Mobile Applications
Purpose
A mobile application or a mobile app is crafted to run on a mobile device that can be a tablet computer or a smartphone. Moreover, the apps are like small software units with limited functionality to offer the best user experience and services.
Mobile applications increase the visibility and encourage customer loyalty.
They act as a direct marketing channel by setting up predetermined information. For example, push notifications help remind customers about the services and offers of your business. It is also a direct sales point where customers can make purchases at their convenience while on the move. The application could also cater to customer service requirements for any complaints or feedback which may require an immediate response.
Lastly, mobile applications increases the accessibility as they provide greater exposure to different mobile devices at a given time frame.
Application Store
At present there are approximately 2.8 million apps on Google Play Store and 1.9 million apps on the Apple App Store.
On a daily average, 49% of users open an application over 11 times during the day whilst 25% of users open an application up to 20 times.
A smartphone owner typically uses around 30 applications every month and 10 apps per day.
Productivity Apps
Productivity apps include e-learning platforms that assist the user to gain new knowledge and skills, for instance, language learning.
Education based gaming apps are increasingly popular tools utilized by both children and adults alike.
Lifestyle Apps
Lifestyle apps are a diverse category encompassing several aspects of a user's daily activities such as news, fashion, shopping, cooking, workouts and even dating.
These apps are designed to accelerate or support the individual facets that define a user's lifestyle. When developing a lifestyle app it is important to wow the user with something your competitors don’t do, making it essential to the user.
Gaming Apps
Gaming apps are the most popular type of application. By 2016, top mobile games were earning over US$ 100 million a year, and the total revenue for the mobile games sector had surpassed that of other video game areas.
Ownership of a smartphone alone increases the likelihood that a consumer will play mobile games. Over 90% of smartphone users play a mobile game at least once a week.
Many mobile games are distributed free to the end user, but carry paid advertising - this "freemium" model, where the base game is free but additional items for the game are available to purchase separately.
Travel Apps
Travel apps are a great source of information when going on an adventure. They also could potentially save the user money during the planning stage of a trip.
Travel apps assist from scheduling & booking flights, accommodation, meals and activities along with how to get there. Recommendations will be made according to the user's respective budget.
Utility Apps
Users spend the least amount of time on utility apps as they are designed to provide concise and rapid factual information to them.
Examples include health trackers, QR/barcode scanners and weather applications.
