Category: Mobile Apps

In this year’s Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest survey, more than four in ten (42%) smartphone owners agree, or strongly agree, that they’re addicted to their mobile phone. That’s an increase of 6% from the previous year. When you consider all the things they can do, it’s easy to understand how people can develop a dependency on these devices. Whether you work in an office, on the deck of a cruise ship, in the kitchen of a 5-star restaurant, or on a Broadway stage, mobile phone technology has probably made your life easier and more entertaining.

What are people doing when they’re fueling mobile phone addiction? It’s simple – they’re using apps. In fact, a recent report from eMarketer shows that mobile apps will account for about 85% of total mobile time spent throughout this year. From listening to digital audio to social networking and gaming, the way these devices change the way we live should not be taken for granted.
The addictive quality of smartphones, and other mobile devices for that matter, is something every brand tap into in their own unique way. You should be thinking about what unique product or service you can deliver to this audience. Over the past decade, we have experienced first-hand the joy apps deliver to our clients. Having your brand appear on the screen of your consumer’s most precious possession is a rush, and maybe the most important part of future-proofing your brand.
So, with that being said, we have one question for you…

How is your brand delivering to our culture of mobile “addicts?”

As always, we’d love to talk anything mobile. Click here to reach out to us today, call 248-353-9030, or email sales@jacapps.com.

We’ve said it before. Mobile apps continue to outpace mobile web in time spent. In fact, per eMarketer, mobile apps are expected to account for about 85% of total mobile time spent in 2017. This means mobile internet users will average about two and a half hours per day using apps. Meanwhile, time spent with a mobile browser is expected to remain stagnant at 26 minutes per day.

It’s safe to say people love mobile apps

Judging by the sheer dominance in the way apps have outpaced mobile web, it’s safe to say people love and prefer the apps on their smartphones and other mobile devices. This is not hard to understand considering apps are easy to use, and they can provide users with instant gratification. Mobile web can sometimes make for a frustrating experience, especially when the website isn’t optimized for mobile.
Cathy Boyle, eMarketer Principal Analyst, says “American consumers spend the bulk of their app time conducting five activities: listening to digital audio, social networking, gaming, video viewing, and messaging.”
What this means is that if you want to keep consumers engaged with your brand, you should offer them an app. And that app should deliver more than just your stream. To drive engagement and get your audience talking to you, your app should be unique… like your brand. Offer users on-demand audio and video content, as well as different ways to interact with you (like social media), to create a fully engaging mobile experience.
Another key finding in eMarketer’s report was as Americans’ in-app time goes up, the number of apps they’re using is slowly declining. In 2016, US smartphone users used an average of 21 apps per month on their smartphones. By the end of the forecasting period, that number is expected to drop to 20.1 apps.

This isn’t surprising news since we reported back in September that 63% of app users become inactive within the first 30 days. For this reason, it’s important to keep your customer base engaged. Mobile apps create an instant connection between your business and your audience. People who download your app are likely your best customers, and they give your brand a small piece of precious real estate on their device so your message is never more than a tap away – useful to them and your business.
There’s a reason why our apps have generated more than 28 million downloads worldwide – we put the end user first. Click here to reach out to us today, give us a call at 248-353-9030, or email sales@jacapps.com.

By: Vinson Kattoula

With the 2017 MLB season in full swing (no pun intended), we thought it would be fun to share our choices for the best apps to help you keep track of everything, from stats to the best seats in the stadium, all season long.

Here are 9 mobile apps you should be using this baseball season:

1. MLB.com At Bat

As the official app of Major League Baseball, MLB.com At Bat offer users a great way to keep track of breaking news, scores, player and team stats, schedules, trade rumors, and much more. The app offers two subscription options, monthly and yearly, for its extensive premium features, covering MLB games from Opening Day to the World Series.
MLB.com At Bat can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS.

2. MLB.com Ballpark

The MLB.com Ballpark app is the official mobile companion for visiting any MLB ballpark. You can access guides to all the MLB ballparks including concession maps, driving directions, and fan services plus mobile food ordering and experience upgrades at select ballparks.
Additionally, the app lets you create a personalized game journal including a history of all the games you attended, your game photos, team stats from your visits and access to the best game highlights.
MLB.com Ballpark is available for free on Android and iOS.

3. TeamSnap

This is the perfect app for keeping track of the company softball team, or your kid’s little league. Primarily a communication device it helps you keep track of practice and game schedules, as well as who can make it and who can’t. You can also send messages and share photos from the games.
The TeamSnap app can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS.

4. iScore Baseball/Softball

This mobile app allows coaches, parents, and fans alike to keep a detailed record of the progress of the game. Using the app, you can score youth baseball/softball, high school games, college games, and, of course, professional games. It’s a great tool for serious baseball enthusiasts who want to follow along the game and keep their own set of stats.
iScore Baseball/Softball can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS.

