Tomorrow begins WWDC 2011, the annual Worldwide Developer Conference for iOS developers and Mac OS developers. ArcTouch’s San Francisco based app development team will be there for the entire 5 days. There’s been alot of speculation about what is going to be announced at the WWDC keynote address, but here’s two things that ArcTouch would like to see.

AppleTV Apps

AppleTV makes it simple to enjoy your music, photos, and video through your TV/home theater system in the comfort of your living room. ArcTouch believes that what’s coming next is AppleTV apps. Imagine the possibilities if you could install any of the hundreds of thousand of iOS games on your AppleTV? It would put Apple on equal footing in the living room with Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, and open up a whole new world of possibilities for iOS app development companies like ArcTouch.

We hope that at WWDC Apple opens up the AppleTV platform, much like they opened up the iPhone platform 3 years ago, and allow 3rd party developers to create apps for the AppleTV. We would be excited to see an updated version of Xcode and iOS software development tools that help you reformat your apps to take advantage of the AppleTV UI with minimal effort. We would also expect that AppleTV apps could be developed that allow the AppleTV and other iDevices (iPhone/iPod touch/iPad) to work together. We believe you’ll use your iPhone/iPod/iPad devices as external controls to your AppleTV – like game controllers. The screen on your iDevice will be a companion display to the app running on the AppleTV, and your touch gestures or shake/tilt movement on the iDevice will control the app on the AppleTV (think like a Wii controller). Imagine of a sporting game app, such as multi-player football, where each player controls their team and can set their plays on their own iDevice, but the rest of the game runs on the AppleTV. Now THAT would be fun!

iCloud For App Developers

Apple announced they will be unveiling something called iCloud at WWDC. There is wide speculation that iCloud is a cloud service offering for streaming music to consumers’ iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac/PC and AppleTV. Although this is a likely component of it, ArcTouch feels that there must be more to the iCloud announcement, since the unveiling is during WWDC – a developer-oriented event and not a consumer-oriented event.

We’re hoping that iCloud is also for app developers, and provides a suite of cloud-based services that helps iOS developers create better apps in a shorter amount of time. We can imagine something very similar to the cloud services provided by Amazon’s Web Services or Google’s App Engine. Xcode and the iOS SDK can be updated to provide developers with the building blocks that allow their apps to easily connect to and use cloud services for user storage, synchronization and playback. Cloud services would allow developers to minimize much of the heavy lifting of setting up and managing IT infrastructure. They are cost-effective, reliable, scalable, and secure. This would fit nicely with AppleTV apps, since the AppleTV is more of a streaming device and has little local storage, so it could rely on the iCloud services for access to app specific content.

We’re sure that it’s going to be an exciting week at WWDC and we look forward to whatever is announced, but AppleTV apps and iCloud services for app developers would cross off two items on our wish list. We’ll be waiting on line for the keynote at 7:30 AM tomorrow at the Moscone Center with our fingers crossed!

The keynote address was full of exciting news:

• iPhone 4 with a high resolution screen and video conferencing
• iAds interactive app-based advertisements
• iPhone OS 4, now known as iOS 4

The last item is perhaps the most significant in our mind, since it always seemed clear to ArcTouch that the future of Apple is devices based on the iPhone/iPod/iPad platform and not the Mac OS X platform. This simple name change, combined with no mention of Mac OS X in the keynote address, now publicly suggests the phase out of the Mac OS, and a rise of touch-based devices that look and function more similar to the iPad in the future.

For most people, this may be a welcome direction. The iPad has proven to be simpler device for most people to use than their traditional desktop and notebook computers. The instant-on behavior and the instant-access to a wealth of music, video, books and app content has changed the consumption model and usage of these devices. We see this as a tremendous opportunity. The app ecosystem will continue to grow and we are excited to help our customers be part of it.

Yes, there will be a Mac OS 10.7 some day, but we say that will likely be the very last in the long proud line of Mac OS X.

Thanks Mac OS X!

You set the bar for a modern gorgeous operating system, and made it possible for the iOS to exist. Now go and enjoy your retirement.

ArcTouch Exhibiting At Ad:Tech

Want to talk about your app idea in person? Come meet us in the Big Apple – New York City! We’re exhibiting at ad:tech, the premier conference for advertising, marketing & technology convergence, on November 4th and 5th. Join us in the MobileMix area – the showcase for leading mobile technology companies. We’ll show you some of the custom apps we’ve recently developed for companies, and help you learn how we can bring your app from raw idea to launch in the app stores.

