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MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

We can’t talk about mobile application development without talking about the evolution of mobile devices themselves.

Smartphones, tablets, and wearable tech are some of the most powerful computing technologies developed to date. These high-performance supercomputers include a multitude of components to further enhance their business functionalities.

Mobile apps can take advantage of these components to by adding efficiencies to your business. Altimeters, gyroscopes, ambient light sensors, HD cameras and accelerometers just to name a few paired with high-speed cellular connections and responsive mobile apps can streamline a business’s tech stack without sacrificing function.

The mobile revolution has transformed computing and business from a deskbound activity to a work where you want opportunity in less than 50 years. Let’s take a look at how it happened.

THE MOBILE REVOLUTION – A TIMELINE

  • April 3, 1973 the first cell phone call was made on a Motorola prototype.
  • 1980’s 1st series of Seiko and Casio computer watches invented
  • 1984 1st commercially available cellphones sold: Motorola DynaTAC 8000x.
  • 1989 1st commercial tablet: GRiDPad 1900 running MS-DOS weighing 4.8lbs
  • 1990’s PDAs (personal digital assistant) hit the market
    • Mobile apps included: clocks, calculators, note taking apps, handwriting recognition and mobile OS (EPOC, Palm OS(C++), Windows CE)
  • 1994 IBM Simon Personal Communicator on the market
    • The 1st smartphone with apps: world clock, calendar, address book, calculator, email, notepad, and sketchpad
  • 1997 Nokia pre-installed Snake (mobile game app) on all mobile devices
  • 1998 Blackberry 850/950 – a pager like smart device
    • RIM OS with apps written in C++, Qwerty keyboard, 900MHz wireless modem.
  • 1998 Canadian Steve Mann invents the first Linux Smartwatch.
  • 1999 Samsung launched the first Watch Phone SPH-WP10
    • External antenna, 90 min talk time, monochrome LCD screen, integrated speaker, and microphone.
  • Early 2000’s IBM, Fossil, Microsoft, Burg Wearables and Samsung enter the wearable computer market.
    • Watches that act as PDAs and phones are here.
  • 2001 3G arrives – cell phones can now access mobile internet.
  • 2004 Blackberry Charm RIMs first smartphone is released.
  • 2007 Apple releases the iPhone.
    • iPhone OS 1, the first buttonless touchscreen, iPod, camera, full internet access, messaging, photos, You Tube, stocks, maps, weather, mail, Safari mobile browser and more
  • 2008 Android enters the smartphone market with the HTC Dream
    • Linux based Android OS and apps for Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar
  • 2008-2012 Apple, Android, Google, and Microsoft release their respective mobile app stores.
    • Apple first with 800 native apps, 200 free to download in 2008.
  • 2008 4G connectivity begins with LTE options released mere months later.
  • 2010 Apple releases the iPad.
  • 2013 Google Glass the first marketed smart glasses on the market
    • Android 4.4, Bluetooth, gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer and bone conduction audio transducer all included.
  • 2013 First true stand-alone smartwatch TrueSmart release on Kickstarter.
    • By the end of 2013 all major players had a version on the market including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Blackberry
  • 2019 5G cellular networks begin … releasing developers from cellular limitations.
  • 2020 and beyond COVID 19 pandemic highlights the value of mobile offices.
    • 2023 56.2% of all web traffic is from mobile devices and 4.32 billion active mobile internet users globally.
    • 2025 over 1 billion 5 G users predicted.

HOW CAN MY BUSINESS BENEFIT FROM MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT?

It is without a doubt that businesses who choose to go mobile with their technology will remain competitive in their respective markets. But, going mobile requires thought and consideration, it can also be very intimidating. Will my app work on Apple and Android? What if I need it in the field on a tablet and in the office on a desktop? What’s the difference between a native app, web-based app, and hybrid apps? Can it work with cellular connectivity and offline? Whatever your questions may be, we’ve got you.

Let’s talk about how going mobile can improve your business operations, accelerate your business performance, and create cost savings.

Drop us a line to talk about your Mobile App Development needs.