Why the Forgot My Phone App Is Indispensable To You?

There are a plethora of utility apps out there on the Appstore. But how many of them are indispensable? With a functionality that you definitely need and a speed that is enviable, the new Forgot My Phone app from the Openwave stable is just what the doctor ordered. Let us take a closer look at what appears to be one of the best apps that we’ve seen in recent times.

What Forgot My Phone Does?

If you ever left your phone in your car or at somebody’s place or worse don't know where you misplaced your phone at all, you needn't worry. Thanks to the Forgot My Phone app, you can not only track your phone, but also raise an alarm, lock it, and erase data at your request. It works with a plethora of service providers from AT&T to T-mobile though it is available only on the Android Play store!

Call Forwarding

The network provider gives the service code and based on the code (to activate or deactivate call forwarding) the call is forwarded. The codes are hard-coded into the app to facilitate the user to select his network and get this functionality.

Lock

Now, the lock feature is used to prevent misuse of your stolen (or misplaced) phone. And the Forgot My Phone app does it through the push notification feature! You send a lock request from another phone to the web server to lock your phone. And the web server promptly, enables it on your phone.

Locating your Device

To locate your device, all you need to do is send a location tracker request from the secondary device to the web server. Now when the web server sends back a notification to the primary device about the latter’s location, your job’s done.

Erasing data

This functionality too, is similar. You send a request to erase data from a secondary device to the web server which in turn, sends a notification to the primary device to send its location which is then displayed on the secondary device from the web server.

Now, which other app has all the functionality that is mentioned? You get all of this for just $9.99! Yes, you read it right!

Why Cortana Won’t the Android Way and More

If you were following the daily dose of tech news (which does appear occasionally apart from the usual staple diet of politics and sport), you would know that Cortana is now on Android. For the uninitiated, Cortana is a personal assistant created exclusively for Windows and in particular, for the Window Smartphone. So, why did it have to venture into the Android space?

The answer is actually pretty simple: Because the Windows Smartphone simply didn’t take off! If Microsoft had continued with its strategy of releasing its products/applications only on its own operating system, the application too would have bombed along with Windows. The apps, no matter how good they were would have failed to find a larger audience and tanked for loss of users.

The change in Redmond’s strategy

Microsoft has sought to make up for the failure of the Windows phone in two ways: by focusing on cloud-based products and by making Microsoft applications available on other mobile platforms. The latter a decision that stems from the realisation that Windows is no longer a credible option in the Smartphone segment.

Cloud-Based Services

That Microsoft would make a mark in the cloud-based services segment was never in doubt. This is evident in the success of Azure with services like Operational security assurance (OSA) that protects power and utility companies from security attacks and PhotoDNA, that prevents online stalkers from gaining access to protected photographs gaining well-deserved appreciation.

The Android foray

When the Windows phone was released, Cortana was a key part of the marketing campaign around it. Cortana was in fact the vital link that strung together various parts of the Windows phone such as Bing, Xbox, email etc neatly. In short, it was a niche service available only for Windows Smartphone users.

So Cortana on Android means that Windows under Satya realizes that it is not a good strategy to let other Windows apps die at the altar of the Windows phone and that the only way to popularize its mobile applications would be to make them available on popular mobile OS platforms.


This is actually a good move by Microsoft though observers might say it had no other way out. But now that Windows’ premier app is on Android, it paves the way for more exciting apps from the Microsoft stable. 

7 Ways You Can Promote and Monetize Your App!

As people are spending more time on mobile apps than on their desktops, building a mobile app has become the best way for a business to advertise itself. Not only can you get greater visibility, you also get to monetize your app. It is this area (app promotion and monetization) that this article focuses on.

You may build the best app in your category. But you need to build effective ways to market the app, promote and monetize it. In this article, we look at some of them:

1. Tell your website audience about your app

This is the first step towards promoting your app. You need to tell your primary audience, whether in the form of a link or a separate page, about your mobile app and its features.

2. Use social media effectively

Integration with social media is crucial to get visitors to use your app. Create a page for your app on FaceBook, Google+ and Twitter. Use app Infographics to explain the stand-out features of your app. An image stays in mind much longer than a piece of text.

3. Advertise online aggressively

Advertising online does have its benefits. It helps you get traction among a targeted audience. You can gain through this if only you don't mind spending a few shillings.

4. Engage actively on online forums

Online technical forums are an effective way of engaging with the user and clarifying on many aspects of your app functionality that you can’t communicate with the lay user. It is here that you can focus on giving more insights on your app’s design and development to the informed.

5. In-app purchases

Any app maker’s first focus is on getting visibility for his app. For this, you need to market your app with methods such as premium services, option to take-off ads, etc. These ensure you get the much needed investment to further focus on improving your app.

6. Functional design

Your design must not only focus on being visually attractive, but also seamlessly blend into the core functionality of your app. Don't clobber your app with too many features. You should focus on minimal features with maximum usability.

7. Remind users to use your app


You need to gently keep reminding users to use your app. Studies have shown that apps that come with background notifications and those that use push notifications are used more than the apps that don't have these.

