Finding a perfect mobile app development partner is a cumbersome job given that the landscape of IT companies is infused with numerous companies claiming to offer value for money. However, believing that all of them will bring your vision into reality by delivering the expected quality would be too much of a fantasy. It is important to probe into what all they can offer and whether or not you can entrust them with mobile app project responsibilities.

hire mobile app developers

To make sure you have made pact with a right solution provider, you must know what questions to ask developers before taking a final plunge. Based on answers, you can develop transparent understanding of their expertise, specialization, professionalism and capabilities. To make it worthwhile, here are the most critical questions you should be asking before hiring an app developer:

1) Can I check a few finest examples of mobile apps you have built?

This is the most fundamental question that must strike your mind before you finalize a deal with a mobile app development company. You can solicit a set of mobile apps that might be exhibited on their online website as case studies. The portfolio is an undeniable testament to substantial experience in the respective domain.

If the company has done something in the past, they will be gladly share a few finest examples of the kind of app they have built earlier. Studying them will help you determine ROI you may get out of the deal.

In case, the prospective agency hesitates or does not have testimonials to show, you can quit going further. If they do have impressive achievements to flaunt along with positive ratings and reviews from other clients or in the App store, you have got something to rely on.

2) Do you understand our business model?

Another vital consideration before hiring mobile app developers is asking if they have some insight into what your business revolves around. The company you have approached should be aware of your business model and its target audience in order to build the app with a design and features that actually appeal to users.

Failing to create an app that does not align with your business strategy and customer requirements will not be a good omen. This is why you should emphasize hiring developers who have worked for clients in relevant niche.

Relevant experience means they understand the type of business and have complete grip on what your customers seek. Talk to the agency about your customers, vision and expected results in order to build strong architecture of UX.

3) Can you list a few clients who share the same business industry as mine?

Appfutura, Clutch, Good firms are a few great business listing portals where top companies are listed for their capabilities, success and power to transform their clients’ businesses. You can alternatively ask the agency to share some clients they have worked with so that you can tell if they can do it for you, too.

The answer to this important question will lead you to gaining an honest look into the actual performance of the agency for similar apps. Apart from that, as you talk to their past clients, you will be able to get the realistic feedback on agency’s development methods, deadlines and pressure management and communication power.

4) What is your team strength and overall capability?

The app development process is dynamic and contains a lot many components. For instance, when prototype changes, the key features also need to changed or improved. This requires a flexible development system with dedicated professionals ready for the massive commitment. The company must provide dedicated manpower who are extensively available to implement changes in their everyday strategy.

To evaluate their team strength and capability, you must investigate what all ongoing projects they have and whether there will be a couple of developers reserved exclusively for your job. A vague response to this approach might influence your decision to hire them for the project.

5) How do you usually approach App Development Process?

Speak a realistic language with an intent to seek a reliable promise from the agency while you ask them to tell you about their development methods and how they operate in critical situations. You must learn the time they take for similar mobile apps and the way they tackle suddenly arrived problems during the phase.

Agile methodology is much preferred nowadays. The knowledge about these things will keep you alert and informed about company’s practical responses in the face of sudden challenges. Always demand agile process of development as it enhances project completion efficiency and ensures speedy delivery of MVP.

6) Tell me about the skill level of your app developers

The agency’s developers should be skilled enough to deliver features and functionality within the app. To build a powerful, smooth structure of app’s backend, developers should be keen on telling you how they would approach it. They would tell you what frameworks and tools are needed to sculpt it to perfection. Ask them to mention similar apps with same features and functionality.

When it comes testing skills of app developers, look for:

  • Personal bio with professional details of work history, education and hobbies
  • Resume
  • Contact information of developers
  • Portfolio highlights with past projects
  • Social media profiles
  • Project-specific skillset
  • Awards and accolades
  • Github links of documentation

7) What all technology services you offer? Are you versatile or have proven specialization?

To avoid controversy later, it is imperative to know if the agency offers entire package of services including Beta testing, Quality Assurance and even launch.

