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Mobile Apps

2017: A Year In Review

Infographic concept 2017 year of opportunities. New global trends and perspectives in online search, internet tools for business and project management. Vector illustration in thin line style.

As we approach the end of the year, we want to express our appreciation for our clients and their business in 2017. Many of our clients put their trust in us when we were a small upstart.  With their support, we have been able to take that trust and invest it in people and new products in order to become a full-service software company.  That investment has created tremendous growth as our team doubled in size and we added a variety of new capabilities. We could not have done that our amazing clients. Here is a brief overview of where we are and what the future holds:

  • There was great interest in our App Everywhere® program as many of our clients added support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into their apps.
  • We also added Alexa skills and are proud to have developed skills for close to 100 clients. If you saw our recent “smart speaker” study, it’s clear developing at-home presence will be a big deal next year,
  • In 2018, the App Everywhere® program will grow as we add products for devices like Google Home, AppleTV and Roku.
  • We’ll also be adding other new capabilities including push messaging and analytics.

All of these solutions are because our clients told us they needed them, and we really value the many ways in which they make us better.
2017 brought us a flurry of new mobile devices – the iPhone8, iPhoneX, the Galaxy S8 and Pixel 2, along with an upgraded iOS, and our platform was upgraded to handle this flawlessly. Our team is now focused on modernizing the platform to ensure it performs perfectly into the future.
In 2018, we hope to become more than just your mobile app developer. We are now providing web solutions and applications, and with the hiring of Research Director Jason Hollins, will roll out a package of research services, including usability, surveys, focus groups, and more.
We recently teamed up with our sister company, Jacobs Media Strategies, and Sonic Ai to conduct a national online study examining consumer interest in voice-controlled smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home during the 2017 holiday season, take a look at our results here.
One thing we’ve learned after nine years in the mobile business is that it never sleeps, so we can’t either. Stay tuned as our products grow and evolve, and you should always feel free to call us to discuss any element of your digital strategy, share ideas or needs you may have, or just talk about the mobile space.
On behalf of our wonderful jācapps team, we wish you health and happiness in the coming new year! Reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com to learn more.

Categories
Alexa Amazon Echo Google Home Mobile Apps Smart Home

Consumer spending within app stores is expected to hit $110 billion in 2018

Consumer spending within all app stores is anticipated to surpass $110 billion in 2018, with a shift in popularity of app categories. Entertainment apps have typically gained more popularity with consumers, but need-based apps (e.g., food delivery, payments, etc.) are on the rise. Need-based apps are usually discovered through word of mouth, but more consumers have begun seeking them out to help simplify their daily lives. Additionally, Apple and Google have begun work to reorganize their app stores in an effort to make newer apps more discoverable to users, which is likely to promote more downloads.
Popularity of AR apps will also be on the rise in the new year. Facebook, Google and Apple previously announced they are working to expand their AR capabilities. This type of expansion will open up the app stores for more developers to publish AR apps, generating more excitement from users.

Image Source

Astonishingly, downloads for Amazon’s Alexa app surged from 1 million to 3 million within just 3 months last year. This year’s trends are expected to show a growth well beyond that mark as more virtual assistants have been released before the holiday season.
We at jācapps wish you and yours Happy Holidays and look forward to speaking with you about your mobile needs in the new year! Reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com to learn more.

Categories
Alexa Amazon Echo Google Home Radio Smart Home Techsurvey

Smart speakers are this year’s trending gifts

UX

We recently collaborated with our sister company, Jacobs Media and Sonic Ai on a national study regarding smart speakers. Our online study shows that one in five (20%) respondents age 13 and older with Internet access plan to purchase a voice-controlled smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home during the 2017 holiday season.

Notably, more than one in six online households (18%) now own at least one smart speaker, with 40% of this group already having two or more of the devices in their household. Smart speaker owners are also especially likely to purchase another of these voice command gadgets for themselves or as a gift this holiday season. In fact, six in ten smart speaker owners (61%) plan to purchase at least one more device during this all-important gift-buying cycle.

