Today, mobiles have become the mainstay device in society, and they come with a lot of technological innovation. Today, some mobiles phones are so advanced that it is like carrying an advanced computing device in one’s pocket. To cater to the advanced needs of mobile users, mobile apps have come into existence.
These apps are made utilizing the most powerful and dynamic mobile platforms available today. There are a lot of platforms available today for development, such as Symbian, Android, Windows, Blackberry, and iOS. However, the Android platform by Google is moving ahead by leaps and bounds and its popularity shows no signs of receding. Let us check why developers choose the android platform for Apps development.
- Android can be easily accessed
According to reliable recent statistics by idc.com, Google’s Android gobbled up market share to a large extent, accounting for 80% of all smartphones shipped globally. The best part of Android is that it is easily accessible to any Android programmer with knowledge of Java and the Android SDK. The Android SDK can be easily accessed and has the potential and capability to create some of the most innovative mobile apps.
- Innovative and creative
Because of the open source nature of Android, the developers who get to work on this mobile platform get a lot of exposure to Google’s philosophy of freedom and innovation. This encourages creativity and nurtures the ability to take advantage of Android’s vast resources that improve the quality and functionality of your mobile app.
- Ability to install from any source
Android apps can be installed from any source and not just the Android Market. Besides it is easy and possible to test the apps on multiple devices. All this is possible due to the tools included in the SDK that make it easy to do so. It is also possible to directly install your app on the device directly, or from the command line.
- Much lower entry barrier
If you want to develop your app in Android, you only need to register yourself as a developer on the Android market, prepare your APK and submit it to Android. The entry barrier for Android is much lower as the approval process is much simpler, which is not the case with its nearest competitor App Store.
- High market share
The fact that Android’s market share accounts to over 80% with over 1 billion devices being shipped in 2014 alone, means a lot to those investing their pennies in the Android development game. This means that building an android app will mean a lot of potential downloads, which is actually a good sign for the developer community.
- Allows installation of custom ROMs
Android allows rooting of your phone and you can install custom ROMs. On the contrary, iPhone’s version of rooting is called jail breaking, which is an actual crime in the USA.
- Better hardware range
Android is made to be more compatible with devices that are provided by different manufacturers around the globe. These developers include a wide range of advanced features into the device, which can then be effectively utilized by developers worldwide. These features are comparable to those available with the expensive models and high-end phones, and are also easy to fit into your budget.
- Well optimized for social apps
Android is well optimized to develop social apps and this segment is really growing. Most apps developers are going social, and are trying their best to maximize their potential by earning top revenue. Hence, due to its ability to better integrate with a wide range of social networks, it is more preferred amongst developers and business owners who want to go social.
- Easier to learn
According to various professionals who have learnt Google Android and other platforms such as iOS and Blackberry, Google’s Android can be learnt from scratch, faster than other platforms. Hence, developers starting out with mobile application development will find it very easy to develop in Android.
- Cheaper Apps
Android has a diverse user-base, hence offers more free downloads. Also, apps are cheaper compared to those on iOS, and free apps with ad revenue or in-apps purchase models are also possible on Android.
