With its many features and apps, the smartphone is dominating the mobile market. Research shows that smartphone usage is expected to increase from 1.5 billion to 2.5 billion by 2019, and smartphone penetration rates will continue to rise. Only 36% of the world's population will use a smartphone in 2018, up from 10% in 2011.
When it comes to which types of smartphones are most in-demand, then reports say that Apple's iOS and Google's Android are the most popular operating systems for smartphones. Statista reports that nearly one billion smartphones using either the Android or iOS operating system were sold worldwide in the first three quarters of 2015. Android is the dominant operating system, accounting for 80 percent of all smartphone sales. About 15% of smartphones that are sold to end customers use iOS instead.
Mobile apps are also thriving despite the high demand for smartphones. Mobile apps have been adopted by millions of people all over the globe. According to TUNE's "Global Mobile 2016" report, there were approximately 180 billion apps downloaded in 2015. This number is expected to equal 493 million daily downloads. The daily average number of downloads that exit 2016 could be 602 million, considering the rate of growth in downloads.
The future of digital business has changed with the advent of mobile apps. Mobile apps are preferred by users over going to companies' websites to view their products and services. Mobile apps are available for all sectors, including eCommerce, gaming, news, and education. We know how quickly the mobile app market is growing, and Google Android is dominating 80 percent of smartphone sales. It is important to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in mobile app development. These are the top trends in android app development for 2017 that will determine how the market will change, and which apps will continue to dominate it.
Web Apps +AMP
In 2016, Google launched Progressive Web Apps + Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). Web apps allow users to instantly access mobile apps from their browsers, without the need to download them. It is the same user interface as mobile apps, but it opens in the browser. This allows users to access the app instantly with poor or unstable data connections.
Alex Russell stated in Google I/O 2016 that "Web apps blurred the line between Web content & apps, but they retain the strengths of Web."
To create a web application that is similar to mobile apps, a web app uses standard HTML5 elements. Many people prefer to visit companies' websites and not search for their mobile apps. The web app can be used to serve both website and mobile app purposes. A web app offers all the basic characteristics of a mobile application, but without the complexity of maintaining one.
These web apps were created using the principles of the AMP project. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is an open-source platform that makes it possible to create web apps that load faster and are more performant.
Apps with Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Much Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) apps were released in 2016 and became extremely popular. Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that creates a composite view of the world by overlaying computer-generated images onto a user's real-world view. Pokemon Go, a popular gaming app, is an example. The app would display a computer-generated image that shows pokemon hiding in the area or road you are on. These apps are expected to become popular in 2017.
Virtual Reality (VR) apps were another popular app in 2016. These apps simulate three-dimensional images that can be manipulated by a user using special electronic gadgets. Samsung Gear, Google Cardboard, and others are examples of VR apps that have gained popularity around the world and will continue to be a huge hit in 2017.
Mobile Finance Service (MFS Apps)
There was an explosion in the number of mobile finance apps, such as PayTM, PayUmoney, and Mobikwik. People prefer to use cashless transactions. Credit cards and debit cards are outdated trends. These mobile apps offer mobile financing services, so people are switching to mobile payments. These apps allow you to shop, recharge your phone and pay DTH bills, electricity bills, and other services.
These MFS apps can be described as electronic wallets that allow users to store and make payments from any location. All they need is an internet connection and a mobile phone. You can transfer money to another user and withdraw money from bank branches that are certified. These MFS apps have many features that are similar to banking. These transactions are quicker and more secure than using cash or a card. The shift to mobile finance apps is happening all over the globe. In 2017, we can expect more feature-loaded and secure mobile finance apps to be released.
App Security Factor
Google Play Store has millions of Android apps. Gartner estimates that over 75% of mobile apps fail security tests, and pose a threat to users. Hackers can gain access to confidential information by using such apps. 2017 will see android app developers focusing on improving security features. Many antivirus apps, such as McAfee and AVG, have been introduced to protect your smartphone from malicious app downloads.
These are the top trends in android app development for 2017. This is not the only trend that will be in 2017: a significant rise in wearable devices such as Fitbit, apple watch, and pebble. This trend will not change in 2017.
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