Start Developing Mobile Software Now! Jim Geier is the principal of Wireless-Nets, Ltd. (
http://www.mobilizedsoftware.com/www.wireless-nets.com), a consulting firm assisting companies with the implementation of wireless mobile solutions.
With the continuing proliferation of mobile devices that combine voice, email, and data, there's a greater need for developers to focus on mobile software development. In fact, according to marketing reports, there'll be more smart phones than PCs by 2006, and eighty percent of the new phones will have Internet connections. Mobile software development is critical in order to realize applications that operate on these relatively small devices and connect seamlessly to data worldwide.
Get Started Now!
If you're not already developing mobile software applications, now is a good time to get started. In addition to being a hot market, here are some reasons that I've found the development of mobile software worthwhile:
Available market. Windows developers are found just about everywhere you look, but mobile software developers are not nearly as common. So, if you get into developing mobile software now, you can start establishing customers before others do so.
Shorter development cycle. Because mobile devices generally have fewer features and less capability (for example smaller screen size) than desktop PCs, you'll find the amount of time coding and testing mobile software is somewhat less. As a result, you can realize your mobile application ideas faster and get your product to market in a timely manner.
Easier sales. I've also found that demonstrating mobile applications is easier because of the smaller user devices. In fact, I've given many sales pitches to prospective buyers while waiting for planes at airports. You'll be amazed by how many strangers will ask questions about your product if they see you using it.
Okay, hopefully you've decided to move into the mobile development industry. Let's take a look at what you need to consider.
What Applications Should I Develop?
This is likely the first question that comes to your mind. Based on U.S. census data, the majority of software developers works alone in single-person companies, or as part of an organization with less than 50 total employees. As a result, you likely don't have a large budget and abundance of people to define what mobile applications you should develop.
To get started, consider the following as possible areas to focus on:
Gaming. Most people want entertainment on their mobile devices, so consider developing some fun applications that take advantage of the more powerful smart phones. I don't particularly like playing video games at home, but I'm desperate for entertainment when there's idle time waiting alone for a meal at a restaurant when traveling on business. Make something that simply passes the time for people, and you'll make sales. Game applications don't need to be elaborate for mobile devices because potential users only have a few minutes here and there to play the games.
Information management. Not many people use mobile devices as their only computing device, making it necessary to periodically synchronize with a PC. There's not much problem with keeping emails, calendars, to-do lists, and even documents synchronized, but enhanced applications that readily consolidate other information from different sources (such as airline and hotel itineraries) would offer value, for example. Users need to move quickly from the office to the road, and applications having good synchronization are certainly beneficial.
Vertical applications. Mobile applications have been in use for more than a decade in warehouses, with solutions focusing largely on inventory control. The cost savings resulting from mobile applications in these traditional systems are tremendous, but the market is fairly inundated with mobile software developers. However, in-building wireless networks are now becoming more prominent in other industries, (such as health care and schools). The resulting cost savings in these new industries isn't as high, so look for other benefits. Implement ways that you can improve the quality of life for people in hospitals, for example, and you'll be successful with your mobile application.
Some Development Tips to Consider
Keep in mind that screen sizes of mobile devices are very small when compared to PCs. As a result, you'll need to carefully lay out information and menu selections. This is more of an art than a science, but it's worth the time to study the design for human factors before getting too far into your first project.
Also, because of smaller screen size, concentrate on the use of colors to emphasize important aspects of the user interface. A selection of colors having high contrast is generally best for poor lighting.
To maximize sales, think globally. With that in mind, you'll need to support different languages within the application. In fact, it's useful to sell a single application, and let the user select the language of choice.
Early on, determine how you're going to support multiple platforms. You might start with having your application run on PalmOS, but eventually you might want someone owning a Nokia smart phone to run the application as well. For spanning multiple client devices, you'll need a cross-platform development tool, so start looking for that soon.
Concluding Thoughts
If you're a PC software developer or training to be one, then strongly consider getting into mobile software development. You'll be joining a group of developers that's really moving!
