When brands /customers approach REGARD to build a mobile app for them, we are often aksed ..."Would you recommend first developing for iPhone, BlackBerry or Android?" Our reply always depends on their goals. That said, we tell them to consider these statistics from the 3 major App Stores:
- 100,000+ iPhone Apps
- 14,000+ Android Apps
- 4,000+ BlackBerry Apps
Brands must consider how well their audiance aligns with the demographic of the various Smartphone products. Second, how likely is the Smartphone user to find your app among the noise? I personally have never been a fan of "build it and they will come" ...rather... "Market it and they will come!"
Next consideration is pricing strategy! As I pointed out in my post for
BlackBerry Cool "Conclusions from selling apps..." investing in developing an app is only the beginning of the investment. You need to consider also the following:
- Pricing Strategy (Free, Free to Premium, Try & Buy or Buy only)
- Marketing & Social Media Strategy
- Planned enhancements (Roadmap)
- and, often overlooked, Support
All of these factors play into the decision to build a mobile app. Not that you can't change course once underway, but you must have a plan before you jump on the bandwagon or you the chances of a succcess story in the Mobile App Gold Rush are greatly diminished.
