Helping app developers understand the latest trends in commercialising mobile apps and technologies
Yesterday we covered some of the fundamental basics of starting a successful app development business using cloud Backend as a Service (BaaS) technology for mobile app development. Today we want to explore the future of app development and how learning to stay on top of emerging market trends – like Apple TV – can help you spot new opportunities for growth within your app development business.
The evolution of the market
Here at Kumulos, when we started, we were building websites under the trading name of Waracle (www.waracle.net). The market place was cramped and uncomfortable and we struggled to do business. We realised it was time to find something new, and developing apps for mobile seemed like the perfect diversification strategy. The rules of the game were changing, the internet was becoming more mobile, and the key to success was developing a strong track record in mobile app development services for iPhone and Google Android.
With the dawn of smart TVs and ever more portable entertainment devices, the rules of the game are shifting once again. Traditional console gamers are now playing social games and using mobile apps through tablets and smartphones. People read newspapers via their phones instead of purchasing a hard copy of the newspaper and the local magazine distributor is being replaced somewhere in the mobile cloud. Those who never played games, read newspapers or downloaded apps or software are now doing so using a plethora of mobile devices and gadgets. They need data on the move, beamed at lightning pace via the web to their chosen mobile device, be it a tablet, phone or smart TV.
So now we enter the next phase of the cycle. Cloud backend as a service (BaaS) technologies make it easier for developers to create apps for iOS and Google Android. The proliferation of 4G cellular data technology will once again create an explosion in the growth of mobile app usage and consumption. But as an app developer, staying ahead of the curve and your competition is about more than just staying safe. You have to be able to spot the next big thing and move quickly.
So how does Apple TV come into this?
Some say that Apple TV will be a serious game changer for app developers. Not only that, but Apple TV could potentially redefine the way media is consumed within the home. It was always said to be close to the heart of the late Mr Steve Jobs, who would have delighted in watching Apple TV shake up the media world, the way iPhone shook up the world of mobile technology. But does Apple TV have the minerals to be as significant as the iPhone or the iPod?
To answer that, Apple has recently confirmed that there is also an Apple TV SDK, although they didn’t specify when it would be released, only saying it was “coming”. So if you’re currently developing apps for iPhone or iPad (iOS) this could well be worth some early market analysis. The Apple SDK will enable app developers to build apps that are compatible with the Apple TV and could also allow you to upscale or port your existing iOS apps onto the Apple TV. This could be good for your own app development projects, but it could also be something your customers love if you’re already in the business of providing app development services for brands and businesses.
This strategy is clever for Apple, as it enables them to create an app development ecosystem for TV the same way it did for iPhone and iPad. This could provide really significant opportunities for app developers and media content providers.
What have previously remained as low-key and private aspirations internally within Apple, could now represent the start of a serious assault on the smart TV market. Apple recognizes that TVs are just super high quality audio/video rendering technologies. The future of the mobile cloud and its real power, lies in application based platforms using open APIs so as to provide content into the living room for devices such as the Apple TV.
This is really just a natural progression for Apple. As an app developer, it’s important to understand what these plans could mean for your business and your customers businesses. Apple TV could see personal hardware devices provide a direct link into the world of smart TV. This could really affect cable companies like Sky and Virgin in the UK, as viewers opt for softer, subscription based on-demand TV services like Netflix and Love Film. After all, it’s cheaper to consume your content as you use it and in tough economic times, tying yourself into a 2 year cable contract seems more of a luxury than a must have.
If you’re an app developer, what matters is that very soon, there could be hundreds of millions of HD television sets in living rooms all across the world, capable of running your apps – and capable of running the apps that your customers currently pay you to develop, host and support.
Surviving as the fittest
As Darwin once said, it’s not the strongest species that will always come out on top, but the species most capable of adapting easily to changing factors in its environment. App development is exactly the same. Things change quickly and developers must have the vision and analytical expertise to spot the next big thing before it happens.
As new technologies emerge, so too will aspiring developers and boutique development houses specifically designed to produce original intellectual property and produce ‘work for hire’ software development services for businesses and brands. Today we wanted to cover the importance of spotting new trends within the world of mobile technology.
At Kumulos, we recognize it’s important that you create stuff that you find entertaining and intellectually stimulating to develop. However, we also want to teach you how to develop apps that are commercially successful. We can teach you to develop more revenue from your apps and your app development customers. App development is more than just a hobbyist pursuit, it’s something that can change your life if you understand the commercial ramifications and key ingredients to running a successful app development studio.
We’re going to be running a series of blogs and webinars to help discuss your pain and the things you find difficult about monetizing apps and app development services. We have some fantastic guest contributors who will be sharing their expertise and tips. We also have a great new feature for the Kumulos backend as a service (BaaS) platform that will enable you to generate more money through app development projects and explore ways of creating solid monthly recurring streams of revenue.
Watch this space for further details.
