In the initial years, mobiles were used only for phone calling and SMS. Later some entertainment options like music, FM, etc are made available to these devices. Later on with the inception of Android OS and iOS, and their open source scripts truly opened the gates for mobile apps. These changes made the mobile even more capable from a consumer point of view, than the computers from industrial point of view. Developers got opportunity and a new market for developing mobile apps, apart from the web-application. Mobile apps technology is a revolution in the history of mankind. Mobile apps have changed the way things are done, in particular, have induced easier and smart ways of getting things done than ever. That’s why, mobile devices are also called smartphones. Mobile apps are being used in every field, whether to book a ticket for railway or bus journey, or book a taxi, doctor, groceries, LPG gas, paying bills, almost everything involving information exchange at consumer level is possible by mobile apps. These mobile apps are saving precious time of professionals or busy persons who cannot book things by personally reaching at respective offices. Mobile apps are also transforming day-by-day to satisfy the human needs by becoming more powerful, game-changer, and showing a paradigm shift. One can easily see that mobile apps are now giving customised solutions like booking of foods, tickets, cars, etc. Many similar apps are launched by picking up the idea of an app, thus passing a huge competition, mainly by software giants. Functionalities of the apps depend upon the device itself, thus, giving pressure on hardware manufacturers too to build powerful, fast, heavy memory devices into the consumer market. One surprise is that these powerful devices are cheaper than the laptop devices of the similar configuration, even mobile phones are having better hardwares like camera. Development of mobile apps is found costlier than the web-applications. Thus, those who get customised mobile apps for their services capture the market earlier but again face a huge competition. Today, mobile apps are replacing television and theater also.
Today one cannot imagine life without smart devices and mobile apps. Even if someone tries to do so by avoiding smart phones and using basic phones, after 1-2 days, he has to return to his smartphone as it is mandatory these days to save time and money. During this worst pandemic crisis, on one hand mobile apps are helping in dissemination of information regarding characteristics of the virus, precautions, preventive steps, spread, lockdown, etc, and on another hand mobile apps are assisting people to work from home. I can say, if mobile apps were not there, the pandemic crisis would have been uncontrolled. Today, people are communicated through mobile apps for guiding their relatives/society and helping them to get essential commodities and transport.
In fact, this is the true magic of mobile apps that is evident to everyone now. Businesses connected to the consumers/customers through mobile apps are growing while those unconnected ones are crashing. The pandemic requires everyone to stay safe at home, thus, online shopping has increased and I feel there is no fall in the consumer market as higher & middle class people are spending as they were doing normally and these are the main consumers in the country. Even those who were avoiding online shopping for many reasons, like security of bank details, quality, etc are now forced to use the mobile apps for online shopping. Looking at this aspect, the Govt of India launched Aarogya Setu app to communicate with the general public and it is being made mandatory for all offices, although people of raised few concerns with this app.
Consumers are now well-conversant and confident in availing services through mobile apps, apart from entertainment through music and videos. So this will be continued and people are trying to do most of the jobs through handheld devices only and avoiding even switching-on the laptop/computers, or TV.
People are using Apps to full fill their needs best. Banning of chinese apps will help to fight with China, but it is not a banning of apps from other countries like the US. We are presently using apps from Google and other software giants which are out of the competition from Indian software companies. Companies like Facebook, Google, have developed a huge consumer base and are leaving no stone unturned to keep the consumers connected with their services, one or another way. The basis operating systems of mobile like iOS and Android are US based, so they would always have an upper hand to control the app market and consumer base. If Indian apps can provide essential features, then only these apps can capture the market, but again it is doubtful. Google is capturing ideas and making their own systems. For example, Google recently transformed Hangout into Google Meet, which works similar to Zoom.
Mere having an idea, or creating web/mobile apps is not sufficient to go global. Consumer base is the most important factor which at present is almost absent in Indian apps. The global companies like Google, Facebook will take the idea of those apps and will develop their own apps and advertise in their own systems. I am not surprised that despite having such a huge user base, why facebook, whatsapp, etc have started advertising their apps on television, this is because to make the people aware of their features and use their name as a brand.
Like any consumer goods, India is the largest consumer market for any company. It is really an opportunity for Indian start-ups to come forward and build the best apps for Indians but at the same time will face competition from global software giants like Google, Facebook which are having the largest consumer base.
I feel that mobile apps are again under transformation to meet the scenario of the pandemic and increasing trend of using mobile apps for various services. It is a different matter which company gets benefitted.