5 Top Business Benefits of PhoneGap App Development

A free and open source framework, PhoneGap is used to develop cross platform mobile applications based on HTML, JavaScript, CSS etc. technologies. This framework is widely being used to develop effective mobile applications that can run smoothly on iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems. Here are the topmost benefits of PhoneGap framework-

1. Business reach to worldwide visitors with single development process: With PhoneGap framework, you can get mobile apps that can be logically implemented over various mobile OS such as Android, iOS, and Windows. With this, you can engage the worldwide users with your business applications and gain great exposure. With a single development cost in a very less time effort, you can target the broader audiences.

2. Easy interaction with customers: With PhoneGap based applications, the business owners can track the user behaviour by collecting various data. This provides an ability to make smart decisions as per the user behaviour and interests pattern and serve the desired needs in the customized ways. It establishes a good interaction bond between customers and businesses.

3. Higher return on investment: PhoneGap framework offers high-end performance applications. As per the business nature, needs and the ongoing trend, you can get the required features in a more flexible way. With such flexible and easy feature implementation process, you can get higher returns on investment and increase the profitability to a great extent.

4. Effective advertisement: With PhoneGap based applications, you can run ads on different mobile devices simultaneously. This makes the users know your services or businesses and also creates the robust brand image. Ads pertaining to various services can be easily created and you would be able to attract a wide range of audiences globally.

5. Easy app management in low time: With PhoneGap, business owners can easily distribute and publish their applications over various application stores. It helps in product marketing. The robust and clean architecture helps the app owners to manage the application. The feature upgradation and customization process also become easier with PhoneGap.

PhoneGap based applications are in high demand. For higher ROI and business brand enhancement, the mobile application developed on this framework are better serving the business needs. A reputed PhoneGap app development company, Apps24x7 can bring the best application to take your business to the next level.

Cross Platform Mobile Development Solution: Which One You Choose?

In the current market, the increasing demand of the mobile applications has enhanced the demand of cross platform mobile development solutions. To meet this demand various major cross platform mobile development solutions are available in the market, such as

Native Android Development

Native iOS Development

PhoneGap

MonoGame (Cross platform game development)

MonoTouch (Xamarin.iOS)

Mono for Android (Xamarin.Android)

Appcelerator Titanium

In this article, the main focus will be on Android and iOS, because even though there are other competitors, they are the major players in the mobile industry.

Native Development:

The finest method to build mobile applications is to use the native tools that come with the platform.

1. For Android: Java, Eclipse, Android Studio & Android SDK
2. For iOS: Objective-C and XCode.
3. For Windows Phone: C# and Visual Studio.

By using cross platform mobile development solution, the developers can build a simple app natively in both Android and iOS. This will help developers to understand the things that happen in the abstraction layer that a cross platform mobile development solution will provide, as well as it will help to learn the value or lack of value in a cross platform solution.

Xamarin Tools:

Xamarin tools are used to build an Android or iOS application with C#, and share a good amount of the code. If a developer uses Xamarin tools for application writing, it means that's using an abstraction on top of the real SDKs for iOS and Android, which help them to get a fully native application with a fully native user interface on each platform. Also, it limited the degree in the amount of code that they can share between the platforms. The developers can reuse the Xamarin tools based written code, without even trying very hard.

Moreover, Xamarin has its own IDE called Xamarin Studio, which is a cross platform that is well designed and easy to use. Also, it includes a plugin for Visual Studio that allows developers to build their application in Visual Studio. 

PhoneGap:

PhoneGap is another renowned cross platform mobile development solution, which is used by a large number of developers. Basically, a PhoneGap is a set of JavaScript APIs that allow to access the native capabilities of the device. Also, it is a wrapper that helps in building a web application, which can locally install to the device.

In PhoneGap, the developer can build an application or mobile website by using HTML5 and JavaScript, just like any other website today. The PhoneGap applications can easily run on the local browser of the phone, and have some hooks into the native libraries that are exposed through their JavaScript APIs. It means, a PhoneGap application, can be developed just like a cross platform mobile website. In this, the developer can use any mobile framework, such as Sencha Touch or JQuery Mobile, etc.

Appcelerator Titanium:

Appcelerator Titanium is cross platform app development solution that is totally different from PhoneGap.  The only similarity between the both is the language, i.e., JavaScript. With Appcelerator Titanium, the developer can use a cross platform mobile development custom API to create their application. It is completely different from PhoneGap and Xamarin, because with Xamarin, the developer use a wrapper around the real native SDKs, and with PhoneGap they use whatever they want to build an HTML5 web application.

