Cross-platform app development specifies the development of apps that can be run through multiple mobile platforms.

Lately, it has become essential for businesses to develop their mobile apps and be able to operate them to other mobile devices that operate on different operating systems and networks. The cross-platform app market is predicted to reach $7.5 billion sometime in 2018, and the number of cross-platform mobile app development tools is rising. Still, cross-platform app development does “compete” with the classic native mobile app development. I put stress on the word compete, because as a business, it should be a no-brainer as to which development route you should take. Native mobile app development is the process of building an application which meets the requirements of a specific operating system, using the device’s specific hardware memory, and the use of other various applications pre-installed on the device. While native mobile dev. has been the “go-to” strategy for some time, it does have flaws.

Native is a good approach and leads to a solid, well-developed app… popular to the consumers. Although, the real question is, does it benefit the businesses the same way? Due to its specific build for specific operating systems and devices, native requires a lot more time to develop. Sure, this can lead to a well-designed application, but at what cost? Development fees and time. Aside from that expensive problem, native also holds the burden of platform instability. Nobody knows what the mobile platform market will look like in the next couple of years. Not too long ago Palm and Blackberry were the powerhouses of the mobile industry. Now, both are completely irrelevant. Companies that choose the native approach always run the risk of wasting time and money building for a platform that might not last. Native applications require the most significant investment of both time and money. Not the best move for a business.

Contrary to native development, a single code composition created with a cross-platform development tool can be used on multiple platforms or devices. This helps businesses not just containing the cost of development investment, but also the issues involved with updating and managing the library of apps in your business. Cross-platform app development changes the game, allowing projects to be built once and fit multiple mobile platforms. With cross-platform, apps are not built for specific devices and operating systems, they’re built and they work on any platform. Not only can this yield a great application, it benefits the business tremendously. Cross-platform is the best move for a business to make.

Native look and feel (without native cost)

Since a large amount of time and money is thrown into native development, it can have a positive user experience and high performance. If there was only a way to get that native high performance without it costing so much and taking so long. Fortunately, cross-platform has native beat there as well. Many cross-platform development tools, like PhoneGap, allow to build a cross-platform mobile app and then convert it to native code. This means the app runs as if it was built specifically for the user’s device, when in reality it was built to fit multiple mobile platforms. This is truly the best of both worlds. A business can save time and cost in development and the user still gets a high performing app.

App Stores

Businesses want their app to reach and be used by as many people as possible. The best way to do that is have the application available in every major app store. Cross-platform is the best option for this strategy. An app that is built for all mobile platforms but has the native feel as if it was specifically built for Android or iOS. This allows a business’s app to be found in both the App Store and Google Play. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

Device Integration

Cross-platform offers full device access, which allows the app to communicate or connect with other features/apps within a device. Also, with cross-platform converting it’s built to a native look and feel, it has access to “native-only” features. Features like camera, microphone, and address book. For businesses that require the use of every device sensor, cross-platform gives the easiest solution.

Inexpensive Development

One of the best reasons to use cross-platform development is, of course, the cost. For a company to thrive and be successful, it needs to take into account  its resources. A business’s most valuable resources should be time and money. Cross-platforming saves a significant amount of development time and money, all while still producing a well-designed app. To build one app design and have it fit every mobile platform is astonishingly less expensive than going with a native development, it’s not even close. Cross-platform not only benefits the user experience, but the business developing the app as well.

Cross-Platform Development Tools

There is a long list of cross-platform tools, and it continues to keep growing. These development tools make it significantly easier to build an application to fit all mobile platforms. Tools like PhoneGap, Sencha, Monocross, etc. support a wide range of API’s and allow the conversion to native code. This makes it seem as if the app was specifically designed for iOS or Android devices, when in reality it was built for all of them. These tools have access to web technologies (HTML5, CSS, JavaScript) so developers can make use of their existing skills. Code reusability across iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Firefox OS enables developers and businesses to cut down TTM (Time-to-Market). 

We do it too…

We currently follow a cross-platform application development process that saves companies, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars. Freshperia believes in using the latest technology for all of our clients. For clients that also want both iOS and android native apps, Freshify can save them tens of thousands of dollars using this cross-platform technique.