Choosing a platform to go for isn’t an easy decision to make, however, it’s one of the most important factors that you will be faced with in the early stages of mobile app development.
Choosing the right platform can make or break your app, so having an understanding of what factors you should consider before getting started is essential.
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1] Finding Your Target Market
The number one factor that you need to consider as app developers is what devices your target demographic use. To do this, you should conduct market research or conduct polls to get specific statistics.
For example, if you find out that 90% of your target demographic use Android, it is a no-brainer that you should opt for Android (regardless of how you feel about the platform). Always have in the back of your mind that you need to go where your customers go.
2] Development Time
Once you have your idea cemented, the next stage of the process is how long it will take for your app to be developed. Android uses Java for its writing (a language that is said to be more technical and wordy than Apple’s programming language).
As Android uses more coding to get the job done, you should also be aware that their emulators tend to be slower than iOS’s, which will play a major part in development times.
3] Pros and Cons
Weighing up the pros and cons of each platform should help you work out which one to pick for your app.
- The pros of Android include a bigger audience share (80%), an open platform, as well as a huge market outside of the United States and Europe. Although there are several cons, which include longer development time.
- The pros for iOS include higher app revenues, a clean and curated app ecosystem, as well as higher user traction in the United States and Europe. Some of the cons of iOS include a closed-source platform, as well as a smaller audience share (20%).
4] Using Both Platforms
In some instances, you may find that your statistics indicate an evenly-split audience share, which will make it harder for you to know what platform to pick.
If you want to use both platforms for your app, you should consider that even huge organisations like Twitter and Facebook generally tend to stagger their development process and launch new features over several months.
5] Getting Advice
If you’re not a tech wizard and feel like you need expert advice, there are several companies that you can contact, one being Appetiser Apps.
This company specialise in mobile app development in Australia, helping you every step of the way with your app. Appetiser Apps are qualified in marketing your app to the masses and helping you achieve the success you want.
All in all, both platforms are remarkably similar. While Android may seem like the underdog in terms of app revenue, Google’s support of the platform is sure to bring the market share at an equal footing of 50-50.
Once you’ve worked out where your customers are based, you should be able to build an idea on what platform will work best for you and your business.
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