Getting a complete array of services in one pact would lead to confident, hassle-free fruition of the project. Inquire for the following services offered by the agency:

  • Conceptualization
  • UI/UX design creation
  • App Development
  • ROI analysis
  • QA testing
  • Launch and App store optimization
  • Post-launch marketing and maintenance

You need a solid, robust confirmation on this question failing which you might get ripped off. To make sure your mobile app is in the right hands, the agency should:

  • Provide flexible conditions with no rigid outline of limiting the project to fixed resolutions
  • Be open to fluid and agile development process
  • Possess versatile knowledge about technologies and specializations
  • Be clear about upfront charges and hidden fees
  • Offer sustainable time frame

8) What design practices and approach you have for app development?

Ask the agency about their precise approach and practices they adopt for delivering memorable user experience along with stunning features. Without a splendid interface design quality and UX, your app will fail to connect with users. When the apps are designed for popular native platforms like iOS and Android, the design must be unique and superior. App stores also recognize mobile apps with outstanding UX elements and aesthetic appeal. A good mobile app development company will never compromise on design factor.

9) What services you offer after the app launch?

App store optimization is the blazing need of the moment for a finished app to be apparently visible in an app store. To get success in making the app discoverable for users, you need to follow a tedious, grueling path. A good agency knows and often offers the ways of app submission to get it featured in the marketplace.

App release strategy also forms a good part of app marketing. Hire an agency that has mastered launching the app successfully for previous clients and gets actively involved in constant monitoring of app’s performance and user engagement after publishing it. Placing the app in the marketplace is still a job half done. Your app still requires a watch periodically for

  • Regular maintenance
  • Bug detection and fixes
  • Monetization
  • Fresh updates with new features and content

Constant maintenance and updates make sure your app remains on top of user preferences and keeps engaging them for a long time. Ask your agency for clear hourly rates or fixed fees for regular support and maintenance.

Conclusion:

The sensible investment of time, efforts and resources is a critical driver of flawless mobile app development process. The questions described above are key to making a right and clever decision for choosing a prospective app development agency you will never regret later. Of course, in addition to cost and time, there is a lot more to consider when it comes judging the talent and capabilities of mobile app developers.

Always emphasize on getting familiar with their technical know how, communication skills, work history, professional attitude, development methods and accountability towards the project. Also check for code ownership rights after the app is developed. Asking these details puts you in a safe spot.

It is no wonder that mobile app market is on fire lately. A study of Smart Insights says that over 90 percent of the people who spent time on mobile devices was actually spent on mobile applications. Mobile apps have come a long way over the past decade and now they have begun to influence the growth of the IoT as well.

As a matter of fact, mobile applications have been acting as a connecting bridge between next-gen thinking enterprises which are trying to bring much smarter devices that can improve every aspect of our lives and customers.

As a result, not only could we say that mobile apps have successfully laid the foundation for the rise of Internet of Things (IoT), but also that IoT and mobile applications go hand in hand.

Considering this great shift, mobile application developers found their score making some effective changes to the mobile app development.

But how did mobile apps help IoT rise?

As of now, mobile applications are utilized as end gamers that are used to do or perform a particular task such as streaming music, playing games, messaging apps, etc. But the thing is that the mobile applications can do much more than just being the end gamers such as serving as gateways.

In general, IoT is much simpler in terms of architecture when compared to smartphones and hence they would require an endpoint in order to send data.

Ultimately, these endpoints are allowed to monitor events such as the temperature in the different rooms before they transmit the data to services so that it can be utilized to analyze trends. As a perfect instance of the above-mentioned type of IoT and mobile application integration is a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat.

Now, in this case, the mobile application is the remote which has complete control over the device while thermostat being the IoT endpoint.

Impact of IoT on mobile application development

In a way, IoT has transformed the face of mobile applications, and to accomplish the goal of making everyone’s life simpler, mobile app developers should first go through the pain of building a flexible infrastructure and platform. In fact, building mobile applications is pretty much similar to building a web application using conventional software development.

Nevertheless, there will be one vital differentiating factor which mobile applications can take advantage of creative features which a smartphone could provide. For example, gaming applications could take leverage of iPhone’s accelerometer.

As Internet of Things continues to grow, the concept of smart appliances, smart homes, smart cities, etc. would come more into existence. In such an environment, smartphones function as the main interface via which users will be able to interact with IoT-enabled gadgets. In the current state, smartphones already have efficient sensors and apps which provide excellent info related to users.

Apart from this, smartphones are also capable of tracking the condition if light, the orientation of gadget, and many other things. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. are some of the variety of functions that enable the devices to interact with the other sensors and devices.

A mobile phone can communicate with fitness equipment and smartwatch to improve the user experience. In the same way, Internet of Things let operate the office system remotely and allow you keep an eye on your office from anywhere.

In short, IoT has developed an immense market demand for the development of applications for them. The same connectivity let the best app developers cooperate with each other easier than ever before.

Industries that are benefiting from IoT app development

When it comes to IoT app development, not just one or two, there are various industries that are truly getting benefited from IoT app development as mobile app developers are trying to make use of IoT solutions in very domain and field.

Healthcare

We can see a hell of a lot of difference in the healthcare industry after it has been subjected to the creative IoT solutions. With the execution of IoT in healthcare applications, people have become more health conscious than before and are keeping a track of their health in much easier ways.

“87 percent of healthcare organizations are planning to adopt IoT technology by the year 2019.” Healthcarenews.com

Read also :Top IoT App Development Tools 2018

The foremost objective of implementing IoT technology solutions in the healthcare system is to make it easier for the users to monitor their health. Right from personal healthcare to facilities in the healthcare buildings, it includes all sorts of elements.

Users can easily track their daily routine such as a number of miles walked, diet plan, etc. and on the other side, healthcare organizations can store this info of the patients in these applications for future references.

Energy

An average American spends nearly 3 hours on their smartphone every day. With IoT technology, app developers are able to generate better customer engagement in their applications.

By utilizing applications which support IoT, users can literally manage their smart appliances at home such as Air conditioner, refrigerator, etc by sitting somewhere far away.

There will be more than 1.5 billion devices managed by utility companies by the year 2020.

Retail

As far as logistics and transportation are concerned, IoT offers better assistance by providing exact location tracking so that the customers can easily track their orders in the application right from the moment of shipping to the successful delivery.

One fine instance of this sort of app of IoT in the retail industry is Amazon Go. It is a tech-based shopping store by Amazon.

Almost 87 percent of retail owners will deploy MPOS (Mobile point-of-sales) devices by the year 2021 allowing them to scan and accept payments through debit or credit cards anywhere in the store — Retail Vision Study

Are you ready for the change?

Mobile applications and Internet of Things will be going on the same track and in case you haven’t given any thoughts on the influence of IoT on mobile application development then let me tell you that you will certainly lag behind. This whole idea of smart devices thrives more on the idea of IoT more evolves where smartphones will be functioning as the main interface to communicate with IoT enabled devices.

Internet of Things could add an excellent value to our lives. Right now, there are various open source platforms that are providing helpful tools to build IoT-friendly applications and this contributes a lot to the growth of IoT environment.

With the consistent development in Internet of Things, mobile applications are stepping toward a better, smart, and well-connected world. It’s time for app developers to develop IoT-based applications where data will be transmitted by objects via sensors and received by the mobile application in real time.

Closing thoughts

For sure, we can say that IoT is a huge breakthrough in the app development field. The growth of IoT-enabled devices will have a great impact on the way we look at them. Currently, data security, computing performance, power consumption, etc. are some of the major areas of concern.

No doubt that IoT will open more opportunities for mobile application developers. Nevertheless, the change and growth are quite challenging and exhilarating at the same time.

These days the sphere of education is greatly transformed by the welcoming changes driven by smart phone technology. Byju’s success in India has disrupted the educational process, making us consider the power of innovative, more progressive m-learning solutions real life.

