We've compiled the most important information you should know before you start developing your mobile app.
Why choose Pixelmate for mobile app development?
Why choose Pixelmate for mobile app development?
- Pixelmate is a long-standing player in the mobile app development market.
- We develop apps exclusively on a custom basis - we don't use templates, we don't rent one app to hundreds of clients. We develop apps for both Android and iOS.
- We have our own design studio - we draw, design and program the mobile app.
- We are not "just" developers - we can think for the client and design successful products.
- We specialize in startups. We have been at the creation of a large number of successful projects and can avoid many mistakes.
Are you planning to develop a mobile app? Book a no-obligation consultation.
What is the process of developing a mobile app?
- The first step is always a consultation. Most clients are not 100% tech-savvy, so we create the brief, architecture, and even the business model of the mobile app together.
- In the second step, we design, draw, prototype, approve and create the identity of the project.
- Only in the third step we program the app. When developing an Android app, we have to follow the rather strict rules of the Google Play store. Every app has to be reviewed by a team of people at Google before it goes to market.
- Once we have the app ready, we test it and upload it to Google Play or another Store.
- We take care of most mobile apps after deployment, helping to develop and analyze them. We also often help with expansion into other markets.
How do I actually upload the Android mobile app?
Once the app development is complete, the Android app needs to be uploaded to Google Play, where it can be downloaded to your phone. We've broken down how this upload process works in the bullet points below.
- The first step is to create a Google Play account. For clients, we usually set up Google Play on a turnkey basis, as it is not a completely straightforward process.
- Once Google Play has been set up, we need to sort out all the certificates, set up the Play store correctly, add texts, descriptions and categories. There's a lot involved and the setup process usually takes a few days.
- Now we have Google Play set up and we can upload our created Android mobile app. Google clicks through the app before publishing, looks at the source code, the design of the app, and if everything is in order and in compliance with the rules, it publishes the app.
What happens if Google rejects a mobile app?
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon, it can happen. There are a number of reasons why Google may reject a mobile app. Here are the most common ones:
- The mobile app violates Google's rules.
- The app's reviewers need to explain or clarify something.
- The app isn't well written or the design doesn't follow Google's rules.
- The app violates the guidelines and cannot be published on Google Play.
If Google rejects a mobile app, it can be re-uploaded with corrections or added information.
A professional mobile app developer should be able to prevent problems and should be able to alert the client to potential issues in advance. We set up and handle everything turnkey for most Google Play clients on a proxy basis.
What about mobile app monetization?
Most clients build apps to make money from them. The entire mobile app market is growing significantly every year. You can find more detailed information in this beautifully crafted article.
But what are the monetization options?
The topic of monetizing mobile apps is for a separate article, but below we summarize at least the most basic models of how mobile apps make money, whether it is an Android or iOS app.
- Subscriptions - does the app have anything to offer? Do you have interesting content? Are users willing to pay for your app? Then there is a subscription option.
- Freemium model - a very common and popular model lately that we are all very familiar with. Part of the app is free and some sections or features are locked. You use the app, have a good experience with it and after a while you want to pay for the premium content yourself.
- In-app advertising - the app may be completely free for users, but they will see advertising that pays the app author.
- Sophisticated ads - many users find the classic vague in-app advertising literally annoying. That's why we often set up more specific models and sales strategies. The use of user data, coupled with a specific, non-invasive offer, is gaining in importance.
- Monetization from data and information - some apps can capture user information that can be further monetized outside the app.
- Customer care - every modern company is aware that they need to be in touch with their clients. What better and more elegant way to do this than to be on the client's mobile phone? Are you more comfortable seeing an ad for pool accessory sales on a billboard by the side of the road, or are you better off getting a notification once a year from your pool manufacturer that pump maintenance will need to be done?
- Customer Acquisition - People are using mobile apps more today than ever before. Since covid, time spent on the phone has literally increased exponentially. The younger generation of people today don't need a personal computer, they are able to arrange and purchase everything over the phone.
- Selling a startup - A very common monetization option is to create a great, modern mobile app that solves some current need/problem in the market. Large corporates and investment funds are looking for opportunities in the market and already in the Czech Republic this market is starting to work quite solidly.
What are the most common questions when developing a mobile app for Android?
What will I need to get started with app development? On your end, you should have a comprehensive view of what you would like to create. What should the app be able to do? Who should use it? Should the app make money somehow? All topics will be discussed in personal meetings. Don't worry, you don't have to have anything technical ready, we can help with everything.
Does the app have to be for both Android and iOS?
It doesn't have to. Mobile apps are often developed for one platform first, then the other platform is developed after the launch. But it's often better to develop an app for both platforms because they have a large presence with one target user group. We discuss more about the platforms in this article. The question of choosing a platform must be asked before development begins.
Is it better to make a web app or a mobile app?
The answer in a nutshell is - it depends. Sometimes it is better to launch a project on the web, of course with mobile adaptation. Sometimes a mobile app is more appropriate. A simple guideline can then be to ask - where are your users likely to be? Are they more likely to see your project on a mobile phone or will they be browsing the web? Sometimes we also come to the conclusion that it's best to create both a mobile and web app, albeit with slightly different functionality.
How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?
If you are developing a custom mobile app, the price can always be estimated after you and your technical partner create a detailed brief. It's exactly the same as when you build a customized house. If someone tells you the exact price early on, they pass on the risk that the price will change during development or you won't get what you wanted at the beginning.
How much does it cost to run the app?
Running a mobile app doesn't usually cost much anymore. However, it is quite individual. However, we try to develop mobile apps as maintenance-free as possible. We avoid expensive licenses wherever possible and program apps in technologies that are relevant today. Older technologies can require far more complex maintenance than robust and modern programming languages. To answer the question, running a mobile app usually requires a sheer fraction of the costs associated with developing it.
Do you have a mobile app idea or development questions? Drop us a line!
