Simplikate Blog

Milestones and Predictions

2011-12-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

It was a year worth remembering in the mobile Application ecosphere and the milestones that helped shape the vertical cover the entire spectrum, and are nothing short of fascinating. First there’s the sheer number of Apps developed and downloaded which shattered the most aggressive projections. The surge of tablets, especially with the launch of Kindle Fire, made big headlines since developing Apps specifically for these devices is now a necessity, not just a mere afterthought. What about the continuing threat Android is waging to iOS’s top spot in the marketplace? And then there’s Windows Phone surpassing Blackberry with more than 50,000 published Apps submitted to Microsoft’s platform. A key metric for any store. So what’s in store for mobile Apps in 2012? The link below provides interesting insight.

http://www.itbusinessedge.com/slideshows/show.aspx?c=87261

The Battle to Remain On Top

2011-12-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

Smartphone brands like Apple, Blackberry, Samsung and HTC have climbed to the top realms of the consumer hierarchy which is a difficult place to reach and even more difficult to remain. Take Blackberry for example. Once a dominant presence on the smartphone battlefield, Research in Motion’s continuous decline is only getting worse as they may soon become the industry’s first major causality. On the other end of the spectrum is HTC, a relative newcomer to the US market, who’s been hailed as the next major player especially since their sales triumphed over Apple and Samsung during the third quarter of this year. HTC’s aggressive growth has been coupled with equally aggressive advertising expenditures which began at only $2 million in 2009, climbed to $65 million in 2010 and has reached $81 million year-to-date. Finally, we have another brand that’s scratched and clawed its way to the top realms of the consumer hierarchy. Or have they? HTC just announced that despite their aggressive game plan, they expect little growth year over year. The announcement caused immediate speculation that the smartphone maker’s ability to remain on top is in serious jeopardy. So in this fast moving and changing market, the question begs who’s next to rise or next to fall.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/28/us-htc-idUSTRE7AN00S20111128

Quality Matters

2011-11-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

Market consumption of mobile Apps continues to strengthen. According to mobile analytics firm Flurry, 2.6 billion Apps were downloaded from the two major stores—Apple and Android—in October of 2011 and by December of this year, predictions climb to 3 billion downloads per month. For enterprises already engaged in the digital medium and those on the fence, this seemingly insatiable appetite brings lots of opportunities but also brings challenges. While the pace of downloads gladly raises eyebrows, the number of Apps deleted from smartphone and tablet devices causes the opposite reaction. Yes, retention rates after the first month can be dismal for many Apps but certainly not for all. So what’s the difference between Apps retained and discarded? Simply put, quality matters. The first half of the equation is content. Digital content must be meaningful and useful to meet the high expectations of savvy App users or they’ll move on. The other half of the quality equation is the technology used to create, develop, deploy and support the Apps. In this dynamic vertical, the technology must be truly proven, cutting edge beyond any doubt and absolutely future proof. That’s why choosing the right mobile Application developer is so critical to the retention lifespan of the App, and with more than 4,000 Apps deployed, 2.2 million pages viewed and one of the highest retention rates in the industry, Simplikate is that company.

http://blog.flurry.com/bid/76874/iOS-Android-Apps-Challenged-by-Traffic-Acquisition-Not-Discovery

Revenue Contribution of 7% Seems Small Unless You're Google

2011-10-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

Google anticipates by year end that $2.5 billion or approximately 7% of their annual revenue will come from mobile advertising. While still a small percentage of overall revenue, mobile advertising revenue grew 2.5x over the past 12 months and if the last reporting quarter is any indication, the giant expects the mobile marketplace to continue its expansion as smartphone and tablet device users become more receptive to advertisements through the mobile channel.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/14/android-google-ad-revenue

