MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT PLATFORMS

Mobile application development is more important to the enterprise than ever before. Development organizations are increasingly looking for a Mobile Application Development Platform (MADP) that can support their needs for both current and future projects. It's a broad field and vendors offer a wide array of capabilities.

The following shows the mobile application development platforms:

1.      Sybase Unwired Platform (SUP), has matured rapidly since its initial release in 2010, providing a flexible application development environment with plug-ins for Eclipse and Visual Studio, along with a proprietary studio. While it has a steeper learning curve than many other solutions, it is an excellent choice for broad mobile initiatives, especially in conjunction with SAP's Afaria mobile device management (MDM) solution. 

Sybase Unwired Platform (SUP)

2.      Syclo, initially specialized in field service and enterprise asset management (EAM) applications for ruggedized devices, but has over the years extended the reach of its platform to all popular mobile OSes. However, enterprises with needs around EAM and field-service-based users are likely to get the most out of Syclo. Its Agentry MADP is an excellent platform for B2E applications, and it now supports many B2C requirements as well. 

Syclo

Mobile Application Development Process

Mobile applications usage is growing day by day. Thanks to phenomenal advances in mobile device capabilities, your smartphone continues to define you. The apps you use are developed as a result of a meticulous mobile development life cycle. Every mobile app is designed using the best development strategy in mind.

Mobile App Development Phases A mobile app development life cycle usually consists of the following phases:

1. The Discovery Phase

2. The Design Phase

3. The Development & Testing Phase

4. Maintenance & Updates Phase

The Discover Phase: Tasks  Requirements analysis  System definition  Prototyping Benefits  Framework driven requirement specification  Get it right the first time by prototyping your project  Improve usability and user buy-in by letting them use the prototype system  Manage user/customer expectations  Manage IT staff expectations  More accurate size and cost estimate

The Design Phase: Tasks  System design  Database design  Business Process Integration design Benefits  Choice of deployment platform  Choice of Application Interface  Choice of user interface (browser, Windows rich-client or portable devices)  Centralized/reusable business rules  Centralized/reusable business processes  Normalized database design  Framework driven design process  Reuse/integration of existing data and functions and systems

The Development & Testing Phase: Tasks  Develop system  Business Process Integration  User acceptance testing  System and performance testing  Implementation/deployment

Benefit  User prototype from the design phase as basis for system  Framework driven development process  One integrated suite of development tools  Lower skill requirements  Multi skilling  Business level coding  Task tracking and audit  Downplay/hide technology focus  Easy-to-learn and master  Deploy same code to multiple platforms  Task and change control tracking  RDML level debugging  Multi tier, real-time client/server testing and tracing  Just-In-Time deployment

Maintenance & Updates Phase:  Tasks Ongoing system maintenance  Extend and enhance functionality Benefits  Centralized/reusable business rules  Centralized/reusable business processes  Repository based impact analysis.