How Much Does Firebase Cost And Should You Use It

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Are you mulling over developer-focused questions, such as how much does Firebase cost? We’re well aware of how complex Google’s pricing structure for their flagship app development platform can be.

Luckily, many of Firebase’s SDKs are free, and Google even offers a free tier to help you test the waters. And if you need to scale your app, there’s a paid tier that will give you access to the components you need.

While all this seems enticing, you may or may not be convinced whether to use it. Below, we delve deeper into Firebase to help you make an informed decision.

1. What Is Firebase?

Firebase started life in 2011 as a company specializing in development tools. Founding members; Andrew Lee and James Tamplin had previously established another startup called Envolve. At Envolve, they developed a chat service that many developers utilized to pass and sync application data. This occurrence spurred them on to create the Firebase Realtime Database API, which synchronizes data across mobile devices and the web.

In 2012, Firebase raised $ 1.1 million in seed funding from several venture capital firms and a further $ 5.6 million during 2013. The company didn’t rest on its laurels and later released Firebase Authentication and Firebase Hosting. And in October 2014, Google acquired Firebase and expanded its range of products and services.

2. How Much Does Firebase Cost?

The good news is that the cost of Firebase is flexible, which suits startups and enterprises operating on a budget. Google wisely offers developers a free tier dubbed as the “Spark Plan” for their various Firebase products. But do keep in mind that they do place limits on specific products. For example, Authentication services have a limit of 10,000 verification per month. The same services on their “Blaze Plan” paid tier costs $ 0.01 for phone verifications in the US, Canada, and India and $ 0.06 for other countries.

Firebase Realtime Database allows for 100 simultaneous connections, 1 GB stored, and 10 GB per month downloaded on the free tier. However, the Google Firebase cost on the paid tier translates to 200,000 per database, $ 5 per GB stored, and $ 1 per GB downloaded, while multiple databases per project are permitted. For both tiers, A/B Testing, Analytics, App Distribution, App Indexing, Cloud Messaging (FCM), Crashlytics, Dynamic Links, In-App Messaging, Performance Monitoring, Predictions, and Remote Config, are all free. 

 

USE OUR APP COST CALCULATOR TO ESTIMATE THE COST TO BUILD YOUR APP!

3. Are There Any Hidden Google Firebase Costs?

Yes, the cost of Firebase varies considerably depending on product and usage. It’s easy for costs to run out of control if you don’t keep an eye on Google Cloud pricing from day one. Moreover, cloud costs also vary widely according to location, which may have massive consequences for your project. As of January 2021, it costs $ 0.036 per 100,000 document reads for Los Angeles on Cloud Firestore. But it costs $ 0.06 per 100,000 document reads in South Carolina and $ 0.042 in Zürich.

Now, we know what you may be thinking. You don’t have the time and inclination to calculate tentative figures right now. Instead, you’d prefer a rough estimation of Cloud Firestore pricing. 

Fortunately, Google does provide several handy price examples for your perusal. Expect to pay about $ 12.14 per month for an app with 50,000 installs and 5,000 daily active users. And about $ 292.02 per month for 1 million app installs and 100,000 daily active users, and approximately $ 2951.52 per month for 10 million app installs and 1 million daily active users.

4. What Types Of Apps Can You Create With Firebase?

Firebase’s wide range of components makes it easy to create almost any type of mobile and web app. You can mix and match all these APIs to add the functionality that you need. 

Add AdMob and analytics in your upcoming mobile game, authentication and cloud messaging for your e-commerce app, and cloud functionality and storage for your peer-to-peer photo-sharing service. And as your app grows, it’s a relatively simple process to integrate additional Firebase components that your project requires.

5. What Are The Different Firebase Products?

Firebase has split up its product range into three segments: Build, Release & Monitor, and Engage. Carefully consider what products you’ll use when conducting your Google Firebase cost analysis.

Build products include Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging, Cloud Storage, Firebase ML (BETA), Hosting, Realtime Database, and Remote Config.

Release & Monitor products include App Distribution (BETA), Crashlytics, Google Analytics, Performance Monitoring, Remote Config, and Test Lab.

Engage products include A/B Testing (BETA), Authentication, Crashlytics, Cloud Messaging, Dynamic Links, Google Analytics, In-App Messaging (BETA), Predictions, and Remote Config.

 

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN APP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT TO GET A CUSTOMIZED QUOTE!

6. How Popular Is Firebase?

Firebase enjoys relative popularity in several industries, namely, art & entertainment, computer electronics & technology, and travel & tourism. Leading high traffic websites such as Flipkart, Quora, and Worldstar use Firebase, while Accenture, Instacart, and Twitch use it as part of their tech stack.

7. What Is The Cost Of Firebase For Monitoring App Performance?

It’s currently free on both plans.

8. Should You Try Using Firebase On Your Own?

No, the Firebase SDKs require experienced developers to make them work properly. We recommend that you read up on the pitfalls of developing apps for free or going it alone. Developing, testing, and marketing apps is best left to the experts. It’s paramount to have a solid background in several frameworks, programming languages, markup languages, and software development paradigms. First-timers and novice developers lack this deep understanding, which will put their projects at risk.

9. What Does Firebase Integrate With?

Firebase offers key integrations with AdMob, BigQuery, Data Studio, Google App Campaigns, Google Marketing Platform, Jira, PagerDuty, Play Store, and Slack. Furthermore, it integrates with popular frameworks such as AngularJS, Flutter, and React. Consider if you’ll be using any of the above integrations during your cost of Firebase analysis.

