The apps business

[hughescw]

Hi all

Can anyone tell me how this works ? I have a few ideas for different kind of apps

1st problem I don't know how to build an app and don't have the time to learn as well as running my current business,

I understand that there are many people out there that can build an app and get in on App Store and android store , but if I get a developer to do a project for me how do I know he is not going to steel the idea , copy the idea or share it with people who could do the same?

Also the prices seem to vary from developer to developer ? Why?

 

[james_firmsites]

If you don't know about apps my advice would be to stay clear. The market is very volatile with a lot of snake oil being sold in terms of development. The big success stories in apps come from people who build their own not simply pay someone to build it, if it's an idea worth anything it almost certainly will either have been done or a low cost developer will steal it.

My view might not be popular, but this is almost certainly a good way to waste money as apps are very hard to be profitable from, even more so if you can't develop yourself.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/computers-software/programming/Mobile-App-Development.html

 

[Dato Capital Reports]

I agree with James. I know very good app developers with good ideas and good apps developed, and they struggle to have a profitable business. I can't imagine how difficult it can be without the knowledge and time to supervise it.

 

[garyk]

Hi all

Can anyone tell me how this works ? I have a few ideas for different kind of apps

Yep you pay $99 a year to Apple and $30 a year to Google to be able to publish to the app store/google play. You either build it yourself or hire someone to do it. Have you actually done any in depth competition analysis? I get the 'Ive got an idea for app' but 9 times out of 10 I find its normally been done, and not just once.

1st problem I don't know how to build an app and don't have the time to learn as well as running my current business,

I understand that there are many people out there that can build an app and get in on App Store and android store , but if I get a developer to do a project for me how do I know he is not going to steel the idea , copy the idea or share it with people who could do the same?

Also the prices seem to vary from developer to developer ? Why?

You don't have a technical issue, you have a marketing one. If you have a six figure marketing budget, or 10s of thousands of people you can notify of your imminent launch then you're away. If not then its going to be down to lady luck. Not impossible just probably about 100 times tougher than you realise.

As for pricing? Well an aston martin and a ford focus are both technically 'cars' but their price is wildly different.....

 

[obscure]

I have to agree with James. It is a difficult to succeed in even if you do have experience. Without it you are just asking to be taken advantage of.

The apps business ( be it productivity, management or whatever) is the same as the video game industry. Ideas are worthless without the ability to turn them into a product (or at least the industry experience and understanding to manage the companies who do have the ability).

 

[Concept Vehicle Leasing]

We used someone to create out app. It looks good and we just paid the fee. You would share your idea with an App developer and they would work with you on the design and tech side.

 

[james_firmsites]

We used someone to create out app. It looks good and we just paid the fee. You would share your idea with an App developer and they would work with you on the design and tech side.

Can I ask why you paid for an App when your site is not responsive? Seems like you missed a, rather sizable, step if you're going after the mobile/tablet market... just curious if it was something you considered.