Mobile App Development Timeline and Stages

Mobile app development has come a long way since the introduction of the first iPhone back in 2007. It was a revolution in terms of bringing the Internet to everyone with a smartphone—and it's still going strong today, so much so that now over half of all American adults own a smartphone. The fact is that the world has changed thanks to smartphones, and mobile app development has been part of that change. The average American spends nearly three hours per day on their smartphones, and over 80% of Americans own at least one smartphone—and those numbers keep growing every year. However, Mobile app development is a long process that unfolds in numerous stages. Most projects have a very clear beginning, but the end is often fuzzy, and some developers are left wondering when the job will be done. This post will present a clear picture of the various steps involved in building an app, as well as how long they take on average. When thinking about the mobile app development timeline and stages, there are various things to consider. In this article, you are going to see some of the benefits of Mobile app development. We will also walk you through the main stages that you may want to consider for your next project and what should be included in each stage and the time it should take. Without any further ado, let's get started. 

Importance of Mobile App Development 

Mobile app development is the process of creating and publishing an application for a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or smartwatch. It is often compared to web development, which involves creating and publishing websites for desktop computers, laptops, and smartphones. The terms "mobile app" and "mobile applications" are most commonly used in the context of mobile devices, but they also encompass mobile-optimized sites that run on mobile operating systems such as Windows 10 Mobile and Android. The first known mobile application was a clock developed by computer scientist John Vincent Atanasoff in 1942 for the U.S. Army's Ballistics Research Laboratory (BRL) which used Newton's method to calculate trajectories of artillery shells from data read from punched cards by firing ranges. At this point, we are probably on the same page. Now, whether you're planning on bringing your business online or traveling to another country and need information in that language, you need a reliable source for high-quality mobile app development services. Mobile applications have become essential for businesses and individuals to connect with customers or visitors, and high-quality mobile application development is key for your business or personal goals. Let us take a look at some of the unavoidable importance of mobile app development. 

1. Expand Business Territories

Mobile app development is now a growing industry. With the introduction of smartphones and tablets, the industry has grown rapidly. Many businesses are now aiming to develop an app for their business or products. One of the main reasons why it is important to have a mobile application is that it helps you expand your business to new territories and markets. You'll be able to reach out to customers in different geographical locations as well as expand your customer base by engaging with customers on mobile devices. It's advisable that you get the best mobile app developer you can find if you're looking to create a successful app. This is because they'll help you through all the stages of app development, including the initial planning and designing, development, testing, publishing, and sometimes promotion of your app (we will look at these in the coming section). The most important things to consider when hiring a mobile app developer include their experience, skills, reputation in the field, and how much they charge for their services.

2. Manage Resources 

The world has become a mobile place, and there's no looking back at it. People are more prone to using their smartphones than they are to their PCs, and the numbers are growing. In fact, as of April 2017, smartphone users have exceeded the PC users by 1.34 billion. And in 2016, the number of Internet users on mobile devices surpassed desktop users for the first time. According to Statista data, over 2 billion mobile device users will be by 2018. In this era of smartphones and tablets, mobile app development is becoming an increasingly important aspect of business today. This is because these devices provide tools for businesses so that they can reach out to a wider consumer base without having to spend resources on physical stores and employees. Mobile apps provide a convenient platform for businesses to interact with customers via different channels such as social media, text messages, or emails. Some businesses are solely on just a noble app making it easier to manage resources. 

3. Maximize Impact

It is important to note that mobile apps are about more than just games and entertainment. Mobile technology is changing the way we work and do business, too. Mobile applications allow companies to streamline internal operations to improve efficiency and reduce costs. They can also help businesses expand their consumer reach by allowing them to offer their products or services to customers on the go. Furthermore, mobile apps can help businesses compete with other companies in their industry by giving them an edge over their competitors that they don't have. Today, mobile apps are an essential part of most business communications. However, it is important to remember that creating a mobile app is more than just coding and designing. The rapid adoption of mobile apps has provided business owners and startups with opportunities they didn't have before. Mobile apps can help startups reach their target market easily with the right marketing strategies. This will help their impact to go forget and reach maximum potential.