Mango is Here

2011-09-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

There's very little that remains constant in the mobile App ecosphere and that’s what Microsoft is gambling on with its new release of Mango. Microsoft currently clings to less than 6% of the global smartphone market share and is counting on Mango's more than 500 new features to raise eyebrows, expectations and above all, sales. But is it too little too late? Well, industry experts agree there is room for a third major player to accompany Android and iOS, and with RIM and Symbian falling, the timing could be right for Mango.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-01/microsoft-says-windows-phone-may-exceed-researcher-s-market-share-forecast.html

Real Estate Brokers Embrace Digital Sales Presentations

2011-09-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Real estate sales presentations are being revolutionized by mobile Apps developed for the iPad® and other tablet devices. Brokers are now embracing the new digital channel to engage buyers on an interactive level that escapes conventional sales and marketing materials. The result is not only an increase in buyer interest during the presentation, but afterwards broker response time improves since emailing favored floor plans, price quotes or community details can be done directly from the device and delivered to the prospect’s email box before they get home. At Simplikate, we are leaders in developing mobile Apps for the real estate sector. Just follow this link to see how our technology is being used by top tier real estate and development companies.

http://www.simplikate.com/clients.aspx

In-App Advertising Gaining Momentum

2011-08-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Last year more than 11 billion mobile Apps were downloaded and that number is expected to exceed 187 billion by 2015. While mobile marketers are drooling over the opportunities that these types of numbers represent—mobile marketers beware. Traditional digital advertising methods will not be effective in the intimate space between end users and their Apps.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=156064

Mobile App Breakthrough with Google Product Search

2011-08-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

Leading mobile App developer Simplikate has engineered an integration breakthrough with Google Product Search. The deployment of the 3rd party integration with Google was launched in shopping center giant Westfield Malls' mobile App that now presents shoppers with more than 100,000 products from 215 retailers at Westfield's 55 centers nationwide. This combination of online shopping with the traditional mall experience is the first of its kind in the retail sector and yet another example of Simnplikate's innovative Mobilsoft platform.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/08/westfield-adds-product-search-to-its-smartphone-app.html

2011-08-08T16:27:00.000-07:00

The iPad and the Plano Effect.

The iPad is undeniably hot and by far the trendsetter in the tablet world. It's so far ahead of its competitors that it will take years for other tablets devices to truly catch-up and compete. A recent study even predicts that the sleek, good looking and fun to use iPad will outpace all competitors well into this decade, commanding a 60% market share by 2020. Well, predicting product usuage that far in the future is anyone’s guess but what we know right now is that the iPad is the most popular tablet on the market unless you live in Toledo, Ohio.

http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/ipad-cities?cm_mmc=pr-_-tablet%20friendly-_-metrogrades-_-mh

2011-08-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

Look out iPhone. Here comes the Android.

The word ‘Android’ has certainly changed its meaning in the past couple of years. It wasn’t too long ago that the term was synonymous with militaristic robots deployed by the Republic to defend their way of life in the Star Wars movies. Not so much anymore. The fictional Android robot has been replaced by the real world App store of the same name, and much to the surprise of diehard iPhone users, the Android market is now the global leader in the Smartphone battle.

http://www.canalys.com/newsroom/google%E2%80%99s-android-becomes-world%E2%80%99s-leading-smart-phone-platform

2011-08-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

Smartphones have not only changed our lives, but in some parts of the world, they’ve become addictive.

Smartphones have secured their dominant place in our lives. The ability to communicate in almost any form we like while carrying our data where ever we like, and editing that data at any time we like, is just too tempting to deny. In fact, our insatiable appetite for the lightning fast devices cannot be better or more objectively validated than through tracking manufacturer shipments. In the fourth quarter of 2010, manufacturers shipped more Smartphones than PCs for the first time ever. The Ping-Pong match between the two devices is likely to continue until 2013 when Smartphones are expected to permanently leave PCs far behind. Of course the place you live in the world has a bearing on how quickly Smartphones will infiltrate and if the impact is anything like what the UK is experiencing, it will be nothing short of an addiction.

http://mashable.com/2011/08/04/smartphone-addiction