Development process overview
Mobilezapp can generally build custom mobile apps for half the cost and twice as fast as our competition. Our approach to mobile application development is radically different from other mobile application developers.
Prior to writing the first line of code, we speak with numerous stakeholders within your organization to determine their goals for the mobile app. We discuss ways to leverage various technologies and understand your platforms to create apps that can assist your organization toward its end goals.
Once we acquire good understanding of the core functions of the app, we create wireframes and design the flow & interaction for app functions. Our creative team then develops a user interface (UI) that is intuitive, easy-to-use and understand and is your brand extension.
We develop a working prototype which you can interact with and understand how the real app will work. The prototype and technical overview are then used by our development team to code up the mobile application.
Project timeline
A typical timeline for the development of your mobile application is given below. Of course, each app is different in terms of functionality, requirements and complexity. Each addition of features, or deletion of features, can alter the timeframe and timeline. Once we receive funding for the proof-of-oncept process it generally takes us a week to collect the needed information for the application requirements through questionnaire and stakeholder interviews.The wireframe and interaction design is delivered within two weeks after finishing the interviews. The graphics and the user interface is delivered by fourth week. And the working prototype is delivered by the end of fifth week. The technical overview is finalized during the sixth week. Thus - generally within 42 days - we are ready to begin the coding. The code process will take roughly 6 more weeks. Thus the entire process can be delivered within 90 days.
one week
Prior to starting stakeholder interviews, we request you fill out a detailed questionnaire. Based on the responses from your team, we identify the areas where we need more information and we focus the interviews around those areas. During the interview process, as needed, we ask your team to provide us with working demos of the products, services and various backend components. We brainstorm your team about various app functions. Once we are finished with stakeholder interviews we will provide your team with a summary of all the goals and objectives for the app. These interviews are key to our ability to deliver an application that meets or exceeds your expectations.
two weeks
Based on the collected information, we identify the core use cases, functions and primary scenarios for the app. We put together these core use cases and develop a flow to accomplish the desired app functionality. We carefully analyze how a mobile user will perceive, learn and use the app. We create wireframes for various steps in the flow and analyze issues like workflow and navigation. We carefully design the user interactivity and experience as the user steps through this flow in the application - taking into account the on-the-go nature of the mobile user and making each step easy, efficient and relevant.
two weeks
Mobilezapp will deliver a mobile application that is not only functional, but looks great too. We believe our creative team is a secret weapon in our arsenal. We give extensive attention to the needs, wants and limitations of the mobile user at each stage of the design process. We design the user interface such that the of visual precedence relates clearly to the task importance. When user directly manipulate onscreen objects instead of using separate controls to manipulate them, they are more engaged with the task and the app and readily understand the result of their actions. We understand that the look and feel of the graphics should be an extension of your existing brand. We work with your marketing department to ensure that the mobile app visually integrates harmoniously within your brand.
one week
We take the interaction and interface design and create a working prototype of the mobile app. We employ various prototyping techniques - HTML click-through interactive web-based prototype and high fidelity touch and gesture sensitive on device interactive prototype. As a part of Mobilezapp Proof-of-Concept program we deliver the HTML click-through web prototype. It provides good mechanism to experience the overall flow of the application as the user moves from one screen to other. This way various use cases and user scenarios can be explored and experienced as a user would do with a real application. We can also develop a high fidelity prototype that runs directly on the mobile device. The prototype employs various touch and gestures supported by the mobile device. Such prototypes run on the mobile device just like a real app and provides a lot more immersive and exploratory interactions. This on-device prototype costs extra and can be added to your PoC program.
one week
Prior to beginning the code, we must write your technical overview document. The technical overview document is quite boring to read, extremely detailed, but essential for the development team. While the prototype is an easy way for your team to understand the functionality of your app, and can be useful for the development team to understand what you are looking for - the tech overview document is the coding blueprint. This tech overview describes in great detail the project plan, story plan and budget. We spend a great deal of time working on the technical overview prior to beginning the coding process. Your team will receive, and approve, the tech overview document prior to us developing the code. This allows us to provide you with a realistic cost for the build of your mobile app. Because we spend such a great deal of time on the prototype, it makes it easier to write an accurate tech overview document.
six weeks
After finishing the technical overview, we move to programming phase. It generally takes about 6 weeks to complete the coding. The timeframe is an estimate and depends on the scope, features and complexity of each individual app. We support all major mobile app development platforms and have experience with software developments kits for all platforms - iOS SDK, Android SDK, Blackberry Java SDK, Windows Phone SDK etc. We employ Agile/Scrum methodology for all software development projects and ensure that we are on track for project deliverable every single time.