What is a mobile app exactly?

App Overview

An iPhone application is what Apple calls third party software programs developed specifically for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The applications can be downloaded directly by the device or onto a computer and transferred. Apple has an app store for those that wish to purchase applications. The cost vary from free to over £5.00 per application however there are a number of niche applications priced in excess of £20.00.

An iPhone app may provide a number of different functions depending on the program. Some are meant to show news, sports or weather information. Others are used to provide maps and GPS services. The apps can be for entertainment or serve a more practical function. The app store business model caters for both business user and casual user.

Downloading an iPhone app requires installing iTunes onto a computer. iPhone apps are not available on the internet through a traditional website.

iPod Touch

iPod Touch: When Apple launched the iPod in October 2001 it was a huge success. It only took a couple of years for most people to start using the name iPod whenever they referred to an MP3 player.

Apple had sold 125,000 iPods by the end of 2001 and over 225 million by 2010. The iPod is the most successful selling gadget of all time.

iPhone

The iPhone has a touch screen supported by multi-touch technology. Everything is operated with the use of a finger or multiple fingers. The device has a proximity sensor and a display that automatically adjusts to the devices orientation.

iPhone enables listening to music, downloading applications, watching videos, taking photos and even recording video. As with the iPod consumers download directly from the iTunes store. The iPhone enables wireless access to the internet via Wi-Fi and surfing the web via Safari browser.

iPad

The iPad is a scaled up version of the iPhone with a footprint similar to a netbook. It can run almost all iPhone apps as well as a rapidly growing lineup to enhanced iPhone apps. You can simply sync the iPad and load existing iPhone apps onto it.

Among the initial demos shown were a New York Times app just for the iPad. The NY Times app for iPhone has been downloaded over three million times however the iPad app is set to be more popular as the layout looks just like a regular print paper. You can watch embedded video, resize, and adjust things with pop over menus.

The iPad is not a phone however communication is exactly like with the iPhone and iPod Touch. All iPads have WiFi, but there are also versions that have 3G data as well.

The device is gorgeous and meticulously engineered. The iPad is utopia for those that derive great value from the iPhone and wished it was larger.

The iTunes App Store

The App Store is a platform through which independent developers can distribute and sell apps made for iPhone. The environment provided by Apple is conducive to bringing audiences to apps: if you can make a desirable or useful application, and make it well, you’ll no doubt find your audience on the App Store.

You get percent of revenue from your application and Apple takes 30 percent.

iPhone developers also benefit from the user experience the App Store offers to consumers. Apple has done a lot of work in ensuring their ‘smart consumers’ understand that iPhone is about apps; that it’s always changing and that there’ll always be something fresh to buy from the App Store. This is where the iPhone platform leads as it offers developers a clear path to customers. Once an app is in the store, much of the work is done for you.

Apple provides an environment in which, if your app is good, it will get noticed. Customer reviews and ratings enable applications to compete against each other. Even if you have a niche application, chances are you’ll find your longtail audience on the App Store.

There are thousands of applications on the iPhone App Store. ProductiseIT advise that you do not rely on people merely browsing for your application. There are many ways to get your customer's attention.

Could you ProductiseIT?

iPhone is a platform encompassing the iPhone and iPod Touch devices, and the App Store facilitating an ecosystem that hooks together consumers with applications with developers. The device - consumer - developer triangle is supported by Apple at every level and each party relies on and supports the others. This perfect equilibrium at the platform level is what is allowing the iPhone platform to grow exponentially, surpassing consumer, developer and market expectations.

The iPhone is as desirable today as it was when first launched and the ever increasing range of applications means consumers iPhones can potentially get even better by the day. The platform is doing well and growing rapidly.

iPhone is certainly not just a sleek new mobile phone, and the iPhone platform is not just about mobile content . The iPhone platform has already redefined the scope and significance of mobile data and is having enormous impact on the mobile industry worldwide. iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices also demonstrate a new way of thinking about personal computing.