The study also shows that one in ten online households (11%) specifically owns an Alexa-enabled Amazon smart speaker such as the Echo, Echo Dot and Show devices; the majority of these owners (69%) have at least one Alexa “skill” enabled, while 45% have two or more Alexa “skills” enabled.

Bob Kernen, COO of jācapps, notes, “With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now in the rearview mirror, both Amazon and Google continue to compete heavily to get as many of their smart speakers, now at their lowest price points ever, into as large a number of households as possible. This data strongly suggests smart speaker ownership will take off in the coming weeks.”

“Smart speakers are clearly the must-have gadget for the holidays. Like anything else, habits will form quickly which is the remarkable opportunity for broadcasters and podcasters. They need a smart audio strategy for smart speakers,” said Steve Goldstein, co-founder of Sonic Ai.

We can develop Alexa skills for your business. Reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com to learn more!

Categories
Alexa Amazon Echo Google Home Radio Smart Home Techsurvey

Smart speakers are this year's trending gifts

UX

We recently collaborated with our sister company, Jacobs Media and Sonic Ai on a national study regarding smart speakers. Our online study shows that one in five (20%) respondents age 13 and older with Internet access plan to purchase a voice-controlled smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home during the 2017 holiday season.
Notably, more than one in six online households (18%) now own at least one smart speaker, with 40% of this group already having two or more of the devices in their household. Smart speaker owners are also especially likely to purchase another of these voice command gadgets for themselves or as a gift this holiday season. In fact, six in ten smart speaker owners (61%) plan to purchase at least one more device during this all-important gift-buying cycle.
The study also shows that one in ten online households (11%) specifically owns an Alexa-enabled Amazon smart speaker such as the Echo, Echo Dot and Show devices; the majority of these owners (69%) have at least one Alexa “skill” enabled, while 45% have two or more Alexa “skills” enabled.
Bob Kernen, COO of jācapps, notes, “With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now in the rearview mirror, both Amazon and Google continue to compete heavily to get as many of their smart speakers, now at their lowest price points ever, into as large a number of households as possible. This data strongly suggests smart speaker ownership will take off in the coming weeks.”
“Smart speakers are clearly the must-have gadget for the holidays. Like anything else, habits will form quickly which is the remarkable opportunity for broadcasters and podcasters. They need a smart audio strategy for smart speakers,” said Steve Goldstein, co-founder of Sonic Ai.
We can develop Alexa skills for your business. Reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com to learn more!

Categories
Podcasting Radio Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 7 Takeaways Regarding Podcast Listening

connected car

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, hosts their Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it allows them to identify key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps radio stations better understand their brand and, more importantly, their audiences in a world where technology changes quickly. One of the insights this survey provides is what role podcasting plays for radio stations.

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about how radio listeners consume podcasts:

  • 21% of respondents listen to podcasts on a weekly basis or more. Furthermore, weekly or more podcast listening is the highest with Millennials at 33%.
  • 18% said they listen to 3-5 podcasts per week and 12% listen to 6 or more.
  • 45% hang around the house when they’re listening to podcasts and 37% said they are driving when listening. Additionally, 36% of those who were surveyed listen to podcasts while at work.
  • 51% of podcast listeners prefer to listen on their smartphone while 30% prefer their desktop/laptop.
  • 45% of respondents prefer music as their main podcast category, followed by radio shows that aired at 39%.
  • 38% of those surveyed use a web browser to listen to podcasts and 37% use the iTunes/Apple podcast app.
  • 16% of radio listeners said they’re listening to less radio due to podcasts with Millennials totaling 24%.

