In this 2-minute read, learn the latest app development trends for 2020 — and what ties them all together:
The $188 billion mobile app industry is constantly changing. Now, people want more than standalone apps with singular experiences. So for app creators who want to be on top, it’s smart to leverage these top mobile app development trends for 2020 and beyond:
1. Beacon technology will take center stage
For those who aren’t in the know, beacon technology involves software that uses your mobile device’s Bluetooth to send signals between your device and a company server. These are being increasingly used to deliver personalized, location-based messages and services by a wide variety of industries.
Hotel chains such as Hilton and Marriott are adopting it en masse to provide curated destination guides to guests, whilst the same technology has become indispensable for marketing and retail purposes.
2. Edge computing will edge out the cloud
Edge computing might be an app trend that most users won’t notice, but it’s an important one nonetheless. As Internet of Things (IoT) technology begins to structure how we go about our daily lives, the need for flawless data processing is more important than ever.
Rather than IoT infrastructures sending all of their data to the cloud for processing, developers have realized that sending it to a local device, say someone’s mobile, can get the job done much faster. This is called edge computing, and it means that your phone will likely be the thing keeping your Alexa device, Smart TV, lighting system, and home security held together.
3. AR will move beyond gaming
Augmented Reality, or AR, first made waves with the release of Pokemon Go! over three years ago. While the app industry continues to churn out games that use similar technology, apps in the future will rely on it for different purposes.
One of these concerns live entertainment, with concert organizers and sports team giants such as Manchester United developing apps that allow users to access AR to experience a live concert or event from the comfort of their home. In addition, learning apps are making use of it for instructive how-to guides and hands-on skill-building.
4. Mobile gaming libraries will displace standalone games
The age of the hit mobile game is coming to an end if it hasn’t ended already. Rather than standalone games being the first choice of users, online game libraries boasting hundreds of games in one place are now the standard. The vastly-improved hosting capacity of mobile devices enables vast online content libraries with hundreds of games in one place.
And in mobile entertainment, one sector that’s leading the charge in online game libraries is online casinos. That’s because they can offer countless slots, roulette, poker, and blackjack games — all on a single device.
Just a quick glance at the mobile casinos UK players can enjoy, which feature hundreds of different slots, roulette, and card games that can be played in one place, are just one testament to this. In gaming and beyond, apps are leveling up.
5. Overall trend: More real-life integration
These are just some of the biggest mobile app development trends for 2020 and beyond — already influencing the breakneck pace of growth for mobile apps. But among these diverse trends, did you spot the common theme?
The overall trend that’s most important to note here is that apps are clearly becoming more integrated with our real-life daily lives than ever before. So whenever you get hung up in the development details, keep that in mind as your “big picture” guiding force.
