According to a report from Statista, the global revenue from mobile applications grew to more than USD 318 billion in 2020. This was an increase of approximately USD 60 billion over 2019. According to the same report, the revenue from mobile apps worldwide is expected to double nearly by 2025 to reach USD 613 billion.
What is iOS App Development?
iOS (Apple’s mobile operating software) runs on hardware such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. An iOS application is written in Objective-C or Swift languages and then uploaded to the App store for users to download.
Why choose iOS for Mobile App Development?
iOS still needs to be the most popular OS platform worldwide as of January 2022. According to Statista, Android holds first place with an estimated 70% market share. iOS is second with approximately 25%.
Apple’s iOS is still the most widely used mobile app platform. These are just a few reasons app development for iPhone or other devices is a good idea for your business.
Powerful platform
iOS is a powerful platform for building user-friendly apps. It offers a great user experience and well-coded apps. There are no compatibility issues, and the devices work in perfect sync.
Excellent app speed and reliability
Apps that run on iOS are simple to use and load quickly, enhancing the user experience. No matter how small or large your customer base is, iPhone users can enjoy the simplicity of an app with all the features they need.
US Users are more diverse
Statista reported that iOS was responsible for more than 50% of North America’s mobile OS market. Android, however, accounted only for 46%. Another report by the same company in March 2021 states that nearly 300 million Americans use smartphones, accounting for approximately 47 percent of all smartphone users in America.
Loyal users
Apple’s reputation and goodwill in the market have earned the iOS platform its loyalists, who choose the iOS app over others. Statista reported that over 40% of adults in the United States bought an iPhone because they were loyal to Apple.
Apple users have a higher purchasing capacity
iPhone and iPad users have higher incomes than Android users and spend more money on technology. This could impact in-app purchases or paid subscriptions. These are important factors for any business model that relies on them.
Apple users use the most recent version
Apple users use the most recent version of their devices. This makes it easier to program and develop apps.
Apple shows that 72% of all devices released in the past four years have iOS 15 on iPhones.
Types of iOS App Development
iOS development can be done both for native apps and hybrid apps.
Native iOS apps were created specifically for iOS using iOS app development tools and languages such as Swift, Objective-C, and Xcode. Unlike other web apps, a native iOS app cannot be run in the browser. The app can only be downloaded from the Apple App Store.
Hybrid applications combine native and web solutions. The code for the application is written in languages like HTML, CSS and Javascript. After the code is completed, the app can be wrapped in a native app. You can use a hybrid app on both iOS and Android.
iOS App Development Languages
After you have made reservations about how and why iOS benefits your business, the next question is what iOS or iPhone app development language would be best. This is a list of the top iOS programming languages that can be used for hybrid and native app development.
Swift
Swift language app development is a popular choice among businesses. It’s used to build native iOS apps. Its concise and easy-to-use syntax makes it a popular choice. It can be used with Cocoa Touch, Cocoa Touch, and the extensive Objective-C codebase for Apple products.
Swift language iPhone app development is a great choice if you want to develop an application that can be extended later quickly.
Objective-C
Objective-C was created to extend the C programming language. Brad Cox and Tom Love developed it in the 1980s. It’s a general-purpose language used to program for Apple’s operating systems, OS X and iOS.
Objective-C can be used to create apps compatible with older iOS versions that Swift doesn’t support.
Flutter
Flutter was launched in 2017. It is an open-source development tool that allows you to create cross-platform apps on iOS, Android, Windows and Mac.
It is one of the most widely used cross-platform app languages. This is the best way to make iOS apps for Android, desktop, and web.
C#
C# is a general-purpose programming language that can be used to create applications for Windows systems. It has been possible to create native software for every platform using this language, even iOS since the.NET framework was introduced to Linux and Mac systems.
If you want to create mobile apps that can be used by both iOS and Android users, C# is the best choice.
HTML5
HTML5 is the most recent HTML version and is often used together with CSS or JavaScript. HTML5 can be developed with tools like Visual Studio for Mac and Apache Cordova.
HTML5 is the best programming language to use if you want to spend less time or resources and need to develop an iOS app that can be accessed offline quickly.
Before you start developing iOS applications, here are some things to consider
It isn’t easy to create a revenue-generating app. This should be done carefully. These are some tips to help you develop iOS apps and iPhone apps.
Define your purpose
It is essential first to define the purpose of the iOS app development. These questions should be answered:
- What are you looking for in an app development company?
- What problem are you trying to solve with the app?
- Is there a similar app on the market? What makes your app unique?
Conduct market research
Conduct thorough market research to identify your target audience. To identify the users, you wish to target, conduct surveys and create a consumer persona.
Prepare a plan
After you have identified your purpose and targeted audience, planning is the next step. Make sure to be as specific as possible, and answer questions like:
- What are your goals?
- What features and activities will the app support?
- How much are you willing to pay to have an iOS app created?
- What are the best iOS app development technology and language?
- What security concerns should be considered?
