The Android App Store hosts over 3.8 million apps and remains the most extensive application repository online.
If you are in business, you may be considering developing a mobile app to support your marketing strategy and users. If so, you need to know about the different types of mobile apps you could create. Keep reading to learn about what options are available and what may be the best solution for your business.
Native Apps
Native apps are designed specifically for one platform and no other. For example, a native business application designed to be used only on iPhones or Android. They will run on one type of operating system but not the other.
This may seem quite limiting, but actually, it streamlines the mobile app development and allows you to design for a particular device. You can make sure the app works flawlessly on this device and be confident that your users will get the experience you created for them. In this way, you can tap into the features that only that OS has and leverage them for your app.
Of course, if you design native apps, you will need to build more than one to ensure you get coverage on all the devices, making this the more costly option for mobile app development. An excellent example of a native app is WhatsApp, the popular messaging service now owned by Facebook. You can download the app for iPhone, Android, Windows devices, and some tablet operating systems.
When building a mobile app, you will need to plan if you want to develop a native app to ensure that you get the correct application for the suitable device. If you outsource the app development to a professional development firm, such as Software Technology Group, they will be able to advise you of the best steps to take.
Web Apps
Web applications are designed for use on a web browser only. They do not require any downloading of standalone applications and can only be accessed via browsers such as Chrome, IE, or Safari.
They are quicker and easier to deploy than a fully native mobile app, but web apps often behave differently from device to device and on different browsers. You can not control the user experience, which may vary widely and cause some frustrations.
Their functionality can be pretty limited as they can only do what the browser is capable of performing. They are also limited in what they can access on a user’s phone, such as contacts and push alerts. They are quick and cheaper to deploy but cost you your user experience.
Hybrid Apps
These applications blend both worlds, often presenting a mobile web app in a native platform-locked shell. They remove some of the limitations on web apps by giving them access to more of the phone’s features and functions. They also allow for more application functionality as a web browser does not limit them.
Hybrid apps help businesses that can not afford the cost of a native app development bridge the gap between web apps and OS-specific apps. They can be launched cross-platform more efficiently and with fewer costs allowing you to reach a larger user base.
Learn about the Different Types of Mobile Apps
Hopefully, this article has given you a window into app development and the many three main types of mobile apps you may want to launch for your business. Be sure to speak to a professional app developer about the following steps and which kinds of mobile apps may be the best for you.
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