10. Is Firebase Right For Your Project? 

Though Firebase started as a messaging API for mobile and web apps, it’s primarily aimed at developers seeking easy and reliable integration with the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). So, if you rely exclusively on Google’s back-end infrastructure for your upcoming app, then Firebase is an apt choice. You’ll need to register for a GCP account, which will give you access to Firebase and Google Maps API. Google does offer a 90-day trial with $ 300 credit to help you get started.

Many developers choose Firebase mainly for its analytics and authentication components. But its other SDKs do integrate easily and make it possible to scale an app when necessary. Furthermore, recent enhancements to Firebase make it feasible as a cost-effective and robust serverless solution.

However, we need to offer a word of warning before using Firebase. In 2019, Google shut down Google Analytics for mobile apps and encouraged developers to use Firebase Analytics instead. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an easy switch since Firebase isn’t as straightforward as many developers had hoped. That’s why we recommend that you consider alternatives, such as Kumalos Mobile App Analytics, which powers a plethora of apps developed by NS804.

The Bottom Line

So, how much does Firebase cost? Free if you’re starting a small or hobby project. But expect costs to rise significantly, especially for medium to large applications that garner thousands and millions of downloads.

But should you use it? Well, that depends on how well you get on with Firebase’s various SDKs. If you need a more straightforward solution with powerful tools, then consider alternatives, such as Kumalos. Contact us today to learn how NS804 can develop your upcoming app, with all the necessary integrations to make it shine!

9 Things You’ll Only Get With Custom App Development

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Custom app development seems challenging, but it’s the best way to create amazing applications. While templates promise an easy and quick turnaround for mobile app developers, these seldom deliver optimal results. Businesses and professional developers don’t want to release apps that look and feel second-rate. Instead, they prefer to release apps that improve their reputation and enhance user engagement. We provide several reasons why you should custom develop your next app below.

1. Completely Custom Look Unlike Any Free Templates

When developing an app, it’s often a good idea to consider the options available to you. Do you build it entirely from scratch by taking the custom app development road? Or do you use free templates that will radically reduce initial cost and time factors? The latter may seem more enticing, but it’s not the wisest choice if you want your app to stand out.

Ideally, you want your app to be a showcase for your unique brand. You want your User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX) to comply with the Visual Brand Language (VBL) that defines your company. Free cookie-cutter templates won’t do your brand justice, as the colors, shapes, and typography won’t match with your VBL. Thus, you’ll ultimately cheapen your brand and cause users to either question your design choices or disengage altogether.

But if you choose the custom development option, then you can make your app shine. Your application will fit your company’s existing product range, which reassures existing customers and makes it appealing to new users. Moreover, the development team won’t need to modify and shoehorn the boilerplate code and free templates. That gets messy, quickly! Instead, they’ll build the app from scratch and enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and more maintainable project.

2. Extend Specific Business Functions

Another benefit of developing a custom mobile app is that it’s easy to add or extend functionality. In particular, you’ll want to extend specific business functions that facilitate more efficient customer interactions. 

At first, you may decide to release a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) to test the waters. Then, once your app gains traction, you’ll want to add functionality that will bring users closer. These could include in-app purchases that allow users to buy products and services, a point system to build customer loyalty, and social media integration to allow users to share your company’s content in a fun way.

3. Give Users Something New

We can’t stress enough how important it’s to keep users engaged. Even after a successful launch, your app can quickly lose traction if users become bored. After all, they have tons of other cool and innovative apps to choose from in the App Store and Google Play. 

Make sure to keep your app fresh with regular updates and by adding new features that excite users. Always listen to feedback since users often request features that will enhance their experience. However, only add new functionality that fits your custom mobile app and business goals. For example, some users may request the addition of Augmented Reality (AR) functionality. But this won’t work well with your e-commerce app and unnecessarily drive up development costs.

4. Increased Compatibility

Mobile devices and systems continuously evolve, which means that appreneurs should keep up with the latest developments. If we take a quick look at the global mobile operating system market, Android’s leading with a 72.48% market share while iOS comes second at 26.91%. This bit of information may entice you to support the Android platform for your upcoming custom mobile app. 

But which Android OS should you support since there are so many versions? 

According to AppBrain, Android 10 leads with a 34.2% market share, Android 9.0 (Pie) at 23.1%, and Android 8.0-8.1 (Oreo) at 17.1%. By supporting these versions, you’ll inevitably increase compatibility with the most current devices and systems. It’s also worthwhile updating your older apps to run well on recent generations of operating systems.

5. Improved Security Features

In recent years, a plethora of high profile hacking cases has made the news. And with the COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, more people are working from home than ever before, which has only increased the rate of hacking attacks. Thus, businesses and individuals have become increasingly sensitive to these types of incursions. 

There’s nothing worse for your reputation if hackers use your app as an attack vector to illegally access users’ mobile phones. That’s why the custom app development process should always encompass the most effective security features. Include two-factor authentication that users can enable, giving them extra protection and peace of mind.

6. The Latest Custom Mobile App Features

Take the time to simplify your UI & UX to make your app more accessible to a wider demographic. Furthermore, include customization features whereby users can easily change background images, colors, and fonts. Don’t forget to add a night mode to protect users that suffer from light sensitivity. And include an offline mode so they will continue using your app during Internet outages.

