Thanks for the feedback guys. Sounds like the mobile market still has a lot of potential. But as you put it, your right that we need to have useful apps that people actually need, not another 'photo-sharing app' that will go as quickly as it came onto the market. Well, considering that smartphones are only taking off in most of Africa, it would be a niche market to try and make localized apps. Makes development a little more complicated knowing that if you need to touch a larger market, one would have to develop apps that exploit more developed markets like Europe/America and therefore a finer tactic in market research. Any thoughts?
On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 10:27 AM, Okalany Daniel < [email protected]> wrote: > Yes,**** > > You can make a decent living from mobile apps. But you need to create > something useful, or something that people can’t live without. The app > stores make the consumers absolute kings. Few people will pay for apps > they’ve never tried. So initially you’ll want to have as many people using > your app as much as possible, and therefore you’ll have little/no revenue > at the start. I don’t know how much in app ads pay, but you need at least > 10,000 users to make some money (assuming they use the app regularly).**** > > ** ** > > As for windows phone 7, I think it’s a bit late – so it’ll probably stay a > small player for the near future, it’s hard to beat a platform that’s > activating 700,0000 devices daily.**** > > ** ** > > I think though that there is no clear winner for most mobile services yet, > I don’t know a clear winner for mobile payments, maybe something like > https://squareup.com/ if you can partner with a mobile money service.**** > > I think though, emphasis should be put on creating a useful app, not just > another app for sharing cat pictures.**** > > ** ** > > Regards,**** > > Daniel. **** > > ** ** > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On > Behalf Of *Robert Muwanga > *Sent:* 11 January 2012 09:11 AM > > *To:* Uganda Linux User Group > *Subject:* [LUG] Freelance Mobile Device Development a good career?**** > > ** ** > > Hi guys, > I have a question that has been plaguing my mind for a long time. I for a > long time have envisioned living a 'work at home' life and doing the thing > I love doing, that is, programming and software development. Unfortunately > I don't do this at a professional level and manage to squeeze in a couple > of hours from time to time between work. > What I have been wanting to know how individuals manage to live and > sustain this kind of lifestyle, and more interestingly, is it possible to > do it while developing for mobile apps. In other words, is it possible to > make a career and living out of mobile device development, particularly on > Android (i'm not being biased just because I am on a Linux mailing list :-) > ). > The success of the iOS platform has in more ways than one proven that a > steady stream of income can be acquired for budding developers as long as > the idea is good and they maintain regular updates on their popular apps. > Indeed one can argue that considering a lower standard of living for most > of Africa, one can make a comfortable living making apps for this platform > (as long as they can afford the initial hardware requirements). However, > Android on the other hand is notorious (or so the media says) for having > users search for equivalent free apps (or even torrenting paid apps) and > therefore most app developers have to adopt a business model of issuing > most apps for free with ads in place. Of course this business model is > different and may not net in revenue as good as iOS apps.**** > > So my question is: > 1. Is Android mobile app development worth the effort as a source of > income? (indeed there are those that do it for the love of software > development and not necessarily for the profit but lets not include these > individuals for now).**** > > 2. How can one make a sustainable living and career developing apps for > the mobile platform (whether Android, iOS or even the new Windows Phone 7), > especially when one wants to 'freelance' or 'work from home'?**** > > 3. What are your opinions on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7? Do you think it > will kick off with a bang and spur rapid adoption or will it become just a > very small niche or eventually fail? (This question I am hoping will strike > an interesting debate).**** > > **** > > > _______________________________________________ > The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug > > Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: > [email protected] > Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug > > The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: > http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in > any way. >
_______________________________________________ The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any way.