ArcTouch CTO To Share App Development Best Practices

Also, Eric Shapiro, ArcTouch CTO, will be leading a live session about some “best practices” for app development. Eric, a former engineering and product development lead at Apple, Macrovision & Accenture, and founder of Zero G Software & Caustic Graphics, will share information on the current landscape and exciting possibilities of mobile apps. He will offer insight into planning time and costs, and guidence on how to be ultimately successful at expanding your products & services into the mobile app world with killer apps for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry. The session will end with Q&A.

See the ad:tech New York website for more event details. Register for the Full Conference as our special guest with code: 20EXNY9 and get 20% off the online price.

See you in New York!

The latest IDC smart phone market report claims that although the iPhone receives the most visiblity and attention in the marketplace, the new iPhone 3G S came in second to BlackBerry’s Curve as the phone most bought in America in the second quarter of 2009. In fact, according to IDC, BlackBerry smart phones outsold all iPhones.

IDC’s top ten selling smart phones in America in 2Q 2009:

1. BlackBerry Curve (BlackBerry OS)
2. iPhone 3G S (iPhone OS)
3. BlackBerry Pearl (BlackBerry OS)
4. iPhone 3G (iPhone OS)
5. BlackBerry Bold (BlackBerry OS)
6. BlackBerry Storm (BlackBerry OS)
7. HTC T-Mobile G1 (Android OS)
8. Palm Pre (webOS)
9. HTC Touch Pro (Windows Mobile)
10. HTC Touch Diamond (Windows Mobile)

BlackBerry OS based smart phones occupied 4 of the 6 spots in the top 10 list. If you’re thinking of developing a custom app, make sure to include BlackBerry development in your plans. We are experienced BlackBerry developers who can help you bring your app to this platform.

The Google Android mobile platform global market share has been growing 25% month over month and is now over 5% worldwide, exceeding that of Windows Mobile, according to the AdMob Mobile Metrics Report. Google has been steadily adding additional handset manufacturers and with nearly two dozen new Android based smart phones expected in the next year, Android is likely to continue its ascent and claim a top spot as a leading mobile platform.

This is a great opportunity for you to be part of this Android growth curve now by including an Android version in your application product plans. Hire our Android programmers who have over 10 years in Java development experience and are expert custom Android application developers.

BlackBerry RIM Top Smart Phone For Business Users

NPD recently reported that the BlackBerry Curve outsold the iPhone in the first quarter to become the best-selling consumer smartphone in the U.S. RIM, which already leads the corporate smartphone market in the United States, also had three of the top five best-selling consumer smartphones in the period, with the Storm at No. 3 and the Pearl at No. 4, NPD said.

The BlackBerry is THE dominant smart phone for businesses and is an ideal way for you to put your products and services in front of corporate users. Make sure to include BlackBerry apps in your mobile strategy. Hire our BlackBerry developers who have over 10 years in Java mobile development experience and are expert custom BlackBerry application programmers.

Apple iPhone OS Market Exceeds 45 Million Devices

Based on Apple’s announcement during their July quarterly earnings that 45 million iPhone OS devices have been sold worldwide, AdMob estimates that there have been over 13 million iPhone and over 12 million iPod touch units sold to date in the United States, compared to 1.9 and 1.8 million in Germany and France respectively. 54% of the world’s iPhones and 60% of its iPod touches are in the United States. This percentage has declined from 61% in January 2009, signaling that international user growth has outpaced US user growth. As a region, Western Europe has a 26% share of iPhone and iPod touch users. The worldwide ratio of iPhones to iPod touches is roughly 2 to 1.  In other words, iPhones comprised 68% of worldwide iPhone OS based devices and the iPod touch makes up the other 32%.

With over 45 million devices you can’t beat the iPhone and iPod touch for your mobile application initiatives. We can take your raw idea and turn it into a best-in-class finished app and help you deliver it through all the app stores worldwide. Hire our iPhone programmers who are expert custom iPhone application developers.

Android Application Development

There’s alot of momentum around the Android platform and we’re thrilled to be an Android application developer. Most of the Android sessions we attended were standing room only, and the Android development team fireside chat proved to be one of the best sessions.

Over 20 New Android Handsets

Google announced that there’s over 20 new touch-based Android handsets expected to ship in the next year across all major carriers at many different price points. That’s a huge number and means that if you’re considering writing a custom application for your business you should make sure that Android falls into your top 2 or 3 platforms to deploy for after the iPhone.

