We are in the last week of 2017 and what a great year it has been for mobile app development. Plenty of new app development trends surfaced and some of them have changed the mobile app development process forever. The popularity of mobile apps is increasing rapidly. The number of free app downloads has increased from 57.33 billion in 2012 to approximately 254 billion in 2017. This number is going to increase even further in 2018. So in this last blog piece of 2017, we have selected 5 mobile app trends that one must watch in 2018.

1. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

Google launched AMP in Feb 2016 and since then the page loading on mobile apps has accelerated substantially. Besides the awesomeness of accelerated page loading speed, Google has also declared that it will provide a separate search index for the mobile web. This completely transforms the approach towards mobile app development in terms of SEO. Accelerated Mobile Pages will ensure that web apps load swiftly on mobile devices, thereby decreasing the bounce rate. Publishers will also be benefited as their ads will get more visibility which will eventually lead to higher traffic. AMP will lead to higher CTR, easy content placement, easy visitors analysis, and elimination of sitemap. With so many positives, AMP will surely be trending in 2018 and will impact the mobile development process.

2. Internet Of Things (IOT) & Wearable Apps

The concept of smart cities, smart offices and smart homes is growing like never before. IOT and wearable apps have become popular in a variety of sectors like health, education, automotive etc. Although it’s still in the growing phase, 2018 looks to be a promising year for the Internet of Things and wearable apps. Apple watch apps are already becoming quite popular and Google has also launched Android Things to pace up the acceptance of IOT. Experts predict a 33.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) by 2021. A rise in IOT directly impacts the mobile app development process as the devices are controlled by smartphones under IOT.

3. Android Instant Apps

Android Instant Apps are native apps that function exactly like websites. They are very convenient to access and thus can attract a huge crowd. Android Instant Apps provide a seamless experience by fading all borders between an app and a website. Apps can be accessed from anywhere without actual installation. They are compatible with all the android versions clocking back till Jelly bean. It saves a lot of space on your smartphone as you don’t need to install unwanted apps. They are also easily shareable. The mobile app development process will definitely be impacted by the rise of these instant apps in the year 2018.

4. Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality Apps

2017 has been a great year for AR and VR. AR and VR have found their way beyond gaming and entertainment. The growth trends have suggested a spike in demand of AR and VR not only for consumers but also for businesses seeking new technologies. Healthcare, retail, real estate, and engineering are the key industries which are more likely to continue the growth trend of Augmented Reality, whereas Virtual Reality will be driven by gaming and event industries. The future mobile apps will be developed hand in hand with AR and VR.

5. Lazy Loading

One of the biggest factor to increase bounce rate is the slow loading of a page. Often pages that contain high image content takes forever to load which irritates the user and forces him to bounce off. The industry experts have identified this threat and have developed the concept of Lazy Loading to address this issue. Under Lazy Loading, the images load only when their turn comes which quickens the page loading process and avoids overcrowding of the web page. Mobile app developers will surely need to implement lazy loading while developing apps in 2018.

Mobile app development has witnessed a huge change and advancement in the past few years. 2017 was a terrific year for mobile app development and the future looks very promising. The world of mobile technology is constantly changing and it’s very important for the app developers to keep themselves abreast of the latest trends. Implementing the latest trends in mobile app development will ensure that the app is updated and doesn’t get written off in the app market. Ask our expert app developers how you can create or modify your existing mobile app to match the latest trends.

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