Mobile app development seems to be the necessity of any small or large scale business. There are several platforms available for this and the main contenders include: iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows.
Apple iOS: To develop an iPhone app, the iOS Developer Center provides the app developer with various tools, guidelines, debugging tests, and criteria to develop apps based on user requirements.
Android – On an Android platform, a developer can create an application using Java by downloading the free SDK (Software Development Kit). The SDK has sample apps, source code, developer tools, and emulators. It also provides technical articles, videos, and instructions to help develop applications. There is an initial developer registration fee of $25 to distribute apps on Google Play, the Android app store.
BlackBerry – BlackBerry is another mobile platform that supports various apps, mobile websites, widgets, themes, etc. To provide them in BlackBerry App World, a fee is charged for every 10 apps a developer submits.
Windows – The Windows platform has not gained as much popularity compared to its counterparts, but the user interface makes it unique. The Windows Platform Developer Program provides the best practice documentation for bringing an application to market.
Here is a list of some of the best app building tools.
AppMakr – This is an iOS, Android, and Windows based tool that offers a browser-based platform that is easy to use. It provides features like JavaScript, custom CSS and push notifications, and location-aware Geo RSS. Although the tool is free by paying a monthly subscription of $79, the developer can access much more advanced features.
Mippin – It can be considered as one of the most user-friendly tools that allows you to create apps for iOS, Android, and Windows. The tool also helps the developer to publish apps on iTunes, Windows, Google Play and Amazon stores.
MyAppBuilder – The tool is exclusively used to build apps for Android and iOS platforms. The tool comes with a monthly fee of $29 and allows the developer to submit two requests per month. One of the best parts of the tool is that the developer requires no technical knowledge.
RunRev: RunRev LiveCode helps develop iPhone and Android apps. This is a cross-platform tool, which can help in live prototyping and uses the full features of iOS and Android operating system. The RunRev site also offers exceptional tutorials that help build applications. The tool is available in the market with a price ranging from $299 to $1,499.