The Future of Mobile Apps: How AI, 5G, and Security Are Shaping the Industry

Users are increasingly relying on mobile applications for routine tasks, work, and entertainment, and this happens every year. At the same time, as technologies and user habits evolve, software developers must adapt accordingly. The founder of IT company Magora, Vladimir Potapenko—a well-known expert in software development—discusses the current direction of the mobile app industry and the trends worth paying attention to.

Q: Vladimir, can you discuss the state of the mobile app development market in 2022 and the key trends now that we have entered 2023?

There's been a surge in interest in virtual reality applications, particularly in mobile games, education, and entertainment. These apps enable users to explore virtual worlds and acquire new knowledge and skills. Google Expeditions exemplifies this trend. Furthermore, augmented reality services, virtual museums, training courses, and simulators are increasingly being integrated into mobile applications that leverage virtual reality technology.

Blockchain has also gained traction, enabling the creation of more secure and private applications. This technology is particularly useful for authentication systems, data storage, and smart contracts, which facilitate secure automatic transactions and games. In the past few years, Play to Earn (P2E) games have become increasingly popular, allowing users to earn real money or cryptocurrency while playing. P2E games typically utilize blockchain technology, ensuring secure and transparent transactions between players. Notable examples include Axie Infinity and The Sandbox.

Q: You mentioned application security. With the rise in cyber attacks and the likelihood of the situation worsening, do you think developers should restructure their approach in connection with this?

Certainly, as the mobile device market evolves and we store more data, the challenges will grow. Specifically, there will be a rise in application attacks, code leaks, and data theft. For instance, in 2022 alone, personal data from various delivery services were leaked, and Yandex services' code became publicly accessible. Phishing is another issue, with criminals exploiting apps to launch attacks by spoofing and breaking security systems. Lastly, apps can violate privacy by collecting and transferring user data without consent, potentially leading to further privacy breaches and personal information leaks.

Security has become a pressing concern for app developers, who must consider risks during the design process and allocate resources in the development budget. I suggest conducting regular audits to detect vulnerabilities and code errors, employing trustworthy user authentication methods (two-factor authentication, biometric data), securing confidential information with encryption, utilizing the HTTPS protocol, and implementing safeguards against malicious attacks.

Additionally, it's essential to adhere to the standards and guidelines that establish a foundation for mobile app security. Developers can refer to guidelines such as the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard and ISO/IEC 27001 when creating secure mobile apps.  The former offers recommendations for minimum security levels and compliance verification, while the latter sets requirements for information security management systems, encompassing mobile app security.  These standards, among others, serve as valuable resources for developers in ensuring app security.

Q: What recent event has been most significant for developers?

In September 2022, Apple released iOS 16, which included an improved Focus function, new multimedia capabilities, and Health app enhancements. Google also launched Android 13, making it safer and faster, and adding new features.

Generally, iOS or Android updates are beneficial as they fix bugs, add features, and improve security. However, they can cause headaches for developers. Firstly, a new operating system version may introduce new APIs, which developers can utilize to enhance their apps' functionality. This might also mean the removal or replacement of older APIs, potentially affecting existing apps.

Secondly, the new operating system version may introduce user interface design changes, sometimes requiring modifications to existing apps to match the updated settings.

Q: By the way, the App Store and Google Play dominate the app store market. Do you see a problem here?

Yes, it does raise concerns. For instance, Apple restricts the use of alternative payment systems in apps, requiring developers to pay a fee for each transaction. In fact, Apple has faced successful lawsuits over alternative payment systems in countries like South Korea and Japan.

In March 2022, the EU agreed on the "Digital Markets Act," which could alter how Google and Apple conduct business. This legislation requires large tech companies to allow developers to use alternative in-app payment systems and users to download alternative app stores.

Additionally, the European Parliament passed a law in the summer requiring Apple and Google to permit app installations from third-party sites. In mid-December, Bloomberg reported that Apple plans to introduce this feature for its device users in 2023 with the release of iOS 17. If this occurs, we can anticipate new stores featuring official iOS apps to emerge.

Q: How important is cross-platform development today, and does it significantly optimize mobile app creation processes?

Cross-platform development is popular among developers and businesses because it enables the creation of apps for multiple platforms (iOS, Android) using shared code. This approach reduces development costs and accelerates time to market It. However, be mindful that cross-platform development might have limitations in functionality and performance.

Optimizing teamwork and development budgets is crucial for businesses, making cross-platform mobile development a promising solution. It saves money on development, especially for small and medium-sized companies, and lowers employee training costs, as many cross-platform frameworks use common programming languages like JavaScript or C#.

Cross-platform development is ideal for apps with basic functions, such as web pages, social networks, or instant messengers, that don't require integration with other systems or services. It's also suitable for creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test market demand and revenue generation potential.

In my opinion, cross-platform development is better suited for startups. Companies with a clear understanding of user needs, revenue generation, and app development plans should focus on native applications.

Q: In general, how costly is app development currently?

