Mobile Development @ Ativio

Mobile Computing is being adopted by business and home users at an unprecedented rate. Technologies such as mobile broadband (3G, 4G, WiMax), Near Field Communications (NFC), mobile payments (See Google Wallet, Trolley) and HTML5 have enabled many users to almost entirely ditch their conventional desktop computers for today’s advanced cloud-based mobile systems.

It’s no secret that there’s pretty much an app out there for everything. From recipe books to coffee shop check-ins, “there’s an app for that”! More often then not, it’s the company that gets there first AND understands their clients’ needs that captures the market. We’ve seen this with Facebook, Twitter, and many other startups, who now see a massive bulk of their users interacting through their mobile devices.

Ativio recognised this huge emerging market and committed resources early on to become proficient in the various mobile development platforms available. This includes iPhone, iPad, and iOS apps, Android apps for smartphones and tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Blackberry apps for haptic keyboards and touch screen devices alike, and the notable yet uncelebrated Windows Mobile 7.

A key decision that mobile app makers need to make early on is the native vs web-based paradox. Do you need an app that leverages the most of a device’s capabilities, or do you need an app that will work the same across all platforms? Keeping in mind that each platform relies heavily on developments from the original hardware and software vendors, it’s a difficult choice to make; nobody wants to compromise features “just to make it work”.

We believe that we have a solution to this headache. Ativio has mastered the RhoMobile platform, which is a Rhodes based development platform using Ruby. RhoMobile allows Ativio to provide cross-platform applications that require only a single development branch. This means that only one version of the app needs to be developed, as opposed to having to create separate apps for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod), Android, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile; a management nightmare.

Ativio also understand that the interface can make or break a mobile app. This is why we implement jQuery Mobile in our apps. jQuery Mobile provides a rich interface that includes dynamic transitions, native-feel controls (buttons, scrollbars, etc.), and a refreshingly punchy look.

Do you have a suspicious feeling that your clients want a mobile solution from you, but aren’t sure how to address their need? Wouldn’t it be great if you could get advice on technical AND business issues (device targetting, platform independence, native vs cross-platform, risk analysis, social network marketing, etc.)? Get in touch with our mobile development team and we’ll lend a helping hand!