What Is The Future Of Mobile App Development?
In 1993, the first commercially available mobile phone with a touchscreen and apps made its debut. IBS’s Simon could be considered the first smartphone. The world was on the cusp of a transformation.
Simon was intended as an assistant for people to become “totally computer functional” without having to race back to the office. Simon didn’t have any internet browsers but, thank god, it could send faxes. Simon came pre-loaded with apps, including a calculator, calendar, email, and to-do list builder, among other functions you can nostalgically browse in its user manual.
We’ve come a long way since the early 90s when just 12 million people had mobile phone subscriptions (that’s only 2.4 per 1,000 people). Today there are 3.5 billion smartphone users. Apps are slowly making their way into every corner of people’s lives as a more efficient, creative, exciting way to consume information and improve quality of life. It’s hard to imagine life without social media, email and calendar apps, gym and fitness apps, messenger and video call calls; the list goes on.
With technology like AR Portal bending reality and the Internet of Things on our doorstep, the exciting technological future we’ve always imagined is fast becoming reality. So what is the future of mobile app development? Here are some developments to look out for.
5G opens the door to a digitally driven world.
5G is the foundation on which so much of our modern-day app use relies. One hundred times faster than its predecessor, 4G, 5G allows its users to connect and transfer information at significantly higher volumes and speeds.
5G is set to change how people use mobile apps because of this reduced latency and improved data-sharing speed. Higher-resolution video, no buffering, massive data sharing and transfer, and faster download speeds all contribute to an entirely new digital world. 5G is paving the way for multi-user enterprise networks and digital ecosystems which use the Internet of Things, wearables, and mobile apps. It’s the platform that will facilitate all the further ideas we’ll discuss in this article.
AR and VR mobile app development for life, not just gaming.
AR and VR mobile app revenue is valued to reach £265 billion in 2024 with no sign of slowing down. Most peoples’ first memory of AR in the mainstream was Pokemon Go in 2016 which led some to spend more time outside than they had in recent years as they searched for Pokemon hidden in the real world via the Pokemon Go app.
But Augmented and Virtual reality goes much further than gaming. Companies are seeking ways to achieve even greater remote connectivity in a post-Covid world where working from home is much more accepted than before. Since 2021 the Metaverse has been steadily offering more functionality for remote workers to use headsets to step into virtual boardrooms or smartglasses that use augmented reality to bring objects into the room with them.
Virtual reality mobile app development and augmented reality mobile app development will pave the way for greater connectivity and more immersive experiences in all areas of life, from recruitment to real estate, healthcare, and education.
AI works hand-in-hand with human intelligence.
Machine learning and AI have made it possible for brands to collect invaluable data on past user behaviour, use highly granular predictive analysis, and automate targeted marketing to optimise ROI. These are just some of the fascinating ways even start-up businesses can leverage AI.
Enhanced security will feature heavily in the future of mobile app development across all kinds of industries from the perspective of AI. Biometric markers can improve security for financial businesses, helping to reduce fraud and protect sensitive data. Wearable devices will make payments even easier, and the potential for vitals monitoring in healthcare and nursing could be life-changing, where devices can learn and monitor unique individuals for irregularities.
Another fascinating area of artificial intelligence is second language learning, from essential connectivity like language learning in schools or self-taught languages for work to helping solo travellers feel safer and more confident exploring new countries. AI learning can help students go at their own pace and gain a true grasp of pronunciation and intonation.
The Internet of Things populates our homes.
Since the rise of mobile apps, we’ve grown accustomed to digesting information in various ways well outside the confines of the standard website format. The Internet of Things breaks the mould completely, offering the interactive functionality and interconnectivity of digitally-embedded hardware wherever possible.
Fridges, cars, lighting, lock systems—the Internet of Things (IoT) exists wherever there’s a function that can be integrated into an app to make life easier. The potential for the IoT is limitless, and as expectations increase and demand grows for mobile app development in 2023 and beyond, we can expect to see a lot more of what once seemed like science fiction.
Do you want to be a part of the future of mobile app development? Start with a discovery session with us to find out how. Take a look at some of our guides to help you get the most out of a mobile app development project.