5. MLB Perfect Inning 16

This mobile game lets you build your own all-star baseball team and make a run for the World Series. As you progress through the season, you earn points which can be spent on buying new players or upgrading your existing lineup. Players can engage in Season Mode, or play through the season’s daily matchups using the MLB Today mode.
MLB Perfect Inning 16 is available for free on Android and iOS.

6. Sports Alerts – MLB Edition

Sports Alerts focuses on getting users LIVE, FAST scores and stats on their phone, tablet, or wearable. The main concentration is more on the numbers of baseball rather than the news which makes it excellent for those who just want to see what’s happening in the game. The app uses real push technology with no background services running for faster alerts with no wasted bandwidth or battery life, and all your received alerts are saved in your alert history in case you miss any.
Sports Alerts – MLB Edition can be downloaded for free on Android.

7. MLB.com Beat the Streak

Your goal is to break baseball’s toughest record – the legendary 56-game hitting streak. Pick one or two players who you think will get a hit each day, make correct picks for 57 straight games, and the grand prize of $5,600,000 could be yours. The game is free and takes only 15 seconds a day to play.
MLB.com Beat the Streak is available for free on Android and iOS.

8. ESPN Fantasy Sports

Casual and die-hard fantasy baseball players will both enjoy ESPN’s fantasy platform on their mobile app. The app makes it easy for users to set rosters, browse the free agency, make trades, manage multiple teams, follow stats, review scores, and post messages to their league. It also offers players fantasy football, basketball, and hockey leagues during their respective seasons.
ESPN Fantasy Sports can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS.

9. MiLB First Pitch

As the official mobile app for Minor League Baseball, users can use the app to get live updates for every game and complete stats, schedules, standings, and news for all 160 clubs. They can also search for their favorite team(s) by level and by MLB affiliate. The app offers push notifications for game alerts, home game reminders, and breaking news.
MiLB First Pitch is available for free on Android and iOS.
In addition to these apps, there’s also individual team apps that provides users with updates centered around their favorite team. Popular features include a team schedule, scores, stats, player news, and team updates. They usually don’t have as many features as a full-fledged MLB app, but they’re great for fans who like to keep a closer eye on their favorite team.
As always, we’ve love to talk mobile with you. Click here to set up a conversation about your brand’s mobile strategy. You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or shoot us an email.
P.S. Go Tigers!

Over the last few years, many businesses have made the commitment to mobile. They understand the power of having a mobile app, and how it can grow their brand, reach consumers, and capture more revenue. There is more than one approach to mobile, and one of the first strategic decisions you’ll have to make is: Native or Hybrid.

Here’s a quick rundown on both native apps and hybrid apps

Native apps are developed specifically for a given mobile operating system (OS). This type of app follows the technical and user experience (UX) guidelines of that particular OS. The reason for this is so that the code runs more efficiently and that each function of the app will work smoothly with the device’s internal tools such as the camera, microphone, compass, accelerometer, gestures, etc. This allows for faster performance and an app that “feels right” to the end user based on their experience of and knowledge of the Android or Apple operating system. Since all native apps must follow the same guidelines, each one will have a look and feel that’s consistent with other native apps on the device. This means it will take less time for users to familiarize themselves with your app.
Hybrid apps are essentially driven by a company’s website. This kind of app loads most of the information on the screen as the user navigates their way through the app versus a native app that downloads most of the content when the user initially installs the app. Since one app can be released across multiple operating systems, hybrid apps are typically easier to develop. This makes life easier for the developer since they only have to maintain one version of the source code. What this also means is that getting the app into each app store takes less time and effort because there are fewer requirements to meet. Furthermore, updating a hybrid app is much simpler for the user. Instead of updating the app through the respective app store, the user will see updates within the app as they navigate through it – unless a new feature that dramatically changes the user experience is added.

Which route should your business take?

There is no wrong choice when it comes to deciding which route to take for your mobile app. However, there is a better choice and that choice is native apps. Overall, native apps perform better than hybrid apps, offer the highest security possible, and present a better experience for the end user. The user experience is probably the most important difference. In fact, according to Dynatrace, almost half of consumers are less likely to use the mobile app again due to a poor experience – and 34% would switch to a competitor’s mobile app. Click here to learn more about the importance of mobile UX.
 
Source: Dynatrace Mobile App Survey Report
Check out a few of the native apps that we’ve developed here. To get an even better understanding of how our services can help your business grow, click here to set up a conversation, call us at 248-353-9030, or email us today!

By: Vince Kattoula

If you live in Southeastern Michigan, there’s a good chance you went to sleep without power on Wednesday night and woke up without power on Thursday morning. Throughout the day on Wednesday, a severe wind storm caused the second largest power outage in DTE Energy’s history. High winds ripped countless trees from the ground, many of which fell onto DTE’s poles and power lines triggering more than 850,000 homes throughout Michigan to lose power.
Most people were not at home during the height of the storm, prompting them to check DTE’s website. However, their only option was DTE’s mobile app since the website crashed due to the high amount of traffic. People who were home during the power outage, used the app to find out how long it would be before their power was restored. Using the app, customers can report an outage, check the status of an outage, and view an outage map all from their smartphone. The DTE Energy mobile app is available for free on iOS and Android.

