Mobile phones – or smartphones, as they are now referred to - are an integral as well as inseparable part of our daily lives. This is something that would have been hard to imagine 20 years ago when the concept was limited only to wireless voice calling. Indeed, mobile phones have come a long way from being those heavy boxes with a tiny screen, buttons, and an antenna.
Over the years - and especially over the last 10 years - mobile phone technology has grown to a point that has made the devices smaller in size, and way bigger in applicability. It isn’t just about making phone calls anymore. The smartphones of today allow you to do nearly everything that your PC/laptop can; including buying a PC/laptop online.
Such is the nature of our attachment (and dependence) to our smartphones, that we feel odd if aren’t around for any reason whatsoever. And one of the key drivers behind said attachment are mobile apps. Be it games, e-retail, lifestyle, or any other functional utility; mobile apps are, in layman’s terms, great contributors to the ‘smartness’ of smartphones. The reality is, however, somewhat deeper than that, and constitutes the actual brains behind any such construct - mobile app development companies. This is because, all said and done, they are responsible for its practical development.
The Android Story
Furthermore, there exists the aspect of mobile app development platforms themselves; of which there are two that dominate the market - iOS, and Android. And even though the competition is quite even, with each side showcasing their advantages & drawbacks, most app owners, prospective or otherwise, will probably choose Android first.
The first reason for this is that Android app development is completely royalty-free, and also comes as an open source platform. Another reason for choosing the services of Android app developers is due to the exponentially larger market share that Android enjoys, as compared to any other platform on the market. The scope of visibility that this brings to the table, is only augmented by the fact that Android has a better likelihood of grabbing in-app advertising revenue.
The IoT angle
The IoT (Internet of Things) trend is one that is currently taking the world by storm. The main reason for this is that IoT application extends the convenience, versatility, and flexibility of smartphone automation, to everyday appliances, utilities, etc. This includes devices such as lights, refrigerators, air conditioners, beds, doors, windows; and pretty much all basic home appliances. As one can see, home automation is a key focus area of IoT application.
And where does Android fit in with all this? Well, all IoT devices draw their enablement from wireless connectivity, thereby allowing users to communicate with them. It, therefore, makes sense that said communication take place through a medium that users are already in possession of - their smartphone, tablet, etc. And the physical interface for any such interaction will have to be enabled by mobile apps. This is where Android app development companies are really edging over the competition, with more time, as well as efforts of Android app developers invested in IoT applications, as compared to iOS.
Here are the key reasons that Android plays such a major role in IoT
• The better platform
As mentioned earlier, mobile apps are instrumental in giving physical representation to the interaction between IoT devices and its users. And the first choice for most people is to go for Android app development. This is largely owing to the fact that Android holds simply the greatest share of a market that services millions of people. Add on to this the benefits of a royalty-free, open source development platform, and it becomes quite clear as to why Android app development makes for a more lucrative option, both for app owners, as well as other investors.
• The Java advantage
It is a well-known fact that while Android does support native programming languages, its core language (development tool) is Java. Seeing as most IoT devices today are also built on Java, it makes sense for an Android platform integration. This is because Android app development will result in a better drive for the application, instead of having the system embedded with a dedicated (separate) device.
• A universal front-end
One of the major reasons for the popularity of Android as a platform is the fact that it is a free-for-all, open source software. This allows for Android app developers to create apps in a cohesive environment, one that is built based on collective co-operation. This results in a significant amount of time saved for developers, making it a more efficient alternative in the high dynamism that currently prevails over the IoT device market.
