Mobile apps look set to become an increasingly in-demand – predicted to be a $15.9 billion industry by next year.Amongst the top ten tips predicted by Garter are location based services (LBS) and mobile commerce apps, already widely used by iPhone users which allows “check in” to a store or specific location.
LBS register user locations and offer services in the area based on their personal statistics, likes and dislikes – an “intelligent user experience.”
Smartphone will become smarter imbued with object recognition ability where the device will register surroundings through the camera as well as other ‘device sensors.’
“Mobile carriers should provide expanded location services to include, among others, directory assistance, mapping, advertising and privacy controls,” warns IT researcher Garter.
Users of the Smartapps looks set to reach 1.4 billion by 2014.
On the m-commerce front, price comparison and payment solutions as well as Facebook, mobile e-mail and video and YouTube look also to be among the top apps of the future.
“Mobile applications will be a highly competitive marketplace that attracts the interest of many stakeholders,” said Sandy Shen, research director at Gartner.
The apps user explosion will also spark increased hardware sales and technology in the field as they become more and more mainstream – so watch this space.
“Increasingly, mobile applications will define the user experience and device vendors that proactively integrate innovative apps and technologies at the platform layer will have the competitive edge,” Garter says.
Beleaguered phone maker Nokia, who has fallen off the cart when it comes to innovation in mobile apps, lagging rivals Android and Apple, should take note.