Moreover, with Titanium tool, the developer can have their code against their SDK, which also includes UI components. This means, while writing a Titanium application, they can actually write a cross platform user interface. Even, the Appcelerator Titanium apps are compiled down to completely native applications, which use the real native controls for the platform.

Conclusion:

A large number of  cross platform mobile development solutions are available in the market, out of which you can select any one to develop your mobile application or website. Which cross platform mobile development solutions is the most suitable for your app totally depends upon the requirements of your application. So, research well and choose the best cross platform app development solution for your app.

Native or Hybrid: When You Can Use To Develop Cross-Platform Mobile Apps

There has been a long ongoing debate among native and web, which has created countless arguments between the developers and confounded decision makers, globally. In the argue, the developers have discussed the various pros and cons of current technologies and its usage. However, considering the last technology that discussed most is Hybrid Apps.

Hybrid apps are the native apps, which use native widgets or “web views” to display HTML content, but erase the address bar and normal controls of the web browsing experience. This provides a platform to the developers where they can insert the web content directly inside an app, as well as simply blend the native elements and the existing web content onto the same screen. In this article, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both Native and Hybrid apps, and explain when you can use each one.

Native Apps -  It doesn’t use any HTML content, as well as the entire UI is built with native controls. It is distributed through an application catalogue, such as a Google Play store or Apple’s App Store. 

Hybrid Apps - It is a native app that uses a “web canvas” to display HTML content. Just like Native apps, it is also being distributed via AppStore / Google Play, and allow the usage of native frameworks (GPS, Motion, Camera, etc.). The hybrid apps easily share their code between different platforms, i.e., Android/iOS/Windows, as well as they also require native code to perform correctly on each platform.

The Showdown: Hybrid vs. Native Apps

Multi-Platform

The non-native apps with impactful technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript that can  seamlessly perform by all major platforms, i.e., iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry. Even the HTML frameworks are used to wrap all of the code in multiple application bundles for each platform on which the app will perform. PhoneGap or Ionic are the most popular frameworks that are used to develop hybrid apps. These two are based on Cordova.

Development Time

The time required to develop a mobile app is totally calculated on the basis of technologies that are required to use on the desired amount of platforms. Through non-native technologies, you can secure your extra time of developing  the same app for each platform, as well as can quickly make it accessible to a wider audience. Hybrid apps are best for testing, proof of concept, idea validation,  etc., and also secure investment.

App Performance

Although, the apps perform best when they are written in the language that compatible with the specific device and operating system. In comparison of Hybrid apps, the native apps are much better in performance criteria. Some of the common challenges of Hybrid apps are:

• Screen transitions are not so flawless
• Buttons are slow responding in comparison of native buttons
• Events and reaction times have a small delay
• Animations have delays and are not as smooth as on native apps

Conclusion

When it comes to the enterprises choose, they prefer to have both native and HTML features for developing flexible applications. Although, the choice between native and hybrid apps  is totally depends upon the context of your objectives. Determine your specific business needs, consider  your performance needs, timeline, developers’ skill level, and customer’s platform preference, then make your decision.

If you want an expert opinion or really want to get your idea developed into reality, you can hire the best Cross Platform App Development Company. Their team of experienced engineers, designers, marketers and mobile business strategists will provide you the complete valuable solutions for your business app urge.

Sure Success Steps for Developing PhoneGap Applications

From planning to success, everything needs some legitimate preparations. App developers are often looking for insight into the workflow for creating successful PhoneGap applications. The Getting Started Guides are quite important for setting up the initial project structure, but once you achieve that setup, you might be wondering “what do I do next?”. Let's focus on the crucial workflow and helpful tools that is commonly used for developing PhoneGap applications.

Know What You’re Going to Develop Before You create It:
First and foremost – it is quite essential to have at least one sure fire concept what you are going to develop before you create it. If you just start app development works without a proper planning, then the final output can't meet with your business expectation. Comprehensive UI/UX mock-ups are outstanding, but you don’t have a fully bright  design and screen flow. The UX design helps you to understand what your application should be done from the user’s perspective, and finally helps you to make decisions on how you manage a project. If you don't have a good skills in graphic designing, then there are a large number of other tools that you can utilize for wireframing and sketching. Here is the list of some useful tools that you can use for your projects:

• OmniGraffle – OmniGraffle is a drag & drop wire-framing tool for OS X. This is incredible for wireframing or documenting screen flows.
• Visio – It is a robust drag & drop wireframing tool for Windows environment.
• PowerPoint – PowerPoint is not only used for presentations, but it also useful for putting together screen flow diagrams, or elucidate images and content.
  
  

Coding Environment: 

Coding has very wide scope as well as quite tricky. “Same solution never fits all” is best set in this environment. There is no single solution that fulfills the exact needs and requirements  for everyone. Some developers like lightweight text editors, some developers go with large-scale IDEs, some experts use a designer-centric tools, and many of them change their preferences as per operating system you use.

