Today's users are on the go and expect to be able to access their data from wherever they are on whatever device they choose to use. Make sure that your applications live up to your users' expectations! At CODE Consulting we can help you to build (or build for you) mobile applications on a wide variety of platforms:
- Apple iOS (iPhone, iPod, and iPad)
- Google Android Phones and Slates
- ...
These applications can be stand-alone applications, or applications that extend existing systems, giving users mobile access to data they would normally access via Windows or Web applications. Of course mobile apps are not just device apps, they also need to connect to a server back-end, which we can help you with as well.
Often, individual mobile app projects are small in size and are feasible to do in low-risk fixed-price projects.
Common Technologies
Mobile Apps are built with a wide range of technologies, tools, programming languages, and operating systems, and we can help you with all of these. The following is a list of common services and techniques utilized in mobile application development. For a full range of specific sub-services related to mobile application development, see the “Related Services” section.
- Apple Mobile Development (iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPod)
- Google Android Mobile Development (phones and slates)
- Microsoft Windows Phone Development
- Architecture and Design
- SOA (Service Oriented Architecture)
Our Expertise
Serious mobile application development depends on a wide range of skills. Mobile apps are developed on different operating systems (mainly Windows and Mac) for different mobile operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, WebOS,...) using different languages (Objective-C, Java, and various .NET languages). Mobile app development also requires architectural know-how in order to avoid one of the most costly development traps: re-writing large parts of systems in order to support different "clients."
We have expertise in all of these areas. For a prominent example of our work, check out the Xiine platform (which includes mobile apps) developed by our team.
Starting a Mobile Project
Most mobile projects start with a short Vision & Scope Workshop to determine the overall goals of the project, the size of the effort, and the best approach. Based on the findings of this process, we decide on the next steps together, with the customer. Many mobile application projects are small, individual projects (often even larger systems are broken down into smaller "Apps"). For this reason, a common step is to create the first version of a mobile app on the most important platform. This is similar in some ways to our Proof of Concept or Prototype projects, but with more emphasis on polish, to ensure that the first version created is a complete, user-ready application.
Often, mobile projects are small and well defined in scope, making it possible to engage in fixed-price projects.
Project Lifecycle and Development Approach
In general, most mobile projects are relatively small in scope and complexity. Even larger mobile projects often tend to be broken down into smaller individual apps or versions. This enables us to use a small and efficient team and allows for a lean and nimble variation of an Agile software development approach, with an emphasis on productivity and reduction of overhead.
Purchase Options
Mobile projects are often (but not always, depending on size, complexity, and definition of the scope of work) good candidates for fixed-price engagements. When this is possible, fixed-price agreements are great for the customer, because they mean little uncertainty and no surprises in terms of cost. One major risk-element that is common to all software development projects is thus removed.
When fixed-price is not an option (due to complexity or unknown scope, or simply because we are only part of a larger team), then we offer the option of "time-and-materials" compensation billed in hourly blocks (pre-paid and service agreement options are available).