Take a look at jācapps Podcast Listening in 2017 Infographic below:

jācapps Podcast Listening in 2017 Infographic

 
So, what’s the best way of delivering podcasts and other on-demand content to your audience? Clearly, it’s with a mobile app. With Apple and Google getting involved in the connected car ecosystem, and more than a third of respondents driving while listening, the car is an important place for your brand to deliver its content.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
B2B Apps

Apps aren’t always obvious

One of the things we’ve learned over the past nine years we’ve been doing mobile applications is that there are an almost infinite number of ways mobile can improve a business.

When Stoneco of Michigan came to us, we weren’t sure how a large hauler of aggregate would use mobile. Stoneco realized they needed a more efficient way to communicate available inventory to its on-site and on-the-road customers. They were also unable to effectively communicate extended hours and other schedule changes to their broad customer base. In addition to this, Stoneco was looking to streamline quote, quality control, and order requests.

The app we built them is designed to help facilitate instant communication with Stoneco’s customers. Using the app, customers can:

  • Receive real time updates on product availability
  • Request a quote
  • Place an order
  • Set up delivery for an existing order
  • Contact sales
  • Contact dispatch
  • Contact quality control
  • View hours of operation at each site
  • View available products by location

Stoneco’s initial launch has seen all their top customers downloading and utilizing the application. Their current download count of 200 users may seem small. But because it’s the right 200 users, the app has delivered huge benefits for Stoneco’s business. And now that customers are in the habit the utilization is only expected to climb as their customers head into the 2018 construction season.

“Stoneco needed a smartphone app that could deliver real time updates to a wide range of customers and provide a streamlined way to receive requests from those customers. jācapps provided the complete solution to our needs and continues to exceed all our expectations in a professional, timely manner.” – Paul Cuthbert, Sales Manager, Stoneco of MI

It’s important for businesses to think innovatively about how mobile can help them. Unique uses of mobile we’ve executed include reaching consumers directly, or connecting business to business customers, or even apps that facilitate communications among a business’ staff. Whatever the need, we can help you figure out the right application.

To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
B2B Apps

Apps aren't always obvious

One of the things we’ve learned over the past nine years we’ve been doing mobile applications is that there are an almost infinite number of ways mobile can improve a business.
When Stoneco of Michigan came to us, we weren’t sure how a large hauler of aggregate would use mobile. Stoneco realized they needed a more efficient way to communicate available inventory to its on-site and on-the-road customers. They were also unable to effectively communicate extended hours and other schedule changes to their broad customer base. In addition to this, Stoneco was looking to streamline quote, quality control, and order requests.
The app we built them is designed to help facilitate instant communication with Stoneco’s customers. Using the app, customers can:

  • Receive real time updates on product availability
  • Request a quote
  • Place an order
  • Set up delivery for an existing order
  • Contact sales
  • Contact dispatch
  • Contact quality control
  • View hours of operation at each site
  • View available products by location

Stoneco’s initial launch has seen all their top customers downloading and utilizing the application. Their current download count of 200 users may seem small. But because it’s the right 200 users, the app has delivered huge benefits for Stoneco’s business. And now that customers are in the habit the utilization is only expected to climb as their customers head into the 2018 construction season.
“Stoneco needed a smartphone app that could deliver real time updates to a wide range of customers and provide a streamlined way to receive requests from those customers. jācapps provided the complete solution to our needs and continues to exceed all our expectations in a professional, timely manner.” – Paul Cuthbert, Sales Manager, Stoneco of MI
It’s important for businesses to think innovatively about how mobile can help them. Unique uses of mobile we’ve executed include reaching consumers directly, or connecting business to business customers, or even apps that facilitate communications among a business’ staff. Whatever the need, we can help you figure out the right application.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Mobile Apps

The Difference Between Native Apps and Hybrid Apps

Melbourne, Australia - May 23, 2016: Close-up view of Google Play Store on Android smartphone and Apple's App Store on iPhone. Both stores allow users to download app, music, movies and TV shows.