- How do you measure the success of an app?
- Are you interested in developing the iOS app for other operating systems?
Decide if you want to build the app yourself or outsource it
Many companies are still determining whether to outsource or build the application internally. To remain competitive in the global market, it is advisable to outsource development services. This ensures the highest quality product at a lower cost.
How to build iOS apps for business?
The iOS app design process follows the same steps as any other application. The development, testing and maintenance follow planning. iOS app development can be difficult. To ensure the best user experience, you, as a business owner, must consider the many rules that Apple has set.
These are the essential steps to developing iOS and iPhone apps.
Research
The mobile app market is highly competitive. Therefore, it is crucial to do thorough market research to determine which apps are similar and your USP.
Comply with Apple guidelines
Apple has specific guidelines that you, or your mobile app development agency, must follow to ensure all design, privacy, and security requirements are met. Apple publishes only apps that meet its requirements.
Designing
These are the steps of the designing process:
- Wireframing – Once the idea behind the app is clear, it’s time to document the requirements for the design team. The team creates wireframes and digital sketches of how the app should look.
- UX/UI design: This stage is designed to create a design that is both visually appealing and easy to use.
- Software architecture contains three components that make up the model view controller paradigm (MVC), namely data, user, and software. This is crucial for the stability and scalability of the app.
Development
This stage is crucial for iPhone app development because it involves bringing an idea to life. There are three important parts to this stage:
- Backend development
- Application programming interfaces
- Frontend development
Testing
The next step in product development is QA testing. To ensure that the app is optimized for performance, security (including SSL pin), compliance and seamless user experience, the developer must test it.
Deployment
Final approval can be obtained from the App Store. Apple can take up to a few weeks to approve your application.
Reasons to outsource iOS app development
Why outsource iOS app development? Consider the following reasons.
Cost-effectiveness
Outsourcing mobile app development can help reduce overall costs. It not only reduces overhead costs but also allows for significant savings on infrastructure and resources.
Higher efficiency
A company that develops iOS apps has everything. This includes a dedicated team and state-of-the-art equipment to create a high-end app.
Responsible for the entire workflow
Outsourcing app development companies offer end-to-end services, where they manage the entire workflow. You can be sure that outsourcing will take care of the entire workflow.
Constant support
The beginning of an application development project is just the beginning. You can still get support from the outsourcing company even after your application is published in the App Store.
How do you choose an iOS App Development Company?
You must find a company specializing in iOS app development and iOS design. It isn’t easy to select an iOS app development company and find iOS developers who deliver what you want.
These tips help you hire the best iOS app development company.
High technical knowledge
You should ensure that the developers you hire are proficient in the most recent iOS tools and programming languages, such as Swift and Objective-C. Developers should have the ability to understand and execute your requirements.
Reputation
It is crucial to verify the company’s reputation in the market. It is important to check the reviews and ratings of companies to assess their market reputation. To assess a company’s reputation, you can also look at the following facts:
- The company’s size in terms of its employees
- Numerous iOS apps have been developed to date
- Case studies from some of the largest clients
Skilled and sufficient resources
A team should be specialized in iOS app design. The company should have a dedicated team to ensure seamless app development and top-notch products.
Agile development process
Agile allows you to see the product in development at every stage. Even if your product is still in its final stages of development, the methodology allows you to make changes. To ensure customer satisfaction, choose a company following an agile development process.
iOS App Development Cost
After you have decided to create an iOS app, you need to calculate the development cost. It is crucial to estimate the cost of developing an iOS app.
These are some factors to be aware of when deciding on your iOS app development budget.
- App size: This directly affects the development cost. The app’s size will increase, so the features will be more complex, leading to higher development costs and time.
- The complexity of the features. The number and complexity of features will influence the iOS app design cost within an app.
- UI/UX costs: Different app designs require different amounts of time and therefore have different prices
- Native or Cross-platform: There is a choice between native and cross-platform iOS app development. Cross-platform apps are more expensive because they can be deployed on iOS and PlayStore.
- App Testing: Mobile app testing is an essential part of any development. It ensures that the app performs well, has security, and meets other requirements. Many types of iOS app testing can be done, which can impact the development cost.
The Latest iOS App Development Trends in 2022 and Beyond
You must keep up with the latest market trends to develop mobile apps.
iOT
The Internet of Things-enabled iOS apps market will continue to grow with the rapid growth of the iPhone market. These apps will allow smartphones to connect with smartwatches, bands, and other wearable devices.
Cloud integration
Cloud technology promises a lot to the iOS app industry. IOS developers can use cloud technology to create apps faster and easier.
AI & ML
Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning (AI) will be the dominant technologies in the iOS app development market over the next few years.
AR & VR
The Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (VR) worlds will continue to rely on iOS app development. AR and VR will make creating intuitive, real-time applications that enhance the user experience easier.
Chatbots
Shortly, the trend to use chatbot technology to provide customer support services across different industries will only grow. This technology will help customers answer their queries and make quicker decisions about the app.
