MOBILE APPS: THE EVOLUTION

There is no shortage of news stemming from the current app phenomena. From headline stories such as Rovio raising over $42 Million (keep in mind that this is a company that was going bankrupt), Disney acquiring HTML5 mobile game developer Rocket Pack to soldiers developing apps that will help keep them safer on the battleground. Mobile apps have redefined everything we know about media and communication.

Mobile App Forward Trends

As device manufacturers churn out new devices such as tablets and more Android OS packed devices to battle it out for mobile dominance, we at AppsMarketing want to envision the next evolutionary wave of mobile apps.

Multiplayer AR

While still in its infancy, Mobile augmented reality has already attracted a great deal of hype and skepticism in equal measure. In a nutshell, AR delivers the possibility of overlaying digital information onto real world environments, viewed through your device’s camera. Albeit, impressive, the business models and use cases are still looking for their foothold.

Tip – pocket-lint for the image

The way we see it, AR will significantly heat up due to two main segments.

1. AR as a standalone interactive platform: Due to services such as the Juniao AR browser.

2. AR Multiplayer games: Giving players the opportunity to play and compete with each other in real-life spaces.

Tablet Based Gaming in itself is being touted as the next-gen mobile consoles.

“The iPad2 will turn what was a good gaming system into a great gaming system,” said Felix Roeken, general manager of Trinigy, which created the Vision Game Engine for iOS. “The dual camera could be used to generate more realistic avatars or enhance the social experience of games, either with live video during gameplay, or chat. The better performing browser might open up the development of more browser-based games” he explains.

Retail Based Apps

Smartphones and tablets are not the only devices where apps will dominate. As our cars get smarter, apps will inevitably become a bigger part of our driving experience. In addition, as businesses continue to innovate, particularly in the retail segment, apps will come into play in order to keep up with consumer product demands. Retailers have embraced the potential of digital signage. Many are already looking ahead at the potential of mobile devices. Apps are bound to be implemented throughout our shopping experience, allowing us to keep track of pricing, stock and most of all company branding, all in the name of customer loyalty.

Amazon, Polo Ralph Lauren, Best Buy, Target, Gilt Groupe, eBay, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Papa John’s, Dairy Queen and 1800Flowers.com – these are just a few of the many big name brands that are utilizing apps and mobile services in innovative ways. In a sense, they’re helping the retail industry grow while making life easier for consumers to shop and buy

Ariel Haroush CEO of i Display, Part of the Outform Group, “The effects of the mobile industry are making a huge impact in retail right now. Companies are looking at innovative ways to bring in new customers, deliver their messaging and maximize sales through the use of branded apps,” he shared. “The key is to deliver mobile content throughout the retail shopping experience via smart digital retail signage.”

Expect to see Android OS based point of sale devices sprouting up in a fashion boutique near you.

App Based Controlled Devices

Mobile devices go with us almost everywhere, using mobile apps as customizable controllers for gadgets, toys and in every day devices around us is almost inevitable. The latest app / gadget combos we are seeing are already sparking the interest of tech-gadget fans.

Sphero – Sphero is an innovative robotic ball that puts a whole new spin (in more ways than one) on the interactive experience by turning your smart phone into a robot controller. Sphero allows real-time data updates during game play, directly connects physical information from the ball to the phone, and works with almost all major smart phones via Bluetooth technology

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Parrot AR.Drone – The first Augmented Reality RC Quadricopter controlled by iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad (iOS) via paired WiFi. Or Holy-Flying-Awesomeness as I prefer to call it.

Screenovate - Screenovate extends the smartphone experience onto other media platforms such as TV, car media display and PC. In all fairness, screenovate isn’t quite an app, but we do see how apps can be used in conjunction with the technology.

API’s to 1UP Apps

What would any of these cool futuristic app-centric toys be without a solid API to let developers take their creations to the next level? Luckily the boys over at Orbotix, the makers of Sphero are launching a development program in conjunction with their release.

Apps Killed the Video Star

The Black Eyed Peas were among the first to take the music video experience and pull it into the 21st century. Their BEP-360 app is based around the video for the band’s The Time (Dirty Bit) video. By moving your mobile phone, viewers can experience different aspects of the video, and access layers of content, including an AR-enabled album cover, community-contributed comments and the Peas’ Twitter feed.

As music lovers we are hungry for more. In many ways we’ve become immune to scenes from music videos. The next logical step is bringing viewers into the experience and letting them interact with their favorite musicians.

By This Time Next Year

We’re sure to see innovation in every aspect of the mobile app industry. Hopefully by then, the predictions we mentioned above will have become a reality, One thing’s for sure, it will be fascinating to see what mobile app developers have up their sleeves, that we haven’t even dreamt of yet!

We’re handing it back over to you. What use cases do you see for the next evolution of mobile apps? How would you like to see them incorporated into your daily lives and if you’re working on the next awe-inspiring app, we’d love to know about it. Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to us on Twitter @Apps_Mktg.