7. Make Changes When You Want

Your app won’t remain static. It’s a dynamic product that will undergo change during the development process and after its launch. However, templates and platforms often hinder these changes since they come with existing assets and code. Therefore, development teams have to waste valuable time modifying code and templates to suit their needs. 

But this isn’t a problem with a custom solution that’s more cohesive. Developers know how every piece of their application operates and to implement changes without introducing new bugs or breaking it altogether.

8. Match Your App And Business Goals 

Always consider your business goals when embarking on the development process. And ask yourself what you want to achieve with your upcoming app. Very likely, there’ll be an overlap between the direction of your app and your business goals. But you’ll only be able to achieve great results with a custom solution since it’s hard to find templates that will match your business goals down to a tee. Keep your vision focussed, and build your app in a way that makes it entirely your own.

9. Professional App Developers

It’s easy finding freelancers on various job boards and freelancing platforms to develop your app. But is that a good idea? Well, if you’re working on a hobby project and just want to test the waters, hiring a competent freelancer could be feasible. But if you’re developing an app for your business and expect professional results, then you’ll need to work with an agency.

Freelancers will often play up their list of credentials to attain work. And while some freelancers do good work, they seldom stick around to offer support after the project ends. This leads to problems, especially when you need to fix bugs after you’ve launched your app. You’ll find that the freelancer has moved on to the next project and isn’t available for fixing bugs. 

Agencies, on the other hand, are far more accountable to their clients. They have a reputation to uphold and must comply with various laws and regulatory bodies to stay in business. Any reputable agency won’t leave clients high and dry if they experience issues with a finished app upon or after release. They’ll offer their advice, expertise, and support during and after development. And if you’re seeking mobile app development in Virginia, then don’t hesitate to contact NS804 to assist you with your custom app development endeavors.

Appy Pie App Development: Pros and Cons

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The Pros and Cons of Appy Pie App Development

Little in life comes without compromise. Evidently, this is to say that there are pros and cons to nearly everything. Likewise, there are pros and cons to different app-development solutions. Good ideas in the app industry certainly aren’t exclusive. Everyone and anyone obviously has the potential to come up with impressive ideas. On the contrary, however, not everyone has access to the tools or knowledge needed to execute on those ideas. As such, many have started researching do-it-yourself options for app development. One of the most popular choices for DIY app development is Appy Pie.

Appy Pie is an app-development software that has a variety of options for users to choose from. This software presents their users first and foremost with a spectrum of plans to choose from – each with their own series of add-ons and extra features that the basic free plan doesn’t include. This is important to note because if you’re aiming to develop a sophisticated application; Appy Pie may not offer the tools necessary. There are plenty of ways for someone with a good idea to pursue app development. Even without the domain knowledge. The main ways are hiring a developer, learning the knowledge and developing the app yourself, or using a platform such as this one.

Each of these solutions, however, come with their own challenges, obstacles, and pros as well. In this article, we’ll take a specific look at the pros and cons of Appy Pie.

Getting Into The Pros and Cons of Appy Pie

As mentioned earlier there are pros and cons to everything in life. App development software is no exception to that rule. In taking a closer look at app development through this Appy Pie a clear pattern emerges swiftly. That pattern is one of limited features, outdated themes, and 3rd party reliance. In other words, Appy Pie, even in their highest tiered plan is truly better suited for simple applications that require little-to-no sophisticated features.

The types of applications easily built on this platform are mainly quizzes, or little informational applications. These apps don’t require sophisticated features such as AR, or other more advanced types of technology. Furthermore, the themes and templates available for users feel and look outdated. While they make it easy to use, for simple builds, and ecommerce links, any additional or more robust features require 3rd party coding anyway. Finally, it isn’t always clear how to get the more robust features to function.

Overall, however, the customer-support is timely,  and normally helpful.

Final Thoughts

While Appy Pie may offer one of the more inexpensive app development solutions; their limited features make them a difficult option for serious app developers. Appy Pie may very well suit a small business, or someone looking to deliver a quick quiz or informational. However, for more advanced applications, hiring a developer may be a stronger option, as trying to rely on the limited features of Appy Pie would require 3rd party help anyway.

For more information on mobile app development and how to bring your app idea to life, visit NS804 today.

How Do I Update An App: Your Guide To Updating

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Updating An App: How, When, and Why

Hardly anything in life is complete. Even when asking famous artists or storytellers, most often they feel work is never complete. Rather, they’ll say something like, “it’s as finished as it’ll ever be.” That’s because eventually; they need to release the work. The same is sort of true with an application. However, the difference is that while applications are also never truly complete; they have the benefit of live-updates. As an important part of the process, developers need to learn how to update an app.

Like with anything, there are a few tricks to the trade. Understanding that the user experience is as at the core of your goal as an app designer will help you make strong design decisions in app development. There are many reasons to run an app update, however, it’s integral to realize that running app updates too frequently pose just as large of a problem as not updating your app enough. There is a sweet-spot for app developers to rolling out app updates on a schedule that’s regular enough to keep things current, without being too constant to deter users.

Update An App With Purpose

There needs to be a clear purpose behind your app updates. This will benefit your user base and elevate user experience if there’s a clear reasoning for updating the app. This is important too, because there are other updates that your team may want to make. However, they can then fold those into that same more vital app update.