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 learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Mobile Apps

4 Essentials Needed to Build You a Great Mobile App

Mobile App Development, Experienced Team. Flat 3d isometric. Vector illustrations. EPS10 and JPG are available

The appeal of having a mobile app for your business is obvious. Just ask any smartphone user what some of their favorite apps are and they will have a a few favorites on the top of their head. Now if you were to ask them their favorite mobile website, you’ll most likely hear crickets chirping. It’s no secret why having an app can help grow your business so we wanted to provide you with a list of essentials needed before an app can go into production for your business.

Here are 4 things you need before we can build your brand the next great app.

  1. Apple Developer Account

One of the first things you’ll need to secure is a developer account from Apple. This account costs $99 USD per year and there is also an enterprise version which costs $299 USD annually. Users can post questions and share their thoughts with fellow developers and Apple engineers, submit bug reports and request enhancements, as well as receive personalized help by contacting Apple directly.
To set one up, and for more information, visit developer.apple.com.

  1. UDIDs (iPhone only)

A Unique Device Identifier, or UDID, is a sequence of 40 numbers and letters specific to each device. To find out what your UDID is, visit whatsmyudid.com (using Safari on your iPhone) then follow the prompts.
Here’s an example of what a UDID looks like: 2b6f0cc904d137be2e1730235f5664094b831186

  1. Images and artwork

To get started, we’ll need images and artwork specific to both iOS and Android devices, along with ones that can be used for both. For iOS, we’ll need one for the App Store listing along with one for an icon image (what appears on the user’s screen next to their other apps). For Android, we ask for a store listing image as well as a feature graphic. A header image is required for both iOS and Android. Sizes and examples can be viewed in the image below.
mobile app

  1. Feed and Stream Links

Your news and social media feeds are not only essential to keeping your audience engaged. They’re necessary for us to get started as well. This includes your RSS and/or XML feed(s). If you’re unsure how to provide us with these feeds, we are more than happy to help guide you through the process to get exactly what we are looking for.
OPTIONAL: Google Developer Account
Upon registration, there is a one-time fee of $25 USD. With this account, users can access development tools, manage their store presence, track app performance from their Android device, and receive help with publishing, security, and much more. Additional information can be found here.
Note: If you choose not to set up your own Google Developer Account we will build the app in our own account.
To sign up, visit Google Play then follow the prompts.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Mobile Apps

3 Reasons Why Small Businesses Should Have a Mobile App

A few years ago, building a mobile app was a challenge for most small businesses. The high costs involved and commitment of a mobile development team deterred many small businesses from creating an app for their brand. But with new technologies, and the massive popularity of mobile apps, creating an app is now easier and more convenient than ever before.
Small businesses should take advantage of this lucrative space. Here are some reasons why:

  1. Apps help increase sales
    Loyalty programs can be used to reward frequent shoppers, or help turn a seldom shopper into a frequent shopper. Doing this through an app eliminates the need to print out loyalty cards or worry about tracking transactions; everything is done conveniently through the user’s mobile device, saving your business time, effort, and money. Furthermore, if you know what products your customers enjoy, push notifications can help you increase revenue too. Sending them offers about products they’re interested in during off-peak hours will help your business add to its bottom line.
  2. Apps can help improve customer experience
    Through apps, you can offer consumers coupons and send announcements directly to their smartphone (or any other mobile device) which creates a more convenient way for them to browse, compare, and order your products/services. It can also provide post-sales support and information. Data that can be collected using apps provides insights into how customers interact with your brand. Small businesses can use this information to their advantage and personalize a great in-app experience tailored for each individual customer.
  3. Apps can help maintain a competitive advantage
    People prefer apps over mobile websites. In fact, 87% of all time spent on mobile devices is spent using apps. Even further, comScore reports that among the top 1,000 apps and mobile websites, apps have an audience that’s 2.5 times as big and growing twice as fast*. If you can effectively, and consistently, promote your business’s app and remain one of the 27 apps that smartphone owners use per month, it won’t be hard to maintain a competitive advantage within your industry.

To learn more about how mobile apps can help your small business grow, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com.
 
*comScore 2015 U.S. Mobile App Report