If you’re looking to build a career as an App developer in India, now is a great time. According to a recent study by Hyperlink Infosystem, the average cost to develop a mobile app in India, either on Android or iOS platforms, is almost ten times cheaper than in the United States.

These findings also come as great news for app publishing businesses who may now start looking at the Indian subcontinent for all their app developments. The vast cost savings associated with outsourcing to developers in India has created a thriving environment at this moment for app developers, who are keen, savvy, and skilled.

In 2016, India overtook the US to become the world’s largest country in terms of demands for mobile development courses, Google India said. In the last two years, India saw a whopping 200% YoY growth in search queries for the mobile development courses. The tech start-up boom still unfazed, there have also been companies such as Plobal Apps, providing small and medium-sized businesses with their own powerful apps, at close to one-tenth the actual costs. Further, the technology market in India is a star performer, attracting top tech companies from across the globe, and also providing a very lucrative field for entrepreneurial tech ventures. Factoring in that, India is now a rapidly developing nation moving towards a digital sphere. Hence, the app development space naturally sees a lot of scope for growth.

What are the chief factors driving this demand and growth trajectory in the Indian app development space?

1. The expanding app ecosystem itself.

The global mobile app store gross revenue is expected to reach USD 102.5 billion in 2020, almost double of what it is now. Emerging markets such as India, Brazil will be driving much of APAC’s staggering growth in 2020. These markets will account for 76% of global app store downloads and 49% of global mobile app store revenue.

2. The promising smartphone market.

As per findings from market research firm Counterpoint Research, in the third quarter of 2016, the smartphone shipments in India grew 18% more than the global smartphone market, in India.

3. India’s young, energetic, and tech-savvy demographics.

The number of app developers in India is predicted to reach close to four million by the next year. This would make it the largest developers’ community in the world. As such, the steep growth in demand for apps has provided a very conducive environment for app developer enthusiasts, who no longer see app development as a menial career choice.

App development in India is so much cheaper for various contributing reasons. Right from the abundant availability of technologically skilled human capital, to the rising number of startups and small app development enterprises that offer their services at competing prices. However, app development may cost much lesser in India chiefly because of the amount of time spent on developing the app, and the infrastructure in place. Another key feature driving the low cost is that app entrepreneurs continuously look to lower their costs while still ensuring the quality of their service.

In its findings, Hyperlink InfoSystem provides an overview of the costs associated with the development of Apps in the Indian App market. While it is beyond argument that cost is one of the most critical aspects that businesses consider, the study proceeds to suggest that businesses would still invest in it if they find it worthy.

The elements that make up the gross cost of an app defines how expensive or cheap it is to make. Going by convention, the elements such as the app idea, the app’s functional layout followed by design, and finally the app development stage, make up the app development process. The app development stage is closely followed by the app’s testing, debugging, and deployment – all of which contribute to the cost break up of an app.

 

ExchangeWire Research’s weekly roundup brings you up-to-date research findings from around the world, with additional insight provided by Rebecca Muir, head of research and analysis, ExchangeWire. In this week’s edition: Global development of VR; Longer content migrating rapidly to mobile; Ad fraud in mobile apps; and Tech less important to TMT companies.

Global development of VR

Brands and advertisers that utilise VR can tap into higher consumer engagement and attention rates, and are also seen as more innovative, finds research by YuMe. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) have tried an immersive technology, and feel it’s the “next big thing”, while 86% have heard of VR.

VR is considered the most advanced immersive technology. Six in every ten respondents (60%) feel the VR helps create engaging experiences, compared to 53% for 360-degree video. Similarly, 51% feel brands that use VR are innovative, compared to 45% for 360-degree video.

The survey also finds that customers who have used immersive technology firsthand, have a better opinion of it that those who have not. More than half (51%) of respondents who have used an immersive technology are more likely to engage with an ad if it was in 360-degree video, compared to 36% of total respondents. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of those who have used immersive technology also feel brands utilising VR create a positive view of them, compared to 43% of total respondents.