Using strategically timed updates will make it easier to control the growth of the application, ensuring that each additional layer is fully functional along the way. Having this ability for redundancy and bug-fixing is vital. It allows your team to build a comprehensive app with a minimal amount of errors.

Some of the main reasons that developers will update an app are for major additions to functionality, major improvements on graphics or designs, or fixes to major bugs or errors that occur. There’s a whole library of other reasons that developers will update an app. Again, however, it’s wise to fold these more minor updates into a more significant update. This is for the users benefit, and ensures that your team is approaching the update process strategically rather than haphazardly.

Feedback

Finally it’s vital to garner feedback after developers update an app. This is for the sake of the application, the development team, the producers, and really everyone involved as a stakeholder. Understanding how users react to your updates is an integral aspect of taking the right developmental steps in the future. It also acts as a way to learn about any bugs that may have been missed, or caused by the updates.

It’s important to update an app regularly, but not constantly. Finding this balance can take a little  practice, but then again, practice has always made perfect. For more information on mobile app development or how to update your applications successfully, visit NS804 today.

COVID Shows Every Restaurant Needs A Mobile App

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The Time Has Come: Every Restaurant Needs A Mobile App

COVID-19 changed a lot. Importantly, however, it also illuminated a lot. In other words, COVID-19 uncovered some truths. One of those truths is that restaurants need their own mobile app. While many industries struggled through the COVID-19 lockdowns, restaurants have been hit especially hard. With limitations on sit-down meals many restaurants aren’t even allowing sit-down customers. On the flip side of that, the mobile app industry is one of the very few that have thrived through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keep in mind that it’s far from over for the restaurant industry. A small hiccup in supply chains, and limitations on sit-down customers are merely roadblocks. While the restaurant and service industries might be in a small period of downturn, there’s always a path forward for the innovative, the brave, and the inventive. The restaurant industry is not dying. Rather, it’s shifting. Restaurants are now catering to curb-side-pick-up orders and delivery orders like they have never had to before. However, the environment dictates, to a certain degree, our operations, and the times have called for stronger remote service; even from restaurants. The way to provide this is through a custom app.

Developing A Mobile App For Your Restaurant

As a restaurant there are plenty of options outside of developing your own mobile app. For instance there are services like Ubereats and GrubHub. However, these 3rd party services cut into your profits from delivery and pick-up orders. Not only that, but with their umbrella-service business model, customers can become frustrated as they attempt to get updates about their order. The problems only get worse if something with the order is wrong. On top of that, with these services you don’t have dedicated drivers; meaning food can show up late and cold – reflecting poorly on your restaurant.

Those are just some of the reasons looking into developing your own mobile app for your restaurant is a wise business move. However, that doesn’t even begin to cover the major benefits that developing an app for your restaurant provides. Profit was mentioned briefly in the context that 3rd party delivery services cut into your profits from curb-side and delivery-services. The boost in profit is influenced by more than this factor alone though. By developing your own mobile app for the restaurant you’ve now created a tool to service all of your loyal customers directly.

This is beneficial not only to the restaurant, but for the customers as well. The custom app also provides your marketing team with a whole new platform they can leverage in marketing opportunities to encourage customer downloads. Additionally, this is great for struggling restaurants used to serving a full-house every weekend night. As we all work to maintain our own safety and the safety of others; it’s the simple truth that it is safer for some people to stay inside as much as possible. Developing a custom mobile app for your restaurant allows you to service this community without putting them at risk.

Even More Benefits

Improving the customer experience is the main focal point of nearly every business operating. The customer experience has become one of the vital elements to running a successful business, and therefore it makes sense that companies are emphasizing it so strongly. Developing a custom mobile app for your restaurant provides your company a platform capable of elevating your customer experience.

There is a myriad of ways that an app is capable of boosting your customer experience. For example, communication. Communication is integral to developing any relationship – especially the one with your customer. Having a mobile app specific for your restaurant provides you and your customers a direct channel to communicate. Beyond that, using a mobile app specific for your company means having a dedicated fleet of delivery drivers as well; ensuring that food arrives timely and piping hot. While it may sound expensive, the costs related to mobile app development are actually relatively low. The costs are far outgained by profits reaped in the first months after developing a custom mobile app.

Centralizing Management Through a Mobile App

There are other ways to make use of a mobile app in the restaurant industry as well. In addition to boosting profits, a mobile app can help you centralize your management of the restaurant. This includes making it easier to manage a limited amount of reservations and cancellations. Not only that, but it provides easier and more convenient ordering options for all of your customers.

Not only that, but you can even use a mobile app to launch a loyalty program for the customers who can’t get enough of your scrumptious food. All-in-all, developing an app for your restaurant makes you a more competitive restaurant amongst your peers. In a market place as fierce as it is today, any advantage helps.

A Recap on Restaurant Apps

There is a whole myriad of reasons to develop a custom mobile app as a restaurant. Rather than just listing your menu on a 3rd party service company like Ubereats or GrubHub, take control of your customer base by investing in a custom mobile app dedicated to your restaurant alone.

Eliminating 3rd party service-fees that eat into your profits, and replacing an undedicated fleet of drivers with a fleet that specifically services your restaurant will immediately boost profits. As well as the customer experience. On top of that, developing a custom mobile app makes ordering much more convenient for your customers. It also helps you manage pick-up, and delivery orders. All while making it easier to manage reservations.