Debugging Environments:

Due to the cross-platform options and PhoneGap’s supporting of native web views for each platform, debugging PhoneGap applications might be tricky. The PhoneGap Emulator is a famous debugging tool for all PhoneGap apps. It is a browser-based emulator leveraging the Google Chrome. It runs inside of the Google Chrome, and offers emulation of PhoneGap’s core APIs. The PhoneGap Emulator is a highly-productive development environment.

Indian IT experts are highly qualified, and they can provide one stop software solutions in a cost effective manner. PhoneGap Development in India is quite impressive and offering outstanding mobile app solutions across the sphere.

PhoneGap: A Robust Solution for Multiple Mobile Platforms

As a renowned open source framework, PhoneGap is applying for creating a cross platform mobile applications. According to the current digital scenario, the mobile has become the future of the internet, as everything is going on mobile. This reason created a promising platform for the development frameworks such as PhoneGap, for developing, innovative, creative and rich apps. Day-by-day, the scope for PhoneGap is expanding on a large scale, which increases the opportunities for the mobile app developers.

Makers Behind PhoneGap:

PhoneGap is introduced by Nitobi, later purchased by the Adobe Systems in 2011. The mobile development framework provides a vast platform for the app developers to create applications for various platforms using HTML5, JavaScript and CSS3, instead of depending upon platform-specific APIs, such as iOS, Windows Phone, and Android.

Strength of PhoneGap Framework:

• It creates best codebase that is compatible with multiple devices.
• Its applications are not like the normal mobile websites.
• Using this platform, developers can easily build the native-type applications.
• PhoneGap SDK with the help of an application interface provides the specific range of mobile features for the developers.
• It supports hardware features such as accelerator, Geo-location,  and sound enhancements. 
• Its applications are based on web technology, which support in developing the hybrid applications.
• It allows extensive re-usability of code.
• PhoneGap support various features such as network, camera, media, compass contacts, files, etc. 

Conclusion:

As mobile app development is increasing, the working opportunities in PhoneGap framework is also increasing. The developers have wide scope of growing in the area of PhoneGap app development. Following the market trends, there are many companies in PhoneGap development India. Select the finest company, discuss your requirement, and get your very own mobile app. 

Why PhoneGap is The perfect Choice For the Hybrid Mobile App Development?

Mobile apps are playing an important role as the users like to use mobile apps rather than exploring internet on the desktop. Application on mobile phones are different from traditional websites, as it offers a platform to utilize the additional hardware, including high resolution camera, GPS, etc. With mobile app you can approach the clients who are available offline, and when they come online, you can communicate with them effectively. But, how the mobile apps are developed? The answer is very clear, and well known for technical geeks. iOS based app is developed in Objective C or Swift,  Android app in Java, whereas windows app is created with  the help of C#/XAML or WinJS/HTML.

Hybrid Mobile App Development

Before moving into the discussion, first of all, you must understand what is Hybrid Mobile App Development?  Hybrid Mobile App is just any other mobile app that you can find on your phone. With this app, you can play games, connect with your friends on social media, take and share images and many other functions. It is built with a mix blend of web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. But, the main difference is that hybrid apps are hosted in a native application, based on mobile platform webview. 

As mobile app has the power to grab the attention of the users, it is consider as a lack of opportunity, if an app is compatible with only one platform. As well as developing the same app on multiple platforms is becoming expensive and time-consuming. But Hybrid Mobile Development is the solution for this problem. Hybrid apps are well performed across multiple platforms. Following are the platforms on which the Hybrid mobile apps can be developed:

• PhoneGap
• Xamerin
• Appcelerator
• React Native

How PhoneGap Performs?

In comparison, of other hybrid variants, PhoneGap has a different approach. In the development process, the developers are comfortable in using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, instead of Objective C or C#. This is because, as the PhoneGap apps are installed, it creates a native app skeleton and renders a browser view on top of the phone screen.

What are the negative aspects of PhoneGap?

1. CSS Framework: It is simple to create apps in HTML/CSS/JS frameworks, using PhoneGap, and it looks like an HTML page. In the process, you might use CSS frameworks like bootstrap, but still it feels like a web page instead of mobile app.

2. Positioning of Elements: Normally, people prefer using a specific pattern on mobile phones. The particular pattern defines the process of using the phone. 

Hybrid App Development is something that takes the mobile app development to the next level. PhoneGap is the most significant platform that goes with the hybrid mobile app development. PhoneGap development India, provide the best and quality mobile app development services for the clients looking for the reliable services for their business.