The explosion in the popularity of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets has fueled the global mobile application development industry. Operating systems such as Android and iOS are the clear leaders in both the smartphone and tablet fields, with these gadgets offering millions of apps based on productivity, gaming and social aspects.

Those interested in creating mobile applications based on Android and iOS do not have to have extensive programming experience to produce native apps. There are free solutions available, including Android controls and iOS controls, which allow users to make highly visual apps that perform effectively on their respective platforms.

These free-to-use tools are also supported by extensive developer communities from popular software companies to aid users who are creating their very own apps. There are also videos and documents that highlight sample code for those interested in viewing such material.

The mobile application development industry is becoming almost as important as the burgeoning smartphone and tablet markets themselves. With Android and iOS controls in tow, companies and mobile users have the opportunity to create customizable apps suited to their unique company needs on the platform and device of their choice.

The Benefits of Cross-Platform Development

Android and iOS are the clear leaders when it comes to mobile application development. Users who are considering creating apps for both platforms can benefit greatly from this approach, according to TechRepublic's Joseph Parker.

Parker noted that a cross-platform tool for mobile applications can help improve development speeds because these solutions create apps quickly. These options also make it possible to reuse code from previous Android and iOS projects to further enhance speed.

There are other factors that make it easy to create mobile applications for multiple operating systems as well. According to Parker, these solutions employ common scripting languages such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript to launch apps on websites and mobile devices.

Cloud computing is also playing a key role in the mobile application development landscape. As Parker explains in his article, cross-platform solutions can be integrated easily with cloud solutions.

Mobile application development no longer demands extensive knowledge or vast resources to complete. There are plenty of trends influencing the landscape, making it easier than ever for people to create apps for platforms such as Android and iOS.