Finally, beyond an increase in profits, and an uptick in the customer experience, developing a custom app is a strategic move for the future. As 2020 and the COVID-19 virus have shown us, the shift to a virtual age is already underway. Developing a mobile app for your restaurant doesn’t only help today. But it helps prepare you for success in the future as well. Providing a centralized place for your customers to reach you. To order from you, to cash in their loyalty points, and to even leave reviews.

There is really no reason to wait on developing an app for your restaurant. As more and more orders become curbside pickup and delivery, customers are looking for ways to support local restaurants while staying safe and staying inside.

Some Final Thoughts

Developing a mobile app for your restaurant helps centralize your activities, communicate with customers, and operate in a more virtual-world. It will give your customers a place to order and communicate with you, while also acting as a management tool for you and your staff. It’s a process, however, developing a mobile app that’s going to be just right for your restaurant, and your customers. For more information on development services, or how to build a mobile app, visit NS804 today.

NS804 is dedicated to delivering top-shelf knowledge and information on app development, mobile app development and trends in app design. Making mobile app development services more accessible to the everyday inventor with a great idea. Visit NS804 today to take the first step on the path toward developing your first app and turning your idea into a reality.

5 Tips for iOS & Android App Development

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Both iOS and Android have had an enormous impact on the business, entertainment, and tech sectors. And both platforms have been embraced by developers and users alike for over a decade. The good news is that the popularity of these platforms will unlikely diminish in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it’s still worthwhile pursuing app development and investing the necessary resources into applications that will excite users eager for new experiences.

1. The Latest Trends in App Development for 2021

 

Nobody can deny that 2020 was an eventful year, and much has happened in the app development space. Some of the latest trends in mobile app design include advanced animations, convenient voice search, robust aesthetic with rounded corners, and universal device UX. 

But in 2021, expect app developers to kick it up a notch with improved design and powerful features. Some of the niceties users should expect; bolder and more colorful visuals, data-oriented design, embossed typography, Face ID integration, hand-drawn illustrations with more natural-looking graphics, and virtual reality (VR). Make sure to take advantage of these trends for your upcoming app to impress and retain users. 

2. Supporting iOS and Android

 

In the second quarter of 2020, Apple led the US smartphone segment with a market share of 46%. Samsung came in at a close second with a 25% market share, with LG in third place at 12% and Lenovo Motorola at 7%. Generally, US consumers are satisfied with Apple’s and Samsung’s smartphone offerings. However, given Apple’s higher penetration in the US, you may want to focus on this platform initially to save on development costs if you’re targeting the American market exclusively.

But if you’re planning on releasing your app globally, then you’ll want to support Android. As of October 2020, Android has gained almost 73% of the global smartphone OS market. While it’s a compelling platform, it’s also incredibly fragmented. It’s challenging to offer all Android users the premium experience that they can get on Apple devices.

Unfortunately, most Android users don’t own powerful smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note20, which can provide a comparable experience to the latest iPhones. The hard truth is that the majority of Android devices in circulation are cheap and underpowered. Manufacturers such as Alcatel, Huawei, and Xiaomi regularly release budget mobile devices for the lower end markets. Today’s high-end apps experience performance issues on these phones due to their low memory and weaker CPUs

3. Leveraging Results on iOS

 

Make the most of Apple’s popular platform with these handy tips:

Integrate easy payment options – If you wish to sell products, services, or in-app purchases in your upcoming app, then you should make the payment process frictionless. Integrate Apple Pay and express checkout functionality to make life easier for your users.

Engage users regularly – Ensure that your app has push notifications to notify users about the latest products, promotions, and updates. Better yet, segment notifications to target your users more effectively. For example, you should send notifications to active users, inactive users, and subscribers to make your messaging more personalized. 

Gain and track app reviews – Your App Store Optimization (ASO) strategy will be a determining factor in the success or failure of your app. You’ll need to gain and track those vital appreneur system reviews from your users by implementing a Call-to-Action (CTA) and app review tracking API.

4. Leveraging Results on Android

 

Take your Android app development to the next level with these methods:

Utilize contactless payment options – Nowadays, many smartphone users enjoy the convenience of contactless payments. Integrate Google Pay and Samsung Pay into your upcoming app, and enable their respective Near Field Communication (NFC) features.

Implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) – With over 3 million apps in the Google Play store, it’s getting harder for new apps to stand out. But many successful and top-rated rated apps, such as Google Assistant and Swiftkey Keyboard, are renowned for their excellent AI.

Keep your app relevant – The Google Play algorithm doesn’t respond kindly to uninstalls and user churn. That’s why you should regularly send push notifications and emails to inactive users, encouraging them to try your app again after implementing features and optimizations that they want.

5. Finding the right partner for mobile app development

 

Developing an app that will find success on both platforms and showcase the latest trends in mobile app design is harder than it seems. However, you don’t have to go it alone if you find the right partner. Experienced developers such as NS804 can help you create an app that will cut through the noise.

Furthermore, we can craft an effective CTA that will convert users and gain those essential appreneur system reviews. We can also help out with nasty edge cases, such as dealing with an app rejection from Apple.

