Technology influences just about every aspect of our lives, and it has gotten to the point where most of us wonder how we ever lived without it. The vast majority of the technology that we use is internet-based, and it is estimated that approximately 77% of the world’s population are online.
The most rapidly developing area of the internet is mobile applications or apps for short. This article will briefly analyze the global app market, with a particular focus on revenue, and then examine the advantages of apps as we use them in our daily lives. It will also look at some of the most popular apps together with some lesser-known ones, and identify emerging trends in the app market.
Table of Contents
Value of the applications market
The app market is big business and this is clearly shown by the revenue numbers. For example, it is estimated that by 2023 revenue generated by the mobile app market will exceed 935 billion U.S. dollars.
Worldwide mobile app revenues in 2014 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- 2020 – 581.9
- 2019 – 461.7
- 2018 – 365.2
- 2017 – 285.3
Using the number of downloads as the criteria, the most popular apps in 2020 were as follows:
TikTok had 850 million downloads. This was followed by WhatsApp with 600 million, FaceBook with 540 million, and Instagram with 503 million downloads.
Video communication boomed in 2020, and Zoom recorded 477 million downloads. The entertainment industry also benefited and the Netflix app was downloaded 223 million times.
The benefits of apps. Apps have significant advantages over traditional internet browsing methods, and arguably the most important of these is mobility. Apps are linked with mobility through the devices used to connect, such as mobile phones and tablets. This means that the apps have portability and can be used anywhere there is internet access.
Another important advantage of mobile apps is speed. Using an app is much quicker than traditional web browsing. With an app, the required information is all stored in the application itself and it is instantly accessible.
Apps make it easier for customers and suppliers to connect with each other. Customers are using apps to quickly connect with specific businesses, and businesses are using apps to connect with customers via advertising, promotions and supplying general information.
A look at some apps
Nearly everyone is familiar with the big popular apps, so here’s a look at some lesser-known apps that are also very useful. In the field of education, one app that is gaining a lot of attention is Microsoft Whiteboard. Whiteboard is a free app that can be used on devices running Windows 10. Microsoft Whiteboard is a mobile digital canvas that enables users to communicate with each other and express ideas by illustration or writing.
With the onset of the coronavirus came the closure of schools, forcing teachers and students to conduct lessons online. Enter Google Classroom. As the name suggests, Google Classroom is a virtual classroom that enables teachers and students to simulate the classroom environment online.
Yelsa Connect is a real estate app designed and created in New Zealand. This app connects real estate sellers and buyers. For people looking to sell real estate property online, Yelsa Connect is ideal. Using this app, sellers can access a list of all registered buyers in a designated area. Buyers like the app because it gives them access to an online matching system, and when matched, they can request an invitation to view a property, giving them a head start over other potential buyers.
Emerging trends
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Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented Reality (AR)uses cutting-edge technology to lay some information (sounds, images, text) over the real world. AR apps are used in areas such as interior design, automobile production, tourism, and healthcare. The global market for Mobile Augmented Reality is growing rapidly and is expected to reach US$70 billion by 2023.
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Health Care and Telemedicine
Primarily because of the coronavirus, the market for Telehealth apps has grown rapidly. Telehealth apps enable physicians and patients to connect remotely. Using a Telehealth app, a doctor can remotely check symptoms, make a diagnosis, and prescribe medication. Telehealth apps also allow doctors to monitor symptoms of patients in a group situation, such as a hospital ward.
Mobile apps are expected to develop around predictive analytics. Predictive analytics will enable the examination of symptoms and facilitate the prediction of possible future health issues. Telemedicine apps will lower the cost of healthcare, as well as making it more effective and personalized.
Technology is influencing our lives and one of the fastest-growing areas of technology is mobile apps. Mobile apps offer many advantages over traditional methods of internet use, and tech analysts predict that future sales will maintain rapid growth as the use of apps becomes more diversified.