The launch of the devices in over 70 countries demonstrate a desire to reach a mass market, potentially even in developing countries where it is not a personal computer that delivers Internet connectivity but a portable device; an iPhone. It is important to note that Apple’s intention for iPhone is indeed to create a new platform with a new market; and not to just take a share of an existing mobile platform or industry.

There are many opportunities for harnessing this opportunity:

Games companies

Either making games just for iPhone, or who have relevant and high quality games.

Brands

Who can create true value add applications and get their brands into the pockets of millions Content and data owners - including public sector organisations and government who can monetise and enhance data with community influence.

Charities and Causes

Who can leverage the power of crowds through mobile social interaction Web businesses - who can go mobile for the first time on iPhone, enhancing the customer experience and rapidly growing their user base by tapping into the platform full of smart consumers.

Independent Creatives

Entrepreneurs and designers who think differently about the concepts for applications that people will love on their iPhones.

Educators

Who can deliver iPhone strategy, learning and support material to clients Whatever your perspective the opportunities are endless.

For anyone considering whether to explore iPhone; either in terms of developing for iPhone as a new business strategy, or as a platform for engaging with consumers for an existing business, ProductiseIT have a solution.

Your Business Growth Strategy?

Concentration

Your resources could be focused towards the continued and profitable growth of a ‘single’ product or service in a ‘single’ market. This can be achieved by attracting new customers or by increasing their usage rate, or, where feasible, by attracting customers away from competitors.

Product Development

You could think about what modified products or services you could offer to its existing customers. This is generally less risky than trying to find new customers for existing products or services.

Market Development

You could build on your existing strengths, skills and capabilities in order to market your present products or services to new customers. This often requires a new or renewed approaches to advertising, promotion and selling.

Innovation

This implies the development of products or services that are new, as apposed to modified. Innovative organizations can keep ahead of their competitors by introducing new products or services.

Idea factory

We can help define and refine your ideas to create a commercially viable application. With experience in various mobile frameworks, we can help translate those ideas into reality.

A light bulb moment

Could your app solve a unique problem?

Will your app serve a specific niche

Will your app provide an interactive experience

What are you really good at

Who will use your application

At ProductiseIT we aim to understand, clarify, create, adapt and empower your ideas.

Whatever form it takes, innovation is a creative process.

Creativity is the spark that sets us apart, from each other and from other organisations.

It's that intuitive hunch to go down a different path: to do something in a new way, to see an opportunity.

Without creativity, innovation and intuition, people and organisations cannot grow.

At ProductiseIT we sometimes sell ideas, and we sometimes give them away.

Why, because ideation is at the heart of our interaction with you.

The business case for innovation

At ProductiseIT we aim to assist you in the commercial application and successful exploitation of your ideas. Fundamentally, we want to help you to introducing something new into your business.

With ProductiseIT introducing innovation can help you to:

Improve productivity

Reduce costs

Be more competitive

Build the value of your brand

Establish new partnerships and relationships

Increase turnover and improve profitability

What could work for you?

All the things you've learned during your life and your career, all the little tips and tricks you've picked up to get things done better and faster, could be very useful to other people as well.

Add value to your business and productise your expertise.

When you 'productise' your services, you are making components of your business more accessible. Sell your products globally and educate your audience in ways that best suit them.

Help your customers to add value to their existing investment and give them the opportunity to experience your expertise.

On the road

Apps for field data capture that link into existing back-end enterprise architecture.

Instant access

Instant access to key content and information, with offline access through synchronization and background updates.

Real-time updates

Business critical apps that provide real-time status updates of sensitive data and statistics.

CRM

Fully automated sales and CRM apps with client leads and activity tracking system.

Expense management

Apps for on-the-move sales staff to record spending with sync to an enterprise system for accounting and billing.

Client apps

Client apps that provide value-add service to further brand recognition and user interaction.

Location based

Location based apps that allow peer to peer connectivity and social networking.