I Phone Review

Mobile applications date back to the first cellphones nearly twenty years ago. However, it is in recent years that they have really been put front and centre with the release of advanced smartphones such as the iPhone and Blackberry. In short, mobile applications are programs, often downloadable, that allow phones to serve an extraordinary range of functions. Amongst other things, they come in the form of productivity assistants, communicative and social networking agents, or just straight entertainment in the way of games and music players. The thing about mobile applications is that there is no limit to what they can be and what they can do. With the rapid development of mobile phone technology and dramatically improved infrastructure, there are very few constraints on what applications can do.

Mobile applications date back to the first cellphones. The first, and still most widely used, application is of course SMS or Txt messaging. For the most part though, early mobile applications were rudimentary. Games such as Snake for example came to define the first mobile applications. While mobile web browsers such as WAP allowed users to download ringtones, games and wallpapers, developers were very much limited in what they could do.

The introduction of Apple's iPhone effectively turned the mobile phone industry on its head. It brought about the rapid development of thousands of different downloadable applications serving to facilitate communication and social networking, productivity and entertainment. Some of the most popular of these applications include Facebook for iPhone and a GPS navigation assistant from TomTom. As Apple's competitors have moved quickly to launch their own smartphones that can compete with the iPhone, an incredible array of applications have emerged in very little time.

The future of mobile applications is certainly exciting. The imminent release of G4 mobile networks means that mobile networks will have a far greater capacity to process data. Companies such as Google are also looking to offer web-based applications that will free users from the burden of downloading applications. Coupled with the rapid advancement in mobile phone technology, these developments will facilitate the creation of larger and more sophisticated applications that will continue to enthral future generations of mobile users.

Importantly, mobile applications present ain incredible opportunity for businesses to advertise. Mobