstreamed in the way they were intended.
Refrain from letting this convince you that AR technologies are dead. To see the potential of AR applications that are well implemented, take a look at Pokemon Go. We can rest assured that our reality will be augmented shortly, thanks to the enormous investments made by tech giants such as Google and Facebook in developing AR & VR software and devices.
VR and AR apps will see a significant increase in popularity with upcoming technologies such as 5G, AI and faster cloud computing. These apps are top-rated in markets such as education and E-commerce. These apps also present significant opportunities for other industries, such as real estate, healthcare, and home decor.
AR apps will likely add an interactive and fully customizable layer to our existing reality. VR promises new and unique facts. This area has a lot of potential, and your best friends are the apps and smartphones that can help you get there.
Conclusion
The future of mobile apps is brighter than ever in a world of rapid digitization. App developers must constantly look for new mobile app development trends to keep up with the growing number of smartphone users and increasing competition. A list of the top mobile development firms worth looking at is available to anyone interested in entering the app market.
The app development landscape offers many exciting opportunities and challenges. It will continue to influence how we interact with the internet and the wider world.