I Want To Build An App

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I Want To Build An App – Where To Start and the Process

Now is the time to take chances. With the world where it is, so many unemployed, and so much rapid change, there is also a lot of opportunity. Opportunity for new products, new services, and of course, new mobile applications. The mobile app market is one of the few markets that have faired well during the ongoing pandemic. With so many people staying at home, and so much limited contact with one another, mobile app downloads boomed. Across all genres and markets. From mobile app games, to business and communication applications. The market as a whole saw a significant growth. This is great news for budding developers, and first-time app designers, as the market is flush and full of opportunity. However, much like the gold rush, the competition is intense. To build an app today doesn’t take much time – but being unique and valuable enough is tricky.

As mentioned above, the mobile app market is flourishing. However, this means it’s also more saturated than ever before. This translates to a slightly harder path to being a successful application, only because the competition is so fierce. Therefore, making the details of your idea the most important aspect.

In mobile app development, there are a lot of steps to take, even for the simplest of applications. Making the process as easy as possible on the developer means coming to your pitch meeting prepared and armed with tools.

What To Prepare For Your Presentation

The road to mobile app development is a long one, but it all starts with the precious idea. That’s one of the beautiful things that mobile applications and art share; while almost anyone can learn the technique or the style, it’s truly the muse of inspiration that provides a path to unique remembrance or success.

To get the right eyes on your budding mobile app monalisa, you want to approach the developer with a series of information already laid out so you’re able to answer questions they might have.

One of the first things you need to know is what problem your application is solving, or what value it’s providing to the user. This is essentially your value proposition, and can encompass your differentiation statement as well – which is the aspect that makes your mobile app different from others.

Understanding your value proposition will inform what the MVP (minimum viable product) of your application will look like. Having a process plan for the development of the MVP is a great place to begin. To build that plan, it’s wise to divide the development process of your application into various stages. This will also be a good document to present to the developer as it will help them see the various pieces to the puzzle.

Finally, flowcharts on app-functions, visual mock-ups, and user stories are all great additional materials to include in your developer presentation.

A Final Thought

To build a mobile app takes a lot of work, and as the saying goes, the devil is in the details. It’s integral to differentiate your application from others on the market.

For more information on how to build an app or how to select a mobile app developer, visit NS804 today.

Boost Enterprise App Productivity With Offline Access

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Building a compelling enterprise app can be tricky. It should run well under a wide range of scenarios, even when Internet access isn’t a given. Nowadays, company employees require a seamless online and offline experience in their apps to retain a productive workflow. That’s why every good developer should rise to the occasion by creating applications that have useful offline modes. Below, we provide several pointers on how you should implement offline access for your upcoming app. 

1. Using An Enterprise App Anywhere

Developers go out of their way to support as many platforms as possible. Without a doubt, this is a smart move, as it maximizes the reach of their applications. Some users access apps via their desktops, while others prefer to use their mobile devices. But it doesn’t end there, as there’s a growing number of applications developed for the web.  

If you’re embarking on enterprise app development, then you’ll want to follow a multiplatform strategy. After all, a company’s employees utilize a plethora of devices during their day-to-day work. But it’s vital to take things a step further by allowing for offline access. There’s nothing worse than for employees to have their work interrupted while the Internet’s down or when encountering connectivity issues.

2. Offline Access Is A Necessity

Even if your app’s online features are indispensable, always have a backup plan for when Internet access is unavailable. Furthermore, design your app to function when the Internet’s slow or when users experience connectivity issues. 

Your enterprise app development strategy should encompass what apps company employees use throughout their day and how they use them. For example, some employees may need to make changes to data when offline. Developing the enterprise app with an offline-first design methodology means that it won’t need to access the backend server to implement these data changes.

Also, consider the many benefits that building an offline app brings to the table. Users prefer to retain apps on their mobile phones that have offline functionality. Offline apps load faster and use less battery than their online counterparts, which most millennials appreciate. Furthermore, users located in regions with slow or no access to the Internet can actually use your offline apps, giving you an edge over competitors that don’t have this feature.

3. Choosing Which Features To Offer Offline

During the enterprise app development process, you’ll need to prioritize certain features over others. And this is especially true when deciding what features must run consistently during your app’s offline mode. Making the correct design decisions can make or break your app, so choose wisely. Focus on mission-critical features essential to the smooth operation of the enterprise. Furthermore, study employee workflows carefully to determine what features serve them best.

If you’re developing e-commerce, file upload, money transfer, news, and on-demand delivery apps, then you should implement robust offline modes. When users lose Internet access, allow your apps to store mission-critical data offline. And when they gain access again, the apps will automatically complete or queue up all transactions and file transfers.

4. Handling A Push Notification App With Offline Use

When mobile users are offline, they won’t receive your push notifications. And this is unfortunate, as these notifications can help retain your existing app users. That’s why you’ll need to develop your push notification app with offline use in mind. Utilize a versatile analytics platform, such as Kumalos, which allows you to analyze how users engage with your app. By studying user data, you can carefully craft and schedule your push notifications so that they’re engaging and meaningful.

Alternatively, save user device information and whether or not they’re online in a server-side database. Detect when users get back online and run an automated request on your server to deliver the relevant push notifications they missed while offline.

5. Reduce Enterprise App Frustrations

Users expect apps to run flawlessly, especially in an enterprise environment. While they can put up with the odd bug that will be fixed in the next update, they don’t like dealing with apps that break entirely or slow them down. Don’t allow company employees to miss important deadlines because your app can’t perform specific tasks offline. 

