Why Designing Mobile Apps Can Be Difficult
No matter what the experts say, handheld app creation is harder than you’d expect. There are several explanations for this:
- Too many platforms to develop for: The first decision to make is which mobile platforms to support. Is it better to stick with the iPhone or should you go for a larger set of devices? The device you choose greatly influences what your app is capable of doing.
- Very different app models: Limiting yourself to a single device isn’t enough, often you’ll still have multiple app models to choose from. A BlackBerry developer has to choose between developing a proper BlackBerry application or a more portable Java ME app.
- Long-term learning curves: Creating a handheld application often requires learning a new programming language (like Java) and/or a new set of programming tools (like Eclipse). Since the market is so fractured, programmers usually have a difficult time locating relevant development help.
- Conflicting database choices: Unless you’re developing an online-only app, you’ll want to store data locally, and there are many options for doing so. Complex data needs may necessitate a proper mobile database. Simpler applications may be adequately served with simple data storage options, but data exchange with external data sources can be quite more complex in those situations.
- Consumer versus enterprise focus: While Apple has shown that there is a lot of money to be made serving the consumer market, there is still a lot of money to be made with business-focused applications. The two markets are completely different, however, and you simply cannot develop for both of them with the same application.
- Not insignificant startup costs: Handheld app development is expensive. Experienced programmers are hard to find and cost a lot, and there are non-trivial expenses in terms of hardware and network charges.
If it’s so difficult, why create handheld apps? The rewards outweigh the costs. The return on investment of a mobile enterprise app can be tremendous, especially for apps aimed at field personnel. The demand for mobile consumer apps means there’s a lot of profit for companies able to satisfy that demand.
You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches if you do your homework. If you want to write a good business application you’ll need to invest in great mobile enterprise tools. On the consumer side, you’ll still need great development tools, but you’ll also need a lot of flash and a simple user interface.
To be successful at handheld application development requires a lot of thought and planning.