There’s an app for just about everything

‘There’s an app for that’ – with thousands of new smartphone apps being developed every day, this phrase (coined by Apple in 2009) is beginning to seem a reality.  Our research indicates that 80% of smartphone users have experienced downloading and using apps. However, with today’s fast paced technology market, there are signs that apps are already moving into a new phase.

The future is smarter, connected and integrated apps

So far, apps have successfully extended the functionality of smartphones. Instagram is a great example, giving smartphone-camera users a whole new experience when taking photos. Yet apps have their limitations. Most tend to work in isolation and there is currently limited ability to link and connect different apps. The future of apps will depend on their ability to work seamlessly together to provide a rich and integrated experience.

Mobile technology used in everyday life has become the equal of, and in some cases has surpassed, the mobile technology businesses are giving employees for work purposes. This has brought unprecedented challenges for businesses as employees increasingly access work email and data from personal devices, and take the lead on demanding which technology they are provided with by their employer. The approach businesses take to resolving this issue will significantly influence their IT policies over the coming years.

With consumer smartphone usage growing rapidly, and an equally rapid growth in the number of businesses providing smartphones to their employees, there are many ‘employed consumers’ who now use two smartphones in daily life. Similarity in the form and function of these devices has lead to questions regarding the necessity of carrying both, and as a result there is increasing pressure on company IT departments to either allow employees to use their personal devices for work purposes or provide consumer friendly devices.