2018 is the Year of VR Apps: Here’s Why

From being a promising technology not less than 3 years ago to technology that is already reshaping several industries, Virtual Reality has come a long way. Today, extensive research backed by millions of dollars of funding is being poured into virtual reality on the hopes of unearthing many more applications for this coveted technology. However, not all of it is mere research. There are already several VR applications thanks to Virtual Reality-ready smartphones and apps.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Virtual Reality apps that can give us a perspective as to what is in store for the year 2018:

Spotlight stories

Spotlight stories by Google is an app that is working on a new medium of storytelling. It uses the VR format to tell immersive stories to users. An app that was launched in the middle of 2017, it has already been installed by 500,000 users.

YouTube VR

YouTube VR is an application developed by Google which brings the popular app YouTube to the VR format. The text-based searching has been replaced with voice searching and is also now used to display all videos in a VR or a 360° format. 

Google Arts and Culture VR 

This virtual reality application curates famous works of art from all over the globe and creates the environs of a museum inside the VR realm. It provides users with a realistic experience of famous monuments and galleries with an audio-based guided tour.

Star Chart VR

Star Chart VR is a VR-powered planetarium that creates the experience of a planetarium inside the VR world. It targets students and science lovers across the globe and helps them learn about the various constellations and their location in the night sky without having to labor through complicated star maps.

Build a VR application that offers niche applications and disrupts the industry. Partner with expert VR app developers such as Openwave and build powerful apps for your business needs. Reach out to their business team today!

What OS should you consider for app development in 2018? Android or iOS?

It’s 2018 and the world is now moving into yet another year where smartphones rule the market as the leading branding and eCommerce tools. But the industry faces a deep schism with the user base divided into devout Android users and iOS users. Both these operating systems have a sizable user base that runs into millions. With this being the case, which platform should you opt for business app development? 

Paying attention to the following parameters can help you make you an informed decision:

1. Market Share

Being budget-friendly, Android devices are opted by most users in emerging markets. That’s why, when it comes to market share, Android rules the roost with whopping 86.1% devices! Due to the enormous availability of devices, Android sees 7 times more downloads than iOS. This directly translates into great reach for your business application.

2. User base Demography

While Android enjoys a larger user base with a highly diverse demographic, iOS users are generally Apple loyalists who purchase not just the iPhone but also other associated offerings. This boosts the customer retention in iOS compared to Android and also allows developers to venture into more verticals.

3. Revenue

Here, iOS clearly enjoys an edge over Android. Its user base is premium that boasts of higher income and well-educated audiences that are more mindful of the security and stability offered by the app. These users are capable of purchasing the app at a premium and are not price sensitive. This makes iOS highly suited for enterprise and business applications that are subscription-driven, which in turn translates into better revenue.

4. Development Cost and Complexity

Hands down, Android is the winner in this criteria. Its developer license is highly affordable and the cost of hosting an app on the Google Play Store is equally simple. This increases the accessibility of app development to the global developer community. This is unlike Apple which places strict guidelines and charges a high premium for iOS app development and hosting.

Both the platforms are well poised and choosing between them should be based on a thorough evaluation of your requirements and expectations from the business app. The best way to solve this conundrum is to hire an expert in mobile app development team and get the best inputs. Get in touch with Openwave, a globally renowned player in both iOS and Android app development to learn more.