We got our first taste of one of these new handsets from the HTC that Google gave to each attendee. It’s a great phone and the Android apps that ArcTouch has developed look and work great on it. We’ll have a full review of the phone in an upcoming blog post, but if the other new Android phones coming this year look and work the HTC then Google has a winner.

Google Wave

One of the most interesting sessions was the unveiling and live demonstration of Google Wave, a three year old research project that blends various forms of online communication and information into a unified form. Think of it as a stream of email, instant messenger, Twitter style posts and more for real-time communication and group collaboration. It’s first available as a series of developer tools and APIs and consumer oriented applications should follow later.

We imagine various ways we can leverage Google Wave in custom mobile software applications for our customers. The best part is that Google Wave isn’t limited to our Android development, but we can also leverage it in the software apps we develop for the iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm and other phones.

Overall a great conference with an abundance of smart people and great food and drink (and robots!). Next up on the mobile developer events calendar is Apple’s WWDC!

Google IO Developer Conference
May 27 – 28 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco

At Google IO, developers come together to learn how to develop applications with Google technologies, such as the Android phone platform, App Engine, Chrome, Google Web Toolkit, AJAX APIs and more. We’re particularly looking forward to the Android Fireside Chat, where members of the Core Technical Team will be available for a candid discussion about Android app development, including the brand new Android OS 1.5 (based on the Cupcake development track) and perhaps a sneak peak at the Android OS 2.0 release.

Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)
June 8 – 12 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco

WWDC is THE event to learn every aspect of iPhone development, and this year’s WWDC will have extensive coverage of the new iPhone OS 3.0 and how to create innovative mobile apps that take advantage of new features such as in-app purchases, peer to peer connection via Bluetooth, communication with hardware accessories, and alerts using Apple Push Notification service.

Palm Pre Availability
June 6

Just two days before WWDC starts, Palm is set to introduce the Pre – one of the most anticipated new touch-based smart phones. The Pre’s webOS allows multiple apps to run at the same time, which provides a distinct advantage over the iPhone, and we’re excited to develop for it.

ArcTouch’s developers will be attending Google IO and WWDC and we’ll have reports on our blog. We’ve also started an events calendar for mobile phone software developers, such trade shows, development conferences, industry announcements. It’s where we’ll track events like the ones mentioned in this blog post.

So, like we said, it’s a great time to be a mobile phone software developer! There’s so many exciting things going on. It’s also a great time for our customers, who now have even more choice and opportunities to reach out to their customers through apps that complement their existing business’ products and services.

Advertising is a great way to create both direct revenue for your mobile application and indirect revenue for complementary products and services in your business.

Direct mobile advertising revenue comes from banner ads embedded in your app and served up from mobile ad networks. When a user of your app taps on one of these ads, you’re paid. Simple. How much can you make? According to AdWhirl, a mobile advertising network, the top 100 free apps in the iTunes store make between $400 – $5000 a day.

Indirect mobile advertising revenue comes from sponsorship and direct response actions included in your app. For example, a food manufacturer could make a free recipe or shopping list app that features specific brands of food and also include coupons that are redeemed in store. Revenue is made indirectly by reinforcing the brand and encouraging purchase.

So, when planning your app, consider whether direct or indirect in-app advertising is right for you. ArcTouch can help you make that decision and we can typically enable advertising in apps in just a single day.

CNN reports on a woman who watches on a webcam at work while her home is robbed. The video is seen through her web browser but could also easily be accessed through a mobile phone using something like ArcTouch’s custom iPhone app developed for the home security industry.

Of course the iPhone would be your first choice and you might assume that BlackBerry Storm would be next, but for a smart phone with similar touch screen capabilities as the iPhone your next platform should actually be the Android G1.

According to HitsLink, which tracks which mobile browser software applications are used across thousands of web sites, Android is 2nd by smart phone market share.

Surpised? You shouldn’t be.

The BlackBerry Storm, RIM’s entrant to the modern touch screen smart phone market, has only been on the market for a few months and will likely increase BlackBerry’s share going forward.

Of course, your decision for which platform to develop a custom app shouldn’t be driven solely by absolute market share. Your business requirements and target customers should also factor into this. Perhaps you have a legacy server side application you need to maintain, or your customer base is already proficient or has an affinity to a particular smart phone family. Our experienced team of consultants can help you choose which to target and our agile mobile application development process lets you introduce multiple versions gradually as your ready.