E-learning App Cost

By making the learning process more interactive, engaging and addictive, Byju’s has surprisingly emerged as India’s top online coaching and school education system. The mobile app offers comprehensive standard of learning with much ease, simplicity and effectiveness.  The app already has 8 million users and thousands of paid subscribers with unbelievable user retention rate.

If you are willing to build such a high-quality, admirable and rich mobile app of Byju’s standard, we will help you reach the estimate for developing such app. Here we are going to reveal how much t possibly costs to develop a trendsetting e-learning app like Byju’s. First, let’s gather more about how Byju’s came about and why it is so glorious an app.

Outstanding Facts and Traits of Byju’s App

Founded in 2008, Byju’s is a subsidiary brand of Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd and offers interactive, comprehensive and highly absorbable coaching classes for variety of examinations such as GMAT, CAT, GRE, Civil services and Grade school education from 4 to 12. Byju’s has its offices in 8 cities across India.

Being a remarkable creator of world-class sophisticated education system, Byju’s has won the prestigious Crisil Emerging India, and Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards. Due to its unusual online education capability, Byju’s is funded by the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, and big investment firms such as Aarin Capital, and Sequoia Venture Capital India.

With 8 million users addicted to learning with the app, Byju’s makes learning times more interactive, effective and classroom-like. Available for iOS, Windows, Android and BlackBerry platforms, the compelling trendsetter Byju’s has inspired hundreds of entrepreneurs to positively consider developing such astonishing mobile-oriented digital learning apps.

Byju’s has its major focus on two leading subjects: Mathematics and science. Students developed their subject knowledge from visual explanation of various concepts delivered using modern digital animations and illustrations.

Byju has so far received great response and immense appreciation from parents who can analyze and monitor the students’ performance in learning activities and tests via Class Mentor app (which is at top rank in Apple’s App Store). Byju’s has reportedly helped improve children’s academic performance to a significant extent.

Core Features From User’s Side

  • Easy registration/login with minimal steps using email ID, social media or mobile-driven OTP
  • Video testimonials for lessons on general knowledge, mathematics visualization, current affair, science and more
  • Interactive live classes for high-school pupils on competitive public exam preparation like JEE, UPSC, AIPMT, CAT & IAS
  • Flexible subscription options to select the interesting courses
  • Frequent weekly/monthly tests to strengthen memory and use of latest technologies, history etc.
  • Knowledge sharing capabilities and FAQs
  • In-app chat window to get instant answers for course-related fees and subject-specific queries, etc
  • Social sharing options to make your score known to other learners

Admin Panel

  • User data management
  • User analytics and monitoring
  • Crash report analysis
  • Intercom support
  • Report sharing

Other Distinctive Features

  • Third party SDK for payments integration
  • Geolocation
  • In-app camera
  • Data sync
  • Push notification
  • Parental interaction
  • Discounts/vouchers

Factors Critical To Development Cost

Before building a strategy about technology used and components needed, the first thing to mull over would be doing the heavy guesswork on how much budget one needs to allocate for project accomplishment. Developing a full-fledge learning app like Byju’s requires a lot of consideration that eventually leads to close cost estimation. The overall development cost of Byju’s-like m-learning app is often determined by the following critical parameters without which it is unfeasible to move ahead:

App Operating Platforms

With a thought of appealing to broad user audience, you may consider building the app like Byju’s for both Android and iOS platforms. However, if you want to attempt to deliver an MVP of the app, it might be a good idea to test the success on iOS platform since iOS offers less number of devices to test the app on unlike Android platform. Also, iOS development tools offer more refined and sophisticated approach for the app development.

App Design

Since online learning apps like Byju’s must offer an interactive and user-friendly design, the UI/UX design is of great value in the m-learning app development process. Learners are going to leverage its power for extensive sessions. Hence, better the design, greater will be the engagement and attention from students. Honestly, having a good design that captures user interest will levy some cost though it will leave you with handsome returns.

Libraries and Tools

The type of technology and tools developers use can also contribute to defining the cost to an extent. While developing, some libraries offer open-source components and tools whereas others are paid with subscription charges. The e-learning mobile app development company you choose can consult with you for more accurate details on this factor.

