Thinking of building an Android app for your business? Not sure what the process of Android application development actually involves? How much will it cost, and how long will it take? Find the answers to all those questions, plus more, below.
What is Android?
Android is the name of a popular mobile operating system or OS. It’s primarily used to build mobile phones and tablets. Google owns Android OS but it is what’s known as an ‘open-source operating system’ meaning the source code is freely available for anyone to access and use. As such, a number of other mobile phone companies also use Android to build their devices, including Samsung.
It can also be helpful to describe what Android isn’t, which is the program used to build Apple products. Apple has its own operating system, known as iOS.
Why should I choose Android over iOS?
It’s impossible to answer this question without understanding your specific app idea and target market.
Broadly speaking, however, Android occupies a far greater percentage of the smartphone market share than iOS. This fact comes as a surprise to many but statistics show iOS accounts for approximately 25.5 percent of all smartphone purchases compared to Android’s 70 percent.
With that in mind, building an Android app increases your potential target market. The main platform that hosts and sells Android apps is the Google Play Store. While Apple’s App Store has quite strict requirements about the types of apps it will accept (and how often they have to be updated) the Google Play Store is slightly more lax, making it easier to upload and advertise your software.
In saying that, you can only really know if Android is the right OS for you by speaking with a professional app development team.
How much does it cost to build a mobile app?
Another question that can’t really be answered without specific information about the scale and scope of your potential app. Building an app can cost anywhere between a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A better question is perhaps the factors that dictate the total price. These include:
- The size and complexity of the application — a simple calculator, for example, is going to be a lot cheaper than a social media app
- The number of screens that need to be designed
- How many devices it is available on — mobile, mobile and tablet, mobile, tablet, and smartwatch
- Whether payment gateway integration is required
- How many languages the app is available in
- Whether the app features advertisements
- The level of security required
- Ongoing maintenance.
As an experienced provider of mobile app development in Melbourne, Newpath Web will work with you to ensure you are happy with both the quality and cost of your application. We believe in making technology affordable and accessible, and our prices reflect this.
How long does Android app development take?
It will come as no surprise that the answer to this question depends on the size of your app. However, as the saying goes, good things take time.
There’s a lot more that goes into Android application development than just hands-on development. Any app, regardless of its size or complexity, will benefit from thorough strategic planning. Identifying your target market and designing an app tailored to their needs may take time but the effort you put in at this early stage of development will certainly pay off in the long run.
Put it this way — Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will your app be. At the same time, there’s no need to set aside years to get your software idea off the ground.
How can I make money from my app?
Before you get too carried away with the idea of making millions from your app, understand that Android app monetisation is quite a tricky business. While it is possible to make a profit, it comes down to picking the right strategy.
The vast majority of apps on the Google Play Store are free to download — 96.7 percent, in fact. Offering your app at a fixed download price is a risky strategy; your customers are likely to just look elsewhere. Other popular monetisation strategies include:
- In-app purchases
- Subscription model
- In-app advertising
- Data monetisation
Whatever strategy you choose, know that customers will not have patience for anything that interferes with the user experience. Prominent ads, for example, are generally a no-no.
Will my app need updates?
Yes. The vast majority of apps will require on-going maintenance and updates.
There are a range of reasons for this. No matter how much time is spent on the development and testing stages, you’re likely to discover bugs once the app has been released — that’s just part and parcel of Android app development.
Technology is also constantly evolving. 12 months after releasing your app, you may come up with a new feature that will help users better engage. This type of work can fall under the bracket of maintenance.
How can I advertise my app?
Search engine optimisation, or SEO, is the term used to describe optimising your content for Google’s algorithms. The same principles can be applied when marketing your mobile app in a process known as App Store Optimisation.
App Store Optimisation — ASO — involves implementing a series of strategies designed to improve the visibility of your app on the Google Play Store. By implementing strategic keywords in your descriptions, including high-quality screenshots and videos, and having plenty of positive ratings and reviews, you increase the likelihood that Google will recommend your app to other customers.
The benefit of working with a full-services digital agency like Newpath Web is that you have access to our broad range of digital experts. Not only can we build your app, we can market it too.
If you have any further questions about the process of Android application development or are interested in discussing your Android app idea, contact the team at Newpath Web today! As one of the most experienced providers of mobile app development in Melbourne, we’re certain we’ve got the answers for you.
