Why Are Mobile Apps the Next Big Thing and How can I Develop Them, Too?

Remember the Yellow Pages? Younger people probably won't. After more than 50 years of helping people find phone numbers and addresses for businesses across the country, the oversized, printed phone book is now officially a thing of the past.

The future is all about the mobile app.

Need to find a phone number? There's an app for that. Craving Pho? You can find an app that will tell you where to go. Want to watch a video, catch up on local news, follow your favorite football team, or share a photo with the world? There are apps for all of that, too.

In fact, if you can imagine it, there's probably an app to help you accomplish it.

According to Statista, the mobile app business is booming. In 2015, it generated nearly $70 billion in revenue. By 2020, it's expected to grow to a whopping $188 billion. That's good news for anyone interested in pursuing a career in mobile development--and it's about to get even better.

Apps are evolving

Every new technology has a limited shelf life, and mobile apps are nowhere near the end of theirs.

The first mobile apps were designed to help people be more effective. They made it easier to access your email and calendar. They allowed you to quickly check the weather or stock market. They were incredibly functional, but not all that fun.

Today, the most popular apps are all about staying social. According to Forbes, Facebook Messenger, Facebook, WatsApp Messenger, Tik Tok, and Instagram were the most downloaded apps in the world in 2018.

What's next? According to the experts at net solutions, the next generation of mobile apps will make better use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, chatbots, and augmented reality.

Yes, the mobile app industry is alive and well.

Mobile apps "are musts for most brands"

With so many people using mobile apps, it only makes sense that businesses large and small would start paying attention to them, developing their own, and hiring mobile app developers to ensure they were done right.

In fact, a story in The New York Times published a story with the following headline: "Mobile Apps Are Musts for Most Brands, as Long as Users Like Them." In other words, businesses that don't have apps will probably need to develop them in the future, and those that do will have to keep refining them.

That's good news for aspiring app developers.

It's got the eyeballs

There's a reason why experts say mobile app advertising is expected to grow by an incredible 136 percent between now and 2020: Mobile apps attract eyeballs--and they're attached to people willing to spend money.

According to report published by AppsFlyer:

• Gamers accounted for about 40 percent of the app installations between 2016 and 2018
• More and more people are using shopping apps to buy everything from groceries to clothing to dinner
• People are becoming more accustomed to watching movies and television shows on their smartphones, meaning that apps such as those from Netflix, HBO, and Hulu will continue to attract the eyes of people with disposable income

With so many people so focused on their mobile apps, companies are in need of people who understand the industry to help the develop mobile apps and also the estimated $64 billion worth of ads to go along with them.

Opportunities abound

The truth is, mobile apps are the "big thing" right now--and based on their popularity among the public and businesses alike, they likely will be for a long time. But nobody really knows for sure what the next "next big thing will be."

It could have something to do with virtual reality. Maybe it will involve motion and location sensing. Or perhaps it will involve a new technology that hasn't even been thought of today (but certainly could be tomorrow).

When it comes to mobile apps, the opportunities are endless, especially for the creative types who have the skills and training to make today's daydreams tomorrow's reality.

Be part of the future

There was probably a time when the Yellow Pages was considered an innovation. After all, it was a relatively efficient and certainly effective way for businesses to get their phone numbers in front of a lot of people.

But like the Yellow Pages, those days are dead and gone.

Today it's all about the mobile app industry. It's already shaped society's history. It's presently incredibly popular. And it's likely to be the future of everything from information gathering to entertainment to commerce.

Do you want to work with mobile apps?

Are you an aspiring developer? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Software Development - Mobile Development Track, ECPI University could be the right choice for you. For more information on this accelerated program, connect with a knowledgeable admissions professional today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Mobile App Development Track - Bachelor’s

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