App Features & Functionalities

The total app size will depend on the number of features and functionalities built in the app. It can be video lessons, ebook testimonials, chat function or payment facilities. What you choose as its main features or additional premium elements may add to development cost. For instance, if you wish to integrate an in-app wallet to ease payment challenges and improve CX, it will charge you more.

To confine the initial cost and investment, you can build limited core features for its first release.

App Developers or Development Company

The cost of developing an app like Byju’s also depends on the geographic location, conditions and experience level of the app development company. If developers you work with are truly versed in the game, you are sure to get a high-quality app but at a little higher price.

Post-Development Services

There are certain app development firms that offer the mature, complete package of services including post-development maintenance, updates as well as marketing. Hence, if you find the proposal pricey, you may ask your technology service provider if they also offer any or all of these post-development services.

Conclusion

Based on the features and functionalities described above, the basic replica of Byju’s educational app can be prepared for about $25000 if outsourced to Indian app development company. If you want it to work across both iOS and Android platforms alike, the overall cost of an ideal app like Byju’s would touch somewhere between $30000 to $35000. However, the ultimate cost may vary slightly from the mentioned amount, depending on the number of additional premium features you expect the developers to build. The investment would be worth it as we can see the amount of success Byju’s has achieved.

Based on different zones, here we have outlined the cost to develop a featured m-learning care app.

  • In US: $100 to $250 per hour
  • In Europe-based developers: $80 to $180 per hour
  • In India: $25 to $50 per hour

According to the stages of development, the cost of development of an app like Byju’s is given below:

  • Documentation (40-45 hours – $1000 to $2000)
  • UI/UX design (60 Hours – $1500 to $3000)
  • Front-end and Back-end Development (400 Hours – $10,000 to $ 20,000)
  • Testing & Debugging (80 Hours – $2000 to $4000)

Therefore, the average cost of a learning app can cost up to $8,000 to $25,000 for a single platform and the charges can extend up to $35,000 in case, the app is loaded with features and is driven by high quality standards.

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The year 2019 is just warming up for new smartphones models and mobile technologies hitting the tech market. Samsung has just made an explosive breakthrough this year as it unveiled its highly anticipated Galaxy Fold at Unpacked 2019 in San Francisco along with its Galaxy S10 devices. The sensational Samsung Galaxy Fold is the first foldable smartphone which made news last year has showed up at the event with more details and deeper look.

Apparently packed with incredible features, the phone is described as Quite good by DJ Koh, Samsung CEO, who also confirmed that it comes with a little higher price tag. Unprecedented and carving its unique category in smartphone devices, Galaxy Fold is prepared to take the world of mobile users by surprise and give tough competition to its rivals. It is quite in buzz due to its original design, display, foldable screen, software and other offerings.

Let’s check out in details all that the phone offers. Here is everything you need to know about phenomenal Samsung Galaxy Fold:

1) Tablet-like structure:

Samsung Galaxy takes to tablet when unfolded from the center and gives you a look and feel of a smartphone structure when folded again at the central spine, which adds to a surreal experience for users. From its sides, it reflects signature Samsung design when opened, and as you fold it back, its size doubles in thickness compared to regular smartphone.

This fold-unfold mechanism – which is located at the hinge of the back – affects the normal size like it is a foldable tablet and not a phone. The unique arrangement, according to Samsung, is something that can survive repeated open-close operations.

2) Range of colors for screen and spine:

Samsung has decided to give you a range of adorable colors to play with the style. Users will be able to customize the phone design and choose a different spine color for more personalized experience.

Made with interlocked gears, the hinge at the back allows users to open and close the device and makes the process unbelievably smooth and easy. Users can customize hinge colors and will be able to enjoy the device in four different colors.

3) Galaxy Fold display:

Galaxy Fold has a Dynamic 7.3 inch AMOLED internal display known as Infinity Flex. Its aspect ratio comes as 4.2:3. As it is fitted on the inside of the device, when folded up, the displays remain unusable.

