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All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, “Oh, why can’t you remain like this for ever!” This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

MBaaS – Streamline your App Development

For developers, setting up and managing a cloud-based backend for their mobile app can be time consuming. Enterprise apps may require a great deal of features, including synchronization, support for push notifications, expert file handling and other features before the front end of the app itself can work. On top of this, there is potentially cross-platform testing and management, plus web-based applications to wrangle, creating the need for a multitude of systems and structures in place before app development can be completed.

How Does MBaaS Work?
MBaaS – Mobile Backend as a Service – aims to change all that. Without MBaas, there are a variety of steps app developers must go through in order to properly configure everything from the database to user security to ensuring the finished infrastructure is compatible with both Android and iOS flavors. Much in the same way bootstrapping has changed the way websites are developed, MBaas is a sort of light switch for enterprise app development – putting into place the key structures that shortcut the time necessary to incorporate all of these necessary pieces.

For example, with MBaaS, the server is already configured, the database is already built and in some cases. The service is ready, user account access and security are in place, push notifications are enabled and other native services are ready to go. For enterprise apps, this dramatically enhances development speed and provides a reliable solution for a variety of mobile configurations right out of the box.

What are the Benefits to Using MBaaS?
One of the biggest benefits to using MBaaS is the availability of built-in cross platform support. Even if an app is not currently cross-platform, building this functionality in at a later time would be like building a basement after your house was already constructed. Most enterprise level MBaaS products include shared tenant cloud hosting but if you need dedicated servers, that option is available. You can leverage existing managed services like Amazon Web Services to provide always-on access with the added plus of dedicated servers that only the core app team can access and use.

Enterprise-level MBaaS solutions allow the use of importing external data sources as well as crucial authentication and authorization features. If you’re looking for a way to integrate MBaaS into your existing app development infrastructure, these are two key features you don’t want to be without.

Built-In Benefits
As part of its built-in feature set, enterprise-grade MBaaS products leverage vital business systems including user authentication and management (social logins, password reset, email verification) and secure synchronized data. This allows users to take advantage of your app on any device while still keeping their data intact and recent. MBaaS also allows for built-in push notifications. Basic integration can be further customized by the app developer, but no matter which solution you choose, push notifications need to be received by users on both Android and iOS.

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All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, “Oh, why can’t you remain like this for ever!” This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

A pay-by-phone app can be a great way for a business to simplify the payment process for its customers, to make shopping quicker and more convenient, and to reward its most loyal clientele with discounts and other incentives. Done correctly, a quality app can increase your sales and improve customer satisfaction, leading to higher profits and increased loyalty. There are several features that many of the best pay-by-phone apps have in common, and they should all be considered necessary to make sure your app thrives and sets your business apart in today’s crowded marketplace.

Great Usability

If it can’t get done in a few swipes or taps, your app is likely to fail. Complicated user interfaces can frustrate customers and make them abandon your app before they can learn to appreciate its benefits. By making sure your app is intuitive and easy to use, you can keep your customers interested and using the app, increasing sales. For day to day use, keep the interface as simple as possible to use, limiting choices such as payment options to only what is necessary, and put the more complicated or less frequently used options in a secondary “Settings” area.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

To be useful, your app must be available to the widest variety of customers. At a minimum, this means your app should be compatible with iPhones and Android devices, but you should also consider making it available for users of other platforms, such as Widows Phone or BlackBerry, as well. To make cross-platform use consistent, you should try to keep the user interface and options as similar as possible between platforms and avoid using system-specific features that are not replicated on other platforms.

Usage of Embedded Hardware

Phones with near-field communication ability or quality cameras can be used to enhance the payment and shopping experience. When available, your pay-by-phone app should take advantage of NFC to process payments, allowing the transaction to be completed with a simple tap of the phone. This makes the process easier for both your business and your customer, and ensures a secure transaction. Your app can also enhance the shopping experience by using the device’s camera to process bar orders or QR codes, allowing more information about a product to be displayed, or adding a product to a digital cart to be purchased. With better product information and an easier check-out process, customers will likely frequent a business more often and spend more money.

Plenty of Payment Options

Customers prefer a wide range of options when it comes to payment options. A good pay-by-phone app should have several payment options, such as multiple credit cards, at least one bank account, PayPal or another Internet payment system and a prepaid account option. This makes it easy for your customers to supply payment and reduces the chances of declined payments and the hassles that go along with them. The app should also make it simple to switch between payment options at will, and to add or remove options when necessary.

Rewards Program

By adding a rewards program to your app, you can make your customers feel more appreciated, which will encourage repeat visits and increase sales. Programs like percentage discounts, loyalty bonuses and free products are easy to incorporate into your app and will further increase its adoption and usage amongst your customers, since they will receive something tangible in return.

