6 Questions Before Choosing a Mobile App Development Company

As the mobile app trend continues to grow and captivate consumers, you might be asking yourself how you can dive into this medium. Maybe you have the perfect idea for an app or maybe you just know that you want one developed for your company. Either way, you're going to need to pair up with a mobile app developer. But, with so many to choose from, where do you begin? Your needs will dictate what developer you should team up with, but you can ask yourself these questions to help you narrow down your options:

1. Do they have a strong portfolio? Mobile app development is just like any other professional service - you want to be assured they know what they are doing. If they do not have their portfolio published on their website, ask them what apps they have developed. Then check out the apps and their ratings in the app store and/or marketplace.

2. What is their testing process? Testing is a crucial part of app development. Many apps fail because they release their app prematurely. Not only will those that download your app stop using it, the chances are good that they will leave a negative comment which will hinder others from downloading it.

3. What's the plan for updates? All successful apps release updates, whether it is to correct a bug or to introduce a new feature. Make sure this is covered in your agreement with the developer so you can easily update your app.

4. Are they technical experts? Is the developer capable of troubleshooting the bugs? How do they approach fixing bugs? If they aren't able to proactively solve the issues you are going to want to find another developer. (You can gain some insight by looking at the customer reviews of other apps they have developed to see how timely they were in fixing bugs users found.)

5. Are they prompt? This is similar to the strong portfolio in that you probably should look for this in all your business relationships. It is particularly crucial to app development because your app may be faced with an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. For example, if you have a major bug just after the launch you'll need it to be taken care of pronto to save the reputation of your app.

6. Do they offer marketing and promotional services? Promoting your app can make a big difference in its success. Not all developers will offer this service, but it can be very valuable when they do.

Kristi Daeda is an online marketing strategist that works with companies nationwide to define and execute powerful online marketing strategies. Read more about her thoughts on online marketing at her website or as featured on the BolderImage blog.

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What You Need To Understand Before Hiring A Mobile Game Development Company?

Games were played for fun sometime back when PC games were first introduced. The introduction of Sony PlayStation and Nintendo proved to the world that there are serious gamers out there who are willing to buy expensive gadgets to quench their gaming thirst. As a result, more and more software are developed for smartphones and mobile software developers are now more needed by people from several walks of life. Software developers don't create a game just for entertainment anymore. The idea of using mobile software for promoting business has a new name called advergaming and it is catching up now. It is important to hire the right mobile development company to ensure that your money is not wasted.

What To Look For In A Mobile Software Development Company?

Everyone knows that creating a mobile game involves lots of coding. To develop a rather interesting game, coding is just not enough. Intelligent design and visual experience are expected by gamers and if a game doesn't deliver these, gamers will simply ignore irrespective of the intelligent coding. You need to understand what should be expected from a mobile game development company before you go shopping for developers to develop a game for your business.

Understanding Of The Purpose Of The Game

As a business owner, you may not clearly know what sort of game needs to be developed. Not all gaming ideas can be implemented and that is why you need professional consultation to decide on the game that is more appropriate for your business. Advertising through mobile games is used to reinforce customer relationship and you can only hope to develop a strong relationship with your potential audience. Unless the company developing the game understands the purpose, you can't expect it to reflect your business purpose.

Conceptualization And Visualization Skills

Once the purpose is understood, the company should be able to visualize the game. There must be some strong conceptualization that should go with the game because without these skills, there can't be anything interesting with the game. It is for this reason that mobile game development company should have a passion for games and respect gamers.

Technical Skills To Create A Realistic Game

Despite the effort spent on visualizing the game, technical skills are crucial to create a realistic game. The games are generally meant to be addictive and gamers should find it comfortable to play the game at any time of the day. Sloppy coding of the game will only lead to failure and unless you are sure that the mobile game development company has necessary talent, don't pay a penny.

Customer Support And Service

Most individual developers will want to wash their hands off after completing coding of the game saying that their code is bug-free. Irrespective of extensive testing, all codes written by human beings are prone to error and the mobile development company should provide customer support when you need their assistance during the launching and running of the game. This way, you can always turn towards technical support and even find ways to expand the game to emphasize on promoting your business.

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4 Questions To Ask While Choosing Mobile App Development Company

For investors, business owners and entrepreneurs, the idea of tapping into the potential of smartphone users is inviting, but it is rather difficult to understand the technology behind smartphone apps. Even novice smart phone users know their way around a handful of apps. When you provide an app related to your business for mobile phone users, you can establish brand loyalty and expand your reach. You can't develop an app on your own and you need to hire services of mobile app development company.

Applications for smart phones have gained significance in the past couple of years, but there are already hundreds of app developers who claim that they can develop a brilliant app. Some of the freelancing coders may even be ready to create an app for a much lower price. However, as your business prospect depends on this app, you shouldn't hire a mobile app development company without ensuring that you can get the best app for your business. You need to ask at least a few questions to ensure that you are not dealing with scammers.

What is the experience in mobile platforms?