It has an AMOLED exterior display that works as a second screen measuring 4.6 inches in a diagonal fashion. This makes it stand out among other Samsung phones and does not conform to modern standards as it is tiny. The display screen reposes on the device’s center in contrast with surrounding bezel, which creates unique feel.

As Samsung says, the internal 7.3-inch display comes with a WXGA+ resolution though it is hard to define the exact pixels.

Galaxy Fold Hardware

  • 7nm 64-bit Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
  • 12GB RAM
  • 512GB UFS 3.0 storage capacity
  • No Micro SD support
  • 4380mAh battery

Samsung reveals that the device operation is powered by a high-speed 7nm Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor with gigantic memory storage support of 12GB RAM and 512GB ROM. The huge storage justifies the huge price here. It does not have microSD, which is almost anomalous if we consider other Samsung devices offering SD card convenience.

Galaxy Fold also has 4380mAh battery provision, bigger than other Samsung devices of this caliber, but not that big for modern device battery capacity. The battery is split for both sides of device, each half fitting either side of the device. It contains both wired and wireless fast charging support.

Galaxy Fold software

Galaxy Fold supports multitasking and allows users to work on three apps simultaneously when opened on the larger screen. So you can explore Google Maps, messenger, and a browser simultaneously.

The device is quite adaptive to the software format you are using. If you have opened a browser on its smartphone display, upon unfolding the device you will see it will automatically transfer the browser app to the larger display for better viewing.

Samsung Galaxy Fold cameras

Samsung has perhaps worked miraculously on enhancing camera details in Samsung Galaxy Fold. Users can get the best experience from as many as six total cameras loaded with more modes of use.

  • External Front camera: 10MP, f/2.2
  • External Rear cameras: 16MP ultra wide, f/2.2; 12MP main, f/1.5 & f/2.4; 12MP 2x zoom
  • Front dual cameras (internal): 10MP Camera, f/2.2; 8MP RGB depth, f/1.9

Lying on the outside of the device is the incredible triple-camera arrangement which is comparable with what new Samsung Galaxy S10 has done. Samsung Galaxy Fold allows users to enjoy having a 12MP dual aperture main camera, a 16 MP ultra-wide camera and a 12 MP 2x zoom camera on rear side.

Fold also has a Front camera on the outside which works as a selfie camera when the device is folded up, more like Galaxy S10.

You can also revel in its dual camera arrangement, internal cameras as you open up the phone. This is an 8MP selfie with sensor for depth. Plus, you have 10MP main internal camera to take your photo capturing to another level. Samsung Galaxy Fold has focused massively on the depth of camera.

Release Date

Although the Samsung Galaxy fold release is made official as announced on 20th February 2019, the new devices will only be available in US on 26th April. In Europe, 3rd May is chosen for its availability.

In November 2018, Samsung previewed the device with Infinity Flex display at its developer conference and was eager and enthusiastic to become the first to bring unique foldable smartphone model to market.

Read also : Everything You Need To Know About Apple’s Latest Devices

Price anticipation

It might be a little disappointing for people who expect affordable models for Samsung Galaxy Fold. On the contrary, the smartphone is likely to hit retail shops with a price of $1980 in US and €2000 in EU.

Even though you expect the price to be a little higher than straight-designed model, the expensiveness of Fold is justifiable since this is a first-gen piece of hardware design. Samsung proudly boasts being world’s first ever title in Foldable consumer-friendly phone category as DJ Koh says.

Conclusion

Form last year’s teaser to this year’s official announcement on release, Samsung Galaxy Fold has created quite a wave in mobile device market. The main enticing element of Galaxy Fold is the expansive capability of its screen as it moves from the smaller shape to the bigger one. Samsung has especially worked with Google Android developers to develop this flawless feature also known as App Continuity.

Apart from its unconventional design, Samsung Galaxy Fold will continue to create pandemonium in the smartphone market for its outstanding camera provisions, multitasking software support and monstrous memory storage capacity. It is said to be out in May 2019 but we are still anxiously waiting for Samsung to release this phenomenal device in other regions.