Mobile application development is the process by which applications are developed for small low-power hand-held devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA), enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones. These applications are either pre-installed on phones during manufacture, or downloaded by customers from app stores and other mobile software distribution platforms.

Probably the most popular is Apple’s iPhone and iPad products that allow you to download apps for a whole host of functions. Some are free and some need to be purchased. Everything from news related information, games, Mobile Facebook to applications that perform a function i.e where is the nearest petrol station, automatic friend finder and a multitude of GPS related applications utilising location based information.

Services

• iPhone
• iPad
• Google Android Applications (Android enabled Phones)
  
• Windows Mobile Applications (Windows Phone 6)
• Symbian Applications (Nokia)

Typical Applications

• Location Based Applications
• Mobile Coupons & Discounts
• Content Delivery & Publishing

Platforms supported

• iOS – platform developed by the company Apple supported by mobile devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad. Among standard applications iOS are Google maps, YouTube, iTunes, iBooks etc. iOS is based on the C programming language. In the year 2009 around 15 % Smartphones were Apple Smartphones. And the number of App store applications exceeded 20000. In the first quarter of the year 2009 there were above 4 millions iOS products sold. Thousands of the mobile application development companies have emerged especially for the iPhone application development & developing innovative iphone applications at global level.
• Android – an open operating system for cell phones and smartbooks based on Linux. Android is supported by over 34 major software, hardware and telecoms companies including Google, HTC, Motorola, Qualcomm, and T-Mobile. Android apps are mostly written in the Java programming language. The tendency for Android sales for the year 2010 is that Android sales value can walk to the first place leaving behind iPhone. This is explained through the fact that Android can work on a big amount of devices. Today Android takes the first place in sales in USA.
• Windows Mobile – an open operating system supported by the company Microsoft based on Microsoft Win32 API. Windows mobile can work on some devices including Pocket PC, smartphones, communicators. The current version for Windows phones is somewhat analogical to the desktop Windows versions (functions, lay-out). In USA Windows Mobile is the third most popular mobile platform for business users. Common sales volume – about 8 % share of the world Smartphone market.
• Symbian platform – It’s specifics are memory economy and high programs speed. The main language of applications development is C++. Symbian foundation includes 40 companies: Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, Panasonic, Fujitsu, Samsung, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Motorola etc. The Symbian Foundation maintains the code for the open source software platform based on Symbian OS and software assets contributed by Nokia, NTT DOCOMO, and Sony Ericsson. Symbian holds more than a 50% market share globally.