Extra Information

In addition to improving the shopping and payment experiences, your pay-by-phone app should also offer a wide variety of helpful information to your customers. This can include location information and directions, which can be tied to the device’s GPS unit, store hours, contact information and full information about all of your products. This data can be extremely valuable to your customers and make the shopping experience much more convenient.

With these important features, your pay-by-phone app will have the basics to make it a convenient and popular payment option for your customers. As usage of your app increases, and more features are added, you should see improvements in both your sales figures and your profits.

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All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, “Oh, why can’t you remain like this for ever!” This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

Link: St. Louis Blues

Audio shortcode:

“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.”

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All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, “Oh, why can’t you remain like this for ever!” This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

It’s no secret that top apps on each platform have strong mobile user experiences and enjoy a kind of prestige and envy from all types of developers. But do the most popular apps secretly reveal a little more insight into the habits and personalities of their customers? Let’s take a closer look.

Top 5 Apps for iOS

The top five most popular free apps for iOS are:

– Facebook Messenger
– Facebook
– Instagram
– YouTube
– Snapchat

The top five most popular paid apps are:

– Minecraft Pocket
– Dark Sky Weather
– Heads Up (a party game made popular by Ellen DeGeneres)
– Lifeline (A text-based astronaut guidance game)
– Plague, Inc.

What They Reveal About iOS Users

The free apps show that iOS users are into sharing – especially social sharing. From filter effects through Instagram to “private” conversations on Snapchat, iOS users are connected to their friends, family and colleagues through a variety of applications.

The paid apps demonstrate that iOS users aren’t afraid to have a little fun either! But notice how many of the games are also social in nature. Games like Minecraft thrive on sharing, and even Lifeline, which involves you directing and texting messages to a stranded astronaut, encourages social-type bonds with the character.

In short, iOS users enjoy documenting and watching the world around them. Friends, family and good times are always on the agenda, but virtual worlds are just as attractive, whether you’re building something amazing with your pals, or spreading the flu!

Top 5 Apps for Android

The top five most popular free apps for Android are:

– Gmail
– Google Chrome
– Facebook
– WhatsApp
– Angry Birds

The top five most popular paid apps are:

– Minecraft Pocket
– Where’s My Water? (A puzzle-based game by Disney)
– Asphalt 7: Heat (A Racing Game)
– Poweramp Full Version Unlocker (A full-featured music player)
– Beautiful Widgets Pro (Personalization for your home screen via widgets – such as weather, world clocks, etc.)

What They Reveal About Android Users

Android users are all about getting things done, and they do that via the already familiar Google apps like Chrome and Gmail. Social sharing isn’t as high of a priority for them, but there’s a definite trend with regard to games.

Their app habits show that they’re into a good deal more personalization and freedom. They want to make their devices their own and make them unique. They’re also into building and sharing as well as working out the brain via some challenging puzzles. But Android users are also not afraid to put the pedal to the metal and let off some steam with games that don’t require much thought, but do require fast reflexes.

Here, there’s less of a trend toward sociability and more of a focus on freedom and customization. Android users like having choices and tend to want to be in more control over their apps as a whole.

The Bottom Line on App Choices

While it may be unfair to pigeon-hole all users into these categories based on their app choices, there’s no doubt that the mobile app world is continuing to grow and evolve as it stretches its wings in an attempt to find and be something for everyone.

From email to social chat, photo filters to catapulting birds, it’s easy to think that there’s nothing a device can’t do. Still, the best part about downloading and owning these apps are in how they impact and improve your life on a day to day basis. Whether you want to be more productive, organize or coordinate an event or just have fun, both app platforms give you the ability to do all these things and more.

What are your thoughts? Do app choices dictate the behaviors and personalities of an entire group of users? Or is it possible to segment users too far based on their apps? Tell us what you think by contacting us and share your own perspective!

 

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All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, “Oh, why can’t you remain like this for ever!” This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

Worry Free Labs’ CEO Paul Choi recently had the opportunity to talk about what makes a successful app business as a guest professor on the The App Academy Podcast. Paul discusses some key elements that play important roles in the success of an app business in today’s world and dives into these three in particular:

  • Innovation: Having a truly innovative idea with a sound business model to back it
  • Strategy: Having a focused plan for executing design, development, testing and marketing
  • Team: Having a strong, experienced team that works well together

Paul stresses how critical these three components are and discusses how these key components helped pave the road to success for , an innovative iOS mobile app that Worry Free Labs helped design and build.

Listen to the full episode and contact us to learn more.

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