Mobile development is one of the most critical aspects of software and hardware development in today’s globalized ecosystem. The highly and quickly evolving technological world will continue to grow in 2020 and beyond, which will mostly include mobile development. With over 4 billion users operating in the digital world of mobile technologies, and since – as noted by Business News Daily, “…mobile app revenues are projected to hit nearly $600 billion in 2020.” Enterprises of all sizes have an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on a large user base that encompasses over half of the human population. The mobile development market, according to Clarion, is growing at a rate of 14 percent and is expected to reach $100 billion by 2022.
While mobile development – in particular mobile app development – is growing, many advanced technologies are likewise growing, which are integrating with the advancement of mobile technologies, and will thus be tightly linked with mobile development in 2020 and beyond:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning/Deep Learning
- Chatbots
- VR Technology
- AR Technology
- 5G Network Technology
- Wearable Technology (Internet of Things)
- Blockchain Technology
Mobile App Development: The design, development, and engineering of mobile applications, typically on two major mobile platforms (though other platforms exist), Android and iOS. Mobile apps exist not only on smartphones and tablets, but on smartwatches, smart bracelets, smart clothes, and a variety of mobile systems associated with the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable technology.
- Mobile System Development: As IoT and wearable technology increase, and as portable (“mobile”) devices increase and become more ubiquitous, mobile operating systems and mobile systems will require engineers that develop, maintain, patch, and design such systems for the technologies to work effectively.
- Hybrid Mobile App Development: The development of an app that feels and looks like a native app but operates with web app technologies distinguishes hybrid mobile app development.
- Web/Mobile App Development: The development of a mobile app that is opened from a mobile platform but executes in a web browser and requires an internet connection that defines web mobile application development.
- Web app development: Web apps, developed via HTML5, in 2020 and beyond, usually require developers to integrate the web app with mobile platforms.
Internet of Things (IoT) For App Integration
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a novel technology that can change how the physical world and the digital world integrate and interact with each other. A myriad of trends in 2020 associated with developing mobile systems and apps that interconnect with IoT technology will require businesses to rethink both the MSDLC and how they utilize mobile development systems for mobile development, such as development frameworks and platforms.
The IoT allows three primary (novel) functions:
- Remote viewing: IoT tech allows one’s device – such as a mobile phone or tablet computer – to operate as a viewing console, giving a user the ability to see remote areas through the camera of a remote device that has sensors and IoT modules attached to it.
- Remote control: While IoT tech allows a user to view remote areas via the camera of an interconnected device (typically connected via Wi-Fi), IoT also allows a mobile device to send control commands via the Internet to the device, creating a “smart” network of Internet-connected devices.
- Data and IT connections & integrations: IoT devices typically create a network of data sharing, connections, and integrations by having sensors linked to the device to collect and stream (in real-time) data to central hubs or centralized systems, including a user’s workstation or mobile device.
As noted by Hackr.io, there are several real-world, advanced applications of IoT Technology, from 2020 and beyond:
Smart Cities: Smart Cities are city infrastructures with a myriad of cameras and sensors linked with everyday city objects (i.e., traffic lights, buildings, street lights, etc.)
Smart Homes: Smart Homes, like smart cities, are IoT-linked homes with a variety of Wi-Fi-connected modules, sensors, and actuators that allow users to control home appliances remotely along with controlling certain functions (e.g., opening the garage, turning up the AC, etc.)
Smart Cars: Smart cars are linked to the Internet via Wi-Fi-enabled modules and allow users – via mobile apps on their mobile phone, tablet, or smart device
Farming IoT: IoT technology in the farming industry is a novel concept that allows farmers to track their herds via smart sensors and microchips (that hold critical information on the animal),
Health IoT: IoT devices that track one’s health, blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, fitness regime, and even disease progression are capable of revolutionizing the health industry via a system of remote diagnostic systems linked with sensor-enabled
Manufacturing, Tracking, and Monitoring IoT: The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) allows inventory tracking, GPS asset tracking, supply monitoring, logistics management, and even the automated tracking of issues with railways, airplane systems, and manufacturing pipelines all via interconnected, sensor and Wi-Fi-enabled smart systems.
