Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful mobile application?

We did too. We did some research on the top mobile applications and noticed some commonality. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Mobility

The mobile phone is unlike traditional computing platforms. One of the common mistakes in designing a mobile application is to simply replicate the features of a desktop or web application onto a mobile device. A good mobile application will take advantage of the inherent mobility factor that comes with a handheld. Using capabilities such as location-based services, Bluetooth or the built-in accelerometer is what really makes a mobile application attractive. Furthermore, considering that the mobile device is carried by the user everywhere they go, as a mobile application designer, you want to think of creative ways to make use of that fact. With platforms that make use of push technology you may want to include custom notifications into your application.

2. Sociability

From its infancy, the mobile phone had sociability as the corner-stone of its existence – people call each other to keep in touch. With the advent of data services, the mobile phone is used more and more for digital socialization. This is an area one may want to explore with a mobile application. Integrating your application with well-known Web 2.0 social communities such as Facebook, Twitter and others can make for an attractive medium to connect users. Social features in a mobile application simply make sense. In addition to connecting your users, sociability can also provide a way for user-driven viral adoption of your application and/or content.

3. Usability

Mobile users are just that – mobile. A typical mobile user will spend only a few short minutes using a mobile application. Your application must be very easy to use, with limited instructions. Do your best to keep the screens clutter-free and give users minimal options. Do not overwhelm your users with too many ways of doing the same thing. Design intuitive controls and navigation menus. Also keep in mind different environments such as subways where network connections are unavailable. If your application needs a constant network, this will limit the times when a user can actually use the application.

4. Dynamic Content

You definitely want to impress the user the first time they run your app… but a mobile application needs to do much more than that – it needs to keep users coming back. Mobile users are accustomed to a quick ROI on their time – you don’t want to bore your users with static content. Take advantage of the data connection and fetch dynamic content. This will provide new reasons for your users to keep using your application over and over again.

5. Personalization

Mobile phones are so ubiquitous that they are truly becoming an extension of the owner’s personality. Mobile phone owners can customize the physical look and feel of their handhelds using different skins and accessories. The software can also be personalized using wallpapers and themed icon sets. A good mobile application will allow the user to customize certain aspects of it. Personalization of a users’ profile may may help increase application usage as it can become’s a part of their identity.

Now that you know what it takes to design a winning mobile application, go out there a design the next big thing on the market.

We’d love to hear from you. What are your top 5 attributes of a successful mobile application?

Trackback URI | Comments RSS