Communicate what features users can access while offline through the User Interface (UI). Moreover, make it easy for users to quickly see what functionality they have available without breaking their workflow. Apart from updates, ensure that your push notification app delivers the latest notifications that users missed out on earlier.

6. Decide How Much Users Can Store Locally

Nowadays, most smartphones come with a generous amount of storage space. But this doesn’t mean that all that space is available for your enterprise app development projects. Most users store documents, music, and videos that eat up much of their smartphones’ available storage. 

When building your upcoming app with offline functionality, ensure that you only store essential data locally. If you’re developing an e-commerce app, store the most popular products offline for users to peruse. And if you’re creating a money transfer app, keep details of the recipient on the phone until completion of the transaction.

7. Saving The Current State When Suddenly Going Offline

Internet outages often happen when you least expect them. So make sure that your enterprise app saves the current state during such a scenario. Implement a dynamic or static cache, or even both, depending on the type of data your app handles. Data that’s updated regularly is stored in the dynamic cache, while data that doesn’t change often gets stored in the static cache.

Many apps utilize real-time data synchronization, which works well when online but not ideal when offline. However, there are workarounds, such as implementing modern synchronization protocols that facilitate specific data updates during offline mode. Do keep in mind that data synchronization comes with its own set of challenges. Too much syncing will drain a device’s battery quickly, whereas too little syncing increases the risk of losing data and missing important updates.

8. Create A Seamless Online And Offline Enterprise App Experience

Take a look at some of the best and most-used apps, and ask yourself what they have in common? Whether it’s Google Maps, Netflix, or Spotify, all these applications provide users with excellent offline modes. Users feel confident using these apps because they offer a stable and seamless experience both online and offline.

Focus your efforts on unifying both the online and offline aspects of your app. And don’t skimp on the User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX) either, as you’ll need a consistent look and feel for its entirety. Your users should never feel like they’re using a completely different application when they go offline. Instead, they should enjoy using your app both online and offline regularly.

Final Thoughts

Several of the most successful and widely-used applications function flawlessly when online and offline. While there are many challenges in developing apps that provide a seamless experience, it’s worth the effort to meet and surpass user expectations. Contact us today to find out how NS804 can help you develop engaging apps with powerful offline features.

4 Valuable Business Lessons To Take From COVID

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One lesson that 2020 has taught us is that remote teams have never been more vital for enterprises. With the emergence of the COVID pandemic, many business leaders had to embrace strategies they hadn’t considered before. It was time to make rapid and radical changes to respond to the “new normal.” Worldwide lockdowns combined with a volatile political climate and civil disorder have defined the year. Inevitably, these events have transformed the world and the business environment forever.

Many organizations expanded their remote teams by moving their existing office staff into remote work positions. And while there’s always the possibility that staff will slack off when working from home, technology alleviates this problem. By implementing a work from home mobile app, it’s easy to keep track of assigned tasks that staff members must complete. Below, we share several business lessons that should prove valuable moving forward.

1. Remote Teams Can Be Just As Efficient

 

Traditional organizations with rigid top-down hierarchies aren’t usually enthusiastic about remote work initiatives. Unfortunately, they believe that their staff can’t be productive if they don’t come into the office. But with the emergence of agile environments and flat organizational structures, remote teams have become indispensable.

And these teams can be just as efficient as office workers with the right strategies. By clearly defining guidelines regarding etiquette and work processes, reducing the duration of online meetings, and utilizing the right applications for specific team functions, it’s possible to empower remote teams so that they surpass expectations.

2. Use Mobile Apps To Stay In Contact With Customers

 

Most of your customers own smartphones, which opens up many communication and outreach opportunities. And these customers are accustomed to downloading mobile apps from their favorite companies. They enjoy purchasing goods and services, receiving customized deals, and giving feedback through these apps. However, consider the latest trends in mobile app design to keep customers engaged. It’s important to give them the control they crave to increase user retention.

3. Businesses Need A Work From Home Mobile App

 

Remote workers need the right infrastructure to perform at their best. They require applications, such as cloud storage services, project management systems, team collaboration tools, time management trackers, and video conferencing apps, to name a few. However, consider developing a work from home mobile app that delivers unique functionality unavailable in existing solutions. However, don’t skimp on the User Interface & User Experience (UI/UX), as these increase user retention and satisfaction.

4. Prepare Flexible Business Models For All Scenarios

 

It’s no secret that 2020 has been incredibly tough on businesses throughout the world. But the smartest organizations have prepared flexible business models to deal with an unpredictable business climate.

Consider the Parisian restaurateur that feels like the walls are closing in on his business. The constant lockdowns have made him question his future prospects. Does he continue to stay open, shut down, or go on a temporal holiday? Or does he repurpose his restaurant for takeaways while marketing through digital channels? The latter option may save his business and make it even more prosperous than before. But he wouldn’t have been able to consider this option without deliberating all possible scenarios. 

In Conclusion

 

The COVID pandemic has transformed our world and made us question the way we do business. Organizations, large and small, have had to embrace rapid digitalization to weather the storm. Contact us today to learn how NS804 can implement the latest trends in mobile app design for your upcoming application.

Must Know Mobile App Design Trends For 2021

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Every appreneur needs to embrace the latest trends in mobile app design to stay ahead of the curve. Technology always brings about exciting developments that set the tone for the coming years. If we study the mobile app design trends for 2020, we concur that mobile apps have matured and become refined. However 2021 promises a lot more than just refinement, as we’ll reveal below.