4. Enhance productivity

Mobile apps are a useful tool that can enhance productivity and communication. They can be used for many different tasks, including ordering food, sending money to family and friends, and even exercising. As mobile apps become more widespread, it is important to understand the process of creating these tools. It is important to keep in mind that all of these Importances overlap and influence each other. There is a thousand and one importance of Mobile development both for the developer and business. It also goes a long way to benefit the end-users, so it is important to be careful about the quality of the mobile app to reach its full abilities. 

Mobile App Development Timeline and Stages

1. Planning

Naturally, the planning stage is the first step in any mobile development project. This stage begins when your company decides that a mobile app is necessary and works to determine exactly what kind of app is needed. During this time, the company will also likely determine whether it will require a team of developers or if it can create the application in-house. This stage includes everything from market research, strategic planning, business analysis, designing and prototyping, user testing, etc. The entire team studies your initial requirements and works on brainstorming ideas and creating prototypes. In this phase, you learn what is possible on different platforms and the limitations. You can also decide if you want to develop a native or cross-platform mobile application for various devices.

2. Designing

Next, your company will develop a design document for the application. This document should include information about the design of the interface and how it will function as well as any specific features that need to be included. This stage is about thinking about what your app will look like. If your app has a user interface (UI), this is where you'll work on creating wireframes and choosing colors, fonts, and other visual elements. If it doesn't have a UI (such as an informational app), this is when you'll work on its functionality—what features the user will have access to and the order in which they will be presented.

3. Development

The actual development of an application (or app) is done by programmers and developers who write code based on the information contained within the design document. Given that even simple apps tend to have complex code, this phase may take several weeks or months. You get your first working version of the product during this stage, which users can test for functionality, usability, and content accuracy. For example, when developing iOS applications, we usually create an Xcode project within Apple's IDE (Integrated Development Environment). We also use Apple's Interface Builder to create the initial screen designs. We use a provisioning profile to test the application, which allows us to upload our application in Test Flight mode.

4. Testing 

Smartphone apps have come a long way since the first iPhone was introduced in 2007. A quick look through Apple's app store now shows various categories: games, music, social media, utilities, and everything in between. Mobile apps have become such a staple of our lives that we can find them in various places throughout our smartphones—native apps (ones installed by the device manufacturer), third-party apps (those downloaded from online stores), and even as widgets on our home screens. The next step is testing, which involves ensuring that all of the app's functions are working properly and that there are no bugs. This phase may happen before or after development, depending on how closely your company works with another group—such as marketing—to ensure that everyone is on board before moving forward with development.

5. Publishing

This stage can also be called deploying. At this point, If your company has a website, it can publish its applications directly on the website or to various app stores so that your potential customers can download and use the app. 

6. Promoting

Finally, when everything is ready, you have probably published your application, you can promote it however you see fit. This includes both paid and free options like social media advertising, search engine optimization, content marketing, email marketing, etc.  

Conclusion

Mobile apps are not just a simple collection of icons to launch at will; mobile app development is an intricate process that involves many different stages. Mobile app development takes time and effort to complete. It does not happen overnight, nor does it happen after a few months of work. App development can take anywhere from several months to more than a year, depending on the type of app being created and the size of the team doing the work. Mobile app planning must happen before the actual creation can begin. So that in the end, the app can function effectively and contribute its benefits to the already important Mobile app development. Mobirevo is a leading mobile app development company in Nigeria that offers development services to companies in finance, healthcare, construction, retail, consumer products, logistics, industrial engineering, and entertainment over the years. Let’s talk about making your Mobile app ideas a reality! We follow a certified enterprise mobile app development process steps to ensure the success of your app's launch. Our skilled mobile app developers are here to assist you with your digital transformation. You can contact us today to get a free quote. Our team at Mobirevo strives to provide unrivaled services to all of our valued clients. You can also check out our case study page to see our client’s portfolio and better understand the quality of products we deliver. Also, contact us if you have any questions about our services, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Want to receive more content like this? You can sign up for our newsletter, which features curated opinions, and Mobile app development tools for building remarkable digital assets. If you sign up for our weekly newsletter, you will be the first to know when we publish awesome content like this. You can also visit our blog to see other content created with love by our amazing team.