Even though iPhone is the most popular smart phone, there are other types of smart phones like Android phones, blackberry and others. It is better to develop apps on multiple platforms to reach a much wider audience. It is even better if you research about the phones used by your target audience and develop apps targeting just your potential audience. In that case, the mobile app development company should be able to develop apps for different mobile platforms. It is impossible to excel in app development unless there is significant amount of experience in developing business apps.
What skills does the development team possess?

The technical and creative skills possessed by the development team is crucial to design a successful app. The application development for smart phones is actually carried out by individuals or a small group of individuals. When you deal with a mobile app development company, you should ask them about the team involved. In many cases, you may interview one person and the actual work may be done by another person who doesn't share your vision. So, it is better to know about it beforehand.

What is the development process?

It is possible to weed out scammers by asking about the development process. If any company promises to start working on the coding of app straight away, then run in the other direction. Developing a mobile app is not a game and it requires lot of planning. The company you are dealing with should elaborate on different stages of app development and only if the design is right, they can go ahead with coding.

What kind of ongoing support can be expected?

The mobile development company must be dedicated to making the app successful for your business. The company should offer some kind of technical support if you frequently hit bumps when your users start using the business app.

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U.S. company to build scientific ghost town

New Mexico, home to several of the premier scientific, nuclear and military institutions in the U.S., is planning to take part in an unprecedented science project — a Petri dish, of sorts, the size of a small U.S. city.

A Washington, D.C.,-based technology company announced plans Tuesday to build the state's newest ghost town, a 50-square-kilometre model metropolis that will be used to test everything from renewable energy innovations to intelligent traffic systems, next-generation wireless networks and smart-grid cyber security systems.

Although no one will live there, the replica city will be modelled after a typical American town of 35,000 people, complete with highways, houses and commercial buildings, old and new.

The ghost town of Lake Valley in southern New Mexico, shown in 2008, will be joined by a new sort of scientific ghost town being built by a Washington, D.C., company. Heather Clark/Associated Press

Pegasus Global Holdings CEO Bob Brumley says the $200-million project, known as The Center, will be a first of its kind in the U.S., creating a place for scientists at the state's universities, federal labs and military installations to test their innovations for upgrading cities to 21st century green technology and infrastructure in a real world setting.

It will also enable them to rub shoulders with investors, meaning it could ultimately draw enough new businesses to give the state a technology corridor like that in California's Silicon Valley or Virginia's Reston, Brumley said.

"The idea for The Center was born out of our own company's challenges in trying to test new and emerging technologies beyond the confines of a sterile lab environment," said Brumley. "The Center will allow private companies, not for profits, educational institutions and government agencies to test in a unique facility with real world infrastructure, allowing them to better understand the cost and potential limitations of new technologies prior to introduction."

For instance, he said, developers of solar technology would be able to assess exactly how their systems would be delivered and used in one house where the thermostat is set at 25 C, and another where it's set at 20. The center could also help show how efficient it might be in an old building versus a new one.

Brumley said Pegasus has been working with the state on the project for about 18 months, and has some initial plans already drawn up. It is now working on appointing a public-private advisory board and selecting a final site.

He said it will be developed on state-owned land, either in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe corridor or in the Las Cruces area near the Texas and Mexico borders. The northern part of the state is home to the Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories and an Intel factory. Southern New Mexico has White Sands Missile Range, Fort Bliss and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

Brumley indicated he had a site narrowed down but said it will likely be a few months before anything final is announced.

Initially, the project will employ about 350 people, Brumley said. But he estimates it could ultimately create 3,500 new jobs "outside the fence."

"This could give New Mexico a leadership position in the commercialization of federal research," he said. "It will serve as a magnet for investors."

Brumley said the ghost town will make money by charging user and operation and maintenance fees, selling energy to the grid by subleasing some of its state land for the development of office buildings, hotels and restaurants.

Gov. Susana Martinez said the state is committed to working with Brumley.

"I am confident this innovative project would provide a great boost to New Mexico's economy," she said in a statement. "We are pleased to be able to offer the resources, open spaces, and talented workforce required to make this effort a success.

"My administration is committed to an ongoing relationship with Pegasus that will allow The Center to thrive and create New Mexico jobs."

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Facebook's 'bug bounty' costs company thousands

Facebook launched the "bug bounty" program on July 29. CBC

Three weeks after Facebook started paying independent security experts for each security bug they report on the social networking site, the company has already paid out more than $40,000 US.

Facebook announced its "bug bounty" on July 29, promising to pay at least $500 for each security bug that is "responsibly disclosed to us."

In a Facebook Security blog post Monday, the company said one person has received $7,000 for flagging six different issues, while another was paid $5,000 for one really good report.

Facebook acknowledged it has also dealt with "bogus reports from people who were just looking for publicity."

Still, the company praised its experience with the bug bounty program so far, saying it has been a "joy to engage in dialogue" and the program has made the social networking site more secure.

Facebook said it launched the program because it wanted to show its appreciation to independent security researchers who had been reporting security bugs.

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