1. Latest Trends In Mobile App Design

 

With the year coming to an end, we’ll quickly go over the mobile app design trends for 2020. Even though it was a tumultuous year, technology continued its evolutionary path. We all had the opportunity to enjoy advanced animations, convenient voice search, enhanced aesthetics, personalized dashboards, and universal device UX in our mobile apps. So, it wasn’t an entirely terrible year for either developers or users.

But what mobile app industry trends do we have to look forward to in 2021? We can expect further improvements in aesthetics and UX design, with better layering and use of art assets. But beyond the enhanced visual elements, mobile app technology will take another leap forward. 

Further AI integration, adoption of mobile commerce, growth of 5G, improved security, marketing via instant apps, and more cloud-based storage options will define app development in the coming year. Furthermore, the number of target platforms will grow due to the gradual adoption of foldable and wearable devices. While the mobile app design trends for 2020 proved beneficial, we’re incredibly excited about what 2021 brings forth.

2. Incorporate AI Into Apps

 

AI has become commonplace in many mobile applications in recent years. But like all good mobile app industry trends, we can expect further adoption of AI in 2021. And there’s a good reason for this, considering that AI enhances a wide variety of useful applications. 

Think about the apps that make your life easier and how they automate mundane tasks. Whether it’s autocorrecting your text, becoming your digital assistant, or sorting large data sets, AI has become an integral component. Be sure to incorporate AI into your upcoming apps to provide users with the functionality they crave.

Furthermore, you can enhance existing features with AI. For example, you can improve an app’s UI with the addition of conversational AI, which notifies users about new products and services based on their behavioral patterns via the UI.

3. Consider The Growing 5G Trend

 

We’re right on the cusp of the wide adoption of the fifth generation of cellular technology (5G). And it’s quite a big deal because it will radically transform all industries on a global scale. From the communications industry through to the farming sector, 5G will help solve many real-world problems. 

But what does this mean for mobile users and developers? 

Users can download high definition movies at rapid speeds and stream immersive gaming content that would only run on powerful devices. Undoubtedly, this presents opportunities for developers to create more engaging applications than ever before. Developers can now deliver compelling AR, VR, and XR experiences without worrying about network bottlenecks.

4. The Rise Of M-Commerce

 

It’s no secret that e-commerce has changed consumer purchasing habits forever. But it won’t end there. Many mobile users realize that they can enjoy the benefits of online shopping directly on their smartphones. And the statistics from the US market show a lot of promise about the future of mobile commerce.

According to Episerver, 53% of US consumers use their smartphones to shop online. And according to Statista, almost half of consumers prefer to conduct product research via mobile retail apps, while Emarketer expects US mobile commerce sales to reach $432.22 by 2022. Savvy developers should implement the latest trends in mobile app design for their upcoming m-commerce solutions.

5. Increased Interest In Folding Devices And Apps

 

The recent releases of the Microsoft Surface Duo, Moto Razr, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip have certainly raised eyebrows. These devices offer their unique take on the much desired folding capability, which enhances mobility and versatility. 

Developers have started optimizing their existing mobile apps to take advantage of these foldable screens. But many users will probably delay buying folding smartphones until they’re cheaper, slimmer, and more durable. However, we should expect improvements in 2021 that will entice users to make the jump. 

6. More Cloud-Based Storage

 

One of the most common mobile app industry trends involves cloud-based storage. While cloud storage is hardly new, this doesn’t mean that it won’t be relevant in 2021. Developers will continue to rely on the cloud to sync and store data for their mobile applications. Moreover, users enjoy the convenience of cloud storage, which allows them to use the same apps on various devices without losing their work once they switch to another device or run out of power.

7. Improved App Security

 

With an ever-growing number of users relying on banking and m-commerce apps, it’s essential to improve app security. And with the increased frequency of data breaches, users have become more discerning about what apps they’ll download. That’s why developers need to implement cryptography, encrypt their source code, perform security checks, reduce sensitive data storage, and secure the backend to mitigate security issues.

8. Marketing With Instant Apps

 

Android Instant Apps have increased in popularity because they allow users to try out apps without downloading them. All a user has to do is click on a web link on Google Search to open an Instant App. Furthermore, users can conveniently share pages from an Instant App via social media, which opens a ton of marketing opportunities. 

Businesses operating in competitive markets can leverage Instant Apps to sell products and services due to their seamless nature. Apple’s iOS 14 introduces App Clips, which offers similar functionality to Android’s Instant Apps.

9. Designing For Wearables

 

When considering the latest trends in mobile app design, we can’t help but think of wearables. Nowadays, many people wear smartwatches such as the Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Samsung Galaxy Watch, to name a few. Even traditional watchmakers such as Fossil have introduced their own range of smartphones. And while Apple leads this market segment, we can expect Android smartphones to grow in popularity during 2021.

These wearable devices present many opportunities for developers to engage users in unique ways. After all, these users choose wearables because they like to stay connected while exercising, running, and swimming. They want to receive calls, messages, and social media notifications, even when they don’t have their smartphones nearby. Thus, developers should add functionality that facilitates ongoing communication for smartwatch owners in their upcoming apps.

In Conclusion

Mobile app industry trends present new opportunities and challenges for developers. 2021 promises to bring a plethora of exciting trends that we’ve covered in detail above. Contact us today to learn how NS804 can help you create mobile apps that engage and enthrall users.