What is Android's future in Business Application development?
Jan 20

Written by: SHeather
20 January 2012 

If you are a company with a mobile workforce working out of the office what are your options for developing business systems that give a high performance, user-friendly experience and can work on a number of different devices?

Now I don't want to sound old, but when I started in IT PC's were still in their infancy, laptops weighed half a tonne and a 56k modem was considered the cutting edge of communications.  In this era (and it's not that long ago) the only solutions available were to use a pen and paper and then either spend a day a week in the office entering details into a central system or phoning details through to a central inputting clerk to enter; or else develop a stand-a-lone application on a laptop which was synchronised overnight via that 56k modem.

As communications improved and the internet became a force a new option emerged, that of the web application. This allowed the user to communicate directly with the central database, or at least to communicate with a central database which is then synchronised with the main database, either automatically or by that inputting clerk again. 

Later Java Apps, web services, remoting and a whole host of technologies have been developed all designed to improve the user experience and provide real-time information to the person on the road.

So how, if at all, does Android fit into this picture? Well it offers nothing new.  Everything you can do with Android you can already do with Java.  But by utilising the new Android devices, such as smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy ACE and the HTC Desire and Tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Motorola XOOM, you achieve whole new levels of usability, and with over 10 million Samsug Galaxy S2s being sold in 2011, together with the number of other Android Smartphones and Tablets, the number of devices already out there to run your software on is quite staggering and is only going to grow. The built in datastore allows you to work in a mixture of on-line and off-line modes to minimise the reliance on WIFI and mobile networks and the devices themselves offer integration with cameras, microphones, email and telephone. And above all, of course, the devices are cool - users will want to use the software.

Here at Darwin we see a future in Business Application development for Android devices.  Not to become one of the hundreds of App developers, developing small little £1.99 apps but as a business tool fully integrated with back-office systems offering users real business solutions.

If you think this may be of interest to you then why not get in touch and we can explore together how this might help your business.

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4 comment(s) so far...

Re: What is Android's future in Business Application development?

As the future comes and the country goes wifi, surely all you will need on your Android (or whatever) is something like Logmein where you just view and use your office based IT systems anyway? There'll be no need for mobile bespoke applications in that scenario will there?

By Fred Hoad on   20 January 2012

Re: What is Android's future in Business Application development?

I guess in that scenario its all about a user experience. Consider a scenario such as recording snags on a construction site. A tablet or smartphone device will allow you to enter the details, take a photo, email the contractor and all from a device you slip into your pocket. And if you think the country is going to be criss-crossed with free, high performing WIFI any time soon then think again!

By Simonh on   20 January 2012

Re: What is Android's future in Business Application development?

But is high performing WIFI necessary? 3G has the bandwidth to play TV, 4G will be online at some point. Would a business application be like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut?

By Fred Hoad on   20 January 2012

Re: What is Android's future in Business Application development?

I see it as more like using nut crackers to crack a walnut. Yes I could use a hammer, a book, I could crack 2 together in my hand - there are a thousand ways I could crack a walnut if I had to, but the best and easiest way is to use a tool designed for the job. And if I had a job as a walnut cracker I'd want the best tool available.

By Simonh on   20 January 2012
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