This is yet another reminder why mobile apps hold the advantage over mobile websites. A well designed mobile site can take care of many problems, but it still can’t do things a mobile app can do. First, apps are less vulnerable to this type of situation. As long as the cell towers are working, apps can be accessed for news and other information. Mobile apps can also send push notifications, be accessed offline, and send geo-targeted messages. They also offer another way to get in front of your customers while securing a spot for your logo on their device’s screen. Being able to accommodate consumers when they need you the most is just as important for them as it is for you.
This got us thinking about the numerous uses for apps beyond the typical. Apps are great during emergency situations like the wind storm in Michigan on Wednesday. They’re also very effective when critical messaging needs to get out in a hurry. The best way to communicate with people is on their smartphone, and there’s no better way of doing that than with an app. So when it comes to your mobile strategy, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Click here to set up a conversation about how we can help with your mobile strategy.
So be sure to keep your smartphone battery charged, and we hope everyone’s power comes back on very soon.
You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

By: Vince Kattoula

Mobile apps are a great way to help you relax after a long day. With all the games and media apps out there, it can be easy to get distracted and end up spending countless hours wasting time. But apps don’t always have to be time-wasters. They can help you be more productive throughout the day, and some even save you money.

Here are a few of those money-saving apps.

Mint.
With Mint, users can manage their money and keep track of their finances with ease by bringing together their bank accounts, credit cards, bills, and other investments. By seeing everything in one place, you can save time and money since there’s no need to log into multiple apps or websites. The app offers tips to save money, pay off debt, grow your credit score, and ways to better manage your budget. And, best of all, it’s free.

Mint is available on iOS and Android.

RetailMeNot.
RetailMeNot is an award-winning mobile app that helps people save money while shopping and eating out. With deals from over 50,000 retailers and food offers from thousands of local and national restaurants, this app offers tons of ways to save. A savings map with all the offers near your location alerts users about nearby deals.

RetailMeNot is available for free on iOS and Android.

Ibotta.
Ibotta helps people save money in a different way. Instead of hunting down promo codes, clipping coupons, and screenshotting barcodes, Ibotta helps you earn cash back on the brands you love. How it works is simple. Users unlock savings when they shop then submit their receipt or link their loyalty card to verify their purchase. After that, they can cash out using PayPal, Venmo, or a gift card. According to Ibotta, they’ve helped users save over $150,000,000 since their launch in 2011.

Ibotta is available for free on iOS and Android.

GasBuddy.
With a community of 60 million users who provide information about gas prices, this app helps people find the cheapest gas near their location. These stations can be found by distance or price, and users earn points and achievements for reporting gas prices. Furthermore, users can enter to win $100 in free gas every day! As if saving you money wasn’t enough.

GasBuddy is available for free on iOS and Android.

BestParking.
Driving around the city looking for parking sucks. What sucks even more is the fact that some of these lots charge an arm and a leg just to park your car. BestParking is a great app to avoid this since it finds the cheapest and most convenient parking facilities in 105 cities and 115 throughout North America. BestParking is so confident that they have the most accurate data out of any parking app out there that they offer a $5 Starbucks eGift to any user who reports inaccurate information. The app boast more than 2 million downloads and 1 million monthly users.

BestParking is available for free on iOS and Android.

Have a recommendation? Click here, give us a call at 248-353-9030, or email sales@jacapps.com to let us know if there’s a mobile app you think we should add to this list. As always, you can also reach out to us for input on your mobile strategy.

Finding a mobile app developer who understands your vision and knows how to execute it is not easy. Finding an app developer to help you is a great idea, but finding the right partner is more important in the long run than saving a few dollars. Here are some things to look for when choosing a mobile app developer for your business.

Can they do more than code?

A good development company should be able to guide your brand from strategy to concept to code. If they don’t have a strong knowledge of your business they’ll never be able to give you the creative input you need. If they have experience with similar businesses, that’s even better.

Can they back up their work?

If they have created some kick-ass apps, they will have clients willing to back them up. Look for developers who can easily provide client contact information so you can get real feedback on their work, and the experience of working with them. Explore their social media sites and make sure to check their website for any testimonials and any other feedback from their customers. Click here to see what some of our clients have said about working with us over the last couple years.

Can you “develop” a relationship with them?

Mobile app development is not a one-and-done process – it’s much more than that. There are constant changes to the Apple and Google operating systems that will require updates to your app. Look for a developer that will stay by your side throughout the life of your app.
Our Monthly Maintenance Plan, or MMP, includes preferred and automatic responses to major Android and iOS upgrades that affects the app’s performance. It also includes automatic inclusion of major templates upgrades when made available. This is just another way we strive to provide our clients with the best possible customer service.
The right mobile app developer will add value in more ways than just development. In turn, this will help your business reach more of your target market and maximize your revenue. Click here to reach out and get more of an idea of how we can help your brand with mobile. You can also call 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.