Smart Retail: Smart retail has the potential to transform how retail companies operate.
Smart Grids: Smart Grids allow the building of smart infrastructures that allow electric, gas, and energy companies (among others) to manage their assets and network of systems via a network of IoT devices.
Internet of Nano Things (IoNT): As nanotechnology evolves within every industry and market, connecting nanobots with Wi-Fi modules and a network of sensors allows businesses and users to take advantage of a myriad of functions.
Google/Apple Home
Smart Home technology, such as Google Home, Apple Home, and other systems associated with IoT technology, are a group of evolving technologies that have the capabilities of allowing mobile development firms to leverage their experience to develop powerful smart home apps for managing, securing, and viewing their smart home peripherals.
Household Appliances & Mobile Apps
- Smart Refrigerator: Utilize a mobile app to control the temperature or even view inner contents via a camera.
- Smart garage: Use a mobile app to open and close the garage.
- Smart thermostat: Use a mobile app to remotely change the temperature of the house.
- Smart cameras: Use a mobile app to connect with house cameras to view the premises while away.
Like with IoT tech, smart house gadgets will benefit from a robust Mobile SDLC and a powerful development framework or platform.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Chatbots
- A.I. in Marketing: Mobile A.I. systems are becoming critical in helping to drive marketing pipelines within mobile apps, where customers can have smart bot-powered e-commerce mobile apps quickly learn their preferences and suggest applicable products without the customer even having to attempt a search.
- A.I. in Banking: Mobile banking apps are becoming the norm. The use of A.I. systems within banking apps to help customers manage their money will help multitudes to feasibly carry out their financial tasks on a daily basis.
- A.I. in Finance: The mobile apps of financial institutions will not only help banks to manage their financing operations but will help investors to better invest with the help of bots that have analyzed large chunks of financial data.
- A.I. in Agriculture: Like with IoT in agriculture and farming, using A.I. in farming systems helps farmers to use mobile devices to better analyze weather patterns and even soil conditions, helping such specialists to know when and how to cultivate their crops.
- A.I. in HealthCare: A.I. coupled with tablets and mobile apps have a wide array of applications in allowing doctors to better analyze diagnostic data and carry out bioinformatic analyses to meet the ever-changing needs of Precision Medicine, among other things.
- A.I. in Gaming: A.I. has existed in gaming for decades, and is one of the more fundamental uses of A.I. up until 2020. As mobile games become more and more common, the development and deployment of complex A.I. systems within mobile gaming platforms and apps will be paramount to the evolution of games on mobile consoles, giving users an extra challenge.
- A.I. in Autonomous Vehicles: A.I. in self-driving cars will be one of the most necessary components so cars can “learn” and drive themselves in the same way that a human would drive them. As mobile devices become more commonplace in integrating with advanced technology, mobile developers will be needed to develop apps and mobile OS features that will allow the deployment of A.I. within autonomous vehicles.
- A.I. in Chatbots: A.I. systems are the foundation of chatbots, which give users a new way to interact and communicate with mobile devices.
Powerful Apps with 5G Technology
2020 begins the age of 5G, which is an enhanced, much faster, and more robust mobile network that increases the speed of streaming data to, and from mobile devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, wearable tech (IoT), self-driving cars, etc. Since 5G will allow the direct streaming of data to and from many mobile devices – not just mobile phones – this gives mobile developers a myriad of opportunities to engineer mobile apps for the new, super-fast mobile systems that will drive such new IT systems.
Leverage Mobile Development To Keep Your Business Relevant
Mobile development is the new phase of technology that is here to stay. As of 2020, mobile development is a rapidly growing industry that is tightly integrated with the rapidly expanding advanced technology industries, which include everything from smart, A.I.-powered Chatbots, to the Internet of Things, to wearable, smart tech, to AR technology, etc. Regarding the rapid expansion of IoT markets and devices – where wearable technology becomes ubiquitous – mobile development will become the impetus for how such technologies evolve due to mobile systems/apps underpinning how such technologies operate.