The cost of mobile app development varies depending on factors such as complexity, functionality, platform, and third-party service usage. Mobile app prices can range from a few thousand to several hundred thousand dollars.

There are several strategies for saving money on mobile app development. First, identify the most essential features for the initial launch, or the MVP. Second, utilize ready-made solutions and tools to avoid starting from scratch. Third, choose the most suitable development platform (iOS or Android) and consider using hybrid technologies. Fourth, opt for cloud services instead of spending on your own server infrastructure. Finally, thoroughly test the app before releasing it to minimize errors.

Q: Amid a global economic decline, many companies will want to save money on mobile app development. Are there effective ways to make this process more affordable?

Yes, there are solutions to simplify and reduce development costs, such as using PWAs (progressive web apps). PWAs enable you to convert your website into a web app and optimize the development process since they don't require installation on a device and can work in any browser. PWAs can also offer faster loading times and better performance compared to traditional web apps.

However, PWAs may not be suitable for all use cases. For instance, if an app requires access to device features like a camera or geolocation, PWAs might have limited capabilities.

Starbucks, for example, developed a PWA for order collection alongside their regular mobile app. For instance, Starbucks has created a Progressive Web App (PWA) for order collection alongside their regular mobile app. The PWA, with a nearly identical interface, boasts a size ten times smaller, leading to increased popularity among users. Consequently, order numbers via mobile internet have doubled, almost matching those made through desktop platforms. Magora is working on a similar project, developing a fitness club application using Bubble technology, which is currently in the design phase.

Aside from PWAs, there are other technologies that facilitate app optimization. Pre-built platforms such as Appy Pie and BuildFire enable the creation of mobile apps without the need for programming or a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This approach allows for a faster app release to the market, without dedicating extensive time and resources to develop all possible features.

Q: The fifth generation of mobile communications, or 5G, is currently under active development. How significantly do you think it will impact mobile development?

The progression to 5G is both natural and inevitable. As the demand for quality and the Internet of Things (IoT) grows, the need for better connection and increased network bandwidth becomes more critical. Many countries have already included 5G network development plans in their digital growth strategies. The implementation will largely depend on individual states and manufacturers: as more devices and networks support 5G, equipment production costs will decrease, leading to faster distribution. Despite the economic challenges faced by numerous countries, the number of 5G users is expected to reach 5 billion.

5G has the potential to offer significant opportunities for creating new applications and services, such as managing multiple IoT devices and utilizing virtual and augmented reality. However, mobile app developers should also be mindful of the limitations associated with this technology. For instance, faster data transfers may lead to increased mobile internet usage, potentially resulting in higher internet bills.

Q: What other factors will impact the mobile application development industry in the near future?

The continued advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies will enable better content personalization. AI can optimize app performance, enhancing both efficiency and security, while machine learning can help analyze user behavior and predict preferences. These capabilities may be in high demand for applications in medicine (data analysis, disease diagnosis, forecasting, and new drug development), transportation (autonomous vehicle control, route, and schedule optimization), and marketing (personalized advertising, customer behavior prediction, and improved customer interactions).

For example, we have experience developing a receipt recognition program utilizing machine learning technologies, text models, and neural networks. This application assists businesses in automatically generating travel expense reports for employees. Employees can take photos of receipts with their smartphones, even if they are wrinkled, of poor quality, or captured in dim lighting. Our developers created a receipt recognition algorithm and trained our model on approximately 10,000 different receipts. This resulted in a 98% recognition rate for all receipts uploaded to the application.

Another trend is the growth of the mobile payments and fintech applications market, which offers more convenient and faster payment methods, including NFC technologies, QR codes, and blockchain. In the future, biometric payment methods, such as fingerprints, facial scanning, and voice recognition, are also expected to gain popularity.

Furthermore, the trend of creating real-time applications capable of processing large amounts of data will continue to expand, driven by the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart devices. In some sectors, the full potential of IoT has yet to be realized. In some sectors, the full potential of IoT has yet to be realized. For instance, in agriculture, IoT can be employed to enhance productivity, improve crop quality, and monitor weather conditions—by installing IoT sensors in fields to gather information on temperature, humidity, pressure, and precipitation. Additionally, the technology can be used to monitor soil conditions and animal health.

IoT can also contribute to the improvement of urban infrastructure, such as traffic light management, waste management, water management, and more.

Q: In your opinion, can we anticipate the emergence of entirely new breakthrough technologies in application development in the near future?

Currently, scientists are working on developing new materials to enhance the performance and energy efficiency of mobile devices. This includes utilizing graphene for transistors and other electronic components or employing nanotubes as components in electronic devices. As a result, we can expect faster and more powerful applications.

Apps that rely on neural networks or AR/VR demand significant computing power. While neural network processing presently occurs on cloud servers, some functions may be performed on devices in the future, reducing response time for users. An example of this is image processing through a neural network.

I firmly believe that we can expect groundbreaking technologies in mobile app development. This field is rapidly evolving, and we have already witnessed numerous impressive innovations in recent years. Thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, which we discussed earlier, applications are being developed that can adapt to user needs, making them more convenient and intuitive.