Mobile Payments – A View at Widgets and Gateway API’s

Payments form an extremely important part of mobile apps in the merchant shopping category. They are the key to directly transacting with customers. But security issues and wading through multiple merchants have clogged this area for long. In this article, we take a look at the intricacies in mobile payments and the obstacles therein with reference to Payment Widgets and Gateway API in particular.

Payment Widgets

If collecting payments within a mobile app was considered difficult before, Mobile payment widgets with their libraries have made it look so easy. The advantage with these libraries is that they provide their own payment user interface (UI) components that make implementation of payment collection very easy.

PayPal, Braintree and Stripe are some of the big names that currently offer mobile libraries. If you are looking at choosing one of them, you would do well to go for one that has a mobile SDK as your effort would be lessened.

As with every application, there are certain issues with payment widgets too. You will have to contend with losing some control of the front-end as the payment widget now decides the look and feel. And as your payment information is stored in the gateway, your future payment decisions are constrained to an extent.

Gateway API

An API lets you transact with credit card data and every gateway supports a direct API (in some form). Implementation plays a vital part in integrating these APIs and that also depends to a great extent on the client library support. But the real deal is safeguarding the card data on your app.

The first thing you should know about processing credit card data is that you need to obtain PCI compliance. Apart from this, there are other security practices such as not bundling secret passwords, such as gateway credentials along with the app.

Mobile devices can be compromised easily and the user is always at-risk when he/she uses it. But when you directly use a gateway API you have full control of the UX but risk greater complexity in development. Gateway lock-in too, is a real possibility as you need to operate across multiple gateways. In such cases, a multi-gateway provider would be the best.

What You Should Consider Before Developing a Mobile App?

Apps are useful, entertaining, and ubiquitous. Owing to the amazing rise in the number of mobile phone users, apps are being used by a large population all over the world. This means an app is the best way to build your brand in the market today.

If you’ve decided to make an iOS app for your business, you need to see if you check certain boxes

before you can go ahead with your app design.

1.       Firstly, you shouldn’t develop an app just because it is the best option available. You need to analyse thoroughly how it will improve your brand’s presence among your customers. Customers basically look for quick and smooth interaction in a mobile app. You need to

make sure you have the right plan to link your app interaction with your brand.

2.       Have you researched about what devices your customers are using before selecting your platform? If you’re looking to build a multi-platform mobile app, know that your app needs to be successful on both (iOS as well as Android). It is always better to build your app for one platform and then diversify it.

3.      What kind of app do you want to offer? A productivity based app or an entertainment based one? If you want to build your product through your app, then an entertainment app may not be the right choice. You should go for a utility-based app as it gives customers useful information about your business and also helps build a business-centric relationship with them.

4.        Are you looking to build the app yourself? This may not be a great idea unless you have in-depth knowledge and experience in developing mobile apps. You can pretty much rule out this option if it’s a white-label app that you’re looking at. Building an effective, responsive and secure white-label app demands a team of experienced professionals and you simply can’t afford to take a risk here.

5.        Do a thorough testing of your app before it goes live. The importance of the testing process simply cannot be overstated. Make sure every aspect of your app undergoes system, integration and user acceptance testing. Get feedback from as many diverse users as possible. When you go live, your app will be open to everyone on social media and therefore, even a small error somewhere will bring down the whole effort. 

What Users Want and How Android Delivers?

Readers must be aware that the Smartphone is a device of immense possibilities. And, through it speak a billion minds. This is possible because the Smartphone is today a place where ideas from all over the world converge in the form of either apps or content. Checking mail, sending messages, sharing articles, videos and music and taking training sessions, the mobile is a vehicle where just anything happens. And it is taking place at a rate that was not possible with desktop internet because the mobile comes with mobility and a distinct pricing advantage.

 It is this accessibility and pricing advantage that has driven mobile sales all across emerging economies with South Asia and Africa, in particular leading the way. And here, it is Android that is showing the way to the rest as it continues to occupy a lion’s share in the app market with its ease of use and efficacy. So, why does it lead? Top answer this question, we need to look at what users actually look for in an app platform.

First, the app needs to be multifarious in terms of its functionality. In other words, for the app to perform a lot of functions simultaneously, it needs to have a complex and elaborate structure. But on the outside, it needs to be simple to use and neat in terms of design. Users may say this is exactly what iOS achieved. Well, Android does the same too with its accessibility and easy integration. After all, Android is no ‘fenced garden’.

Secondly, your mobile platform needs to provide security. This is even more important in the light of apps coming under attacks of various kinds, in the form of spams, Trojans, viruses etc. Especially when you design an app for payment processing or ecommerce, no customer would consider using your app if it fails to deliver here. And as you all know, Android does a fabulous job here.

Thirdly, your app platform needs to constantly reinvent itself. Well, Android is renewing its platform altogether. With default encryption and SELinux security with multiuser support, Android will have reinvented itself come the next year. And as users would recall, Android 5.0 was just what the doctor ordered in terms of performance improvements!