Longer content migrating rapidly to mobile

There were more video views on mobile devices in Q3 than on any other device, according to Ooyala’s Q3 2016 Global Video Index. The research also found changes in the type of video watched on mobile devices.

Longer-form content – video over five minutes in length – accounted for nearly half (48%) of all viewing on smartphones; that’s more than double the 23% seen a year ago. In addition, nearly one-third of all mobile viewing (30%) was of video over 20 minutes in length.

There is an increasingly mobile society in established markets like the United States and Western Europe; growth there will continue as consumers continue to demand it. Amazon’s decision to offer downloadable content for offline viewing – and Netflix’s more recent decision to do the same – are also acting as drivers.

Sports viewing on mobile is also on the up. A year ago, Ireland was the only country in which sports video views topped 50% on mobile devices. Now, Europe sees mobile video views of sports-related content at 54%, higher than the 49% global average.

Ad fraud in mobile apps

More than half of all uncertified apps displayed malicious activity, and even some certified apps were just as toxic, finds a study by Sizmek.

About 9% of mobile apps generating ad traffic were not certified by the app stores. Eight in every ten (80%) of these apps were on Android devices, with 56% of this group proven to be malicious. Half of illegally downloaded iOS apps were proven to be malicious. All told, 52% of all uncertified apps were found to be malicious. Of certified apps, a small fraction (1.5%) engaged in ad fraud.

From approximately 20 billion impressions, 10% of all mobile apps traffic came from apps not certified by the app stores. Three-fifths (60%) of these impressions came from Android devices. Over a third (37%) of this group was proven malicious, with the rest either low quality or not found (and most likely malicious). Two-fifths (40%) of the uncertified traffic came from iOS devices, and 43% of these apps facilitated illegal downloads, while 57% were unstable apps. Both groups were likely largely malicious.

Tech less important to TMT companies

Despite advancements in technology and artificial intelligence in the workplace, 62% of enterprises in the Tech, Media, and Telecoms (TMT) sector are seeking to employ more staff to drive their company forward, Colliers latest research reveals. This demonstrates the ‘human factor’ still plays a critical role in business development.

Technology was viewed as the least important strategic resource by all but one company. Yet most businesses surveyed did expect big change and efficiency improvements through the introduction of new technology in the business and the workplace, especially the development of cloud-based systems.

The consensus among all the companies surveyed was that human resources (HR) remains the most important strategic resource, which is needed to drive business growth over the coming years. Without the ability to tap into pools of technical talent, the business would not be able to grow at the desired rate.

 

Samsung is not willing to kill off its Galaxy Note series, a brand that it has developed since 2011 just because one of the device in the series was prone to fires, and explosions in some cases. Samsung mobile chief, DJ Koh has confirmed the company will be moving on from the Galaxy Note 7 disaster and will be building the Galaxy Note 8.

“I will bring back a better, safer and very innovative Note 8,” Koh said in an interview with Cnet. He also talked about Samsung’s plan to rebuild its credibility with its customers, which was tainted by many of its Note 7 devices exploding or catching fire – leading to two messy product recalls by the company.

This new development refutes earlier claims that Samsung will be killing off its ‘Note’ brand altogether following the Note 7 debacle. The company and the Note series received a lot of negative attention, and its market value was stripped by 8 per cent (estimated to be $18 billion) following its cancellation of the program. There is no information regarding specs of the Galaxy Note 8 as of yet.

A report by Russian website HiTechMail had suggested that more than 50 per cent of the people in South Korea had developed a negative view of the ‘Note’ brand.

Meanwhile, Samsung is preparing to launch an update to its Galaxy S7 smartphone; with the Galaxy S8 set for a March 29 launch. Galaxy S8 promotional images suggest the phone will be doing away with the physical home button and getting thinner bezels. It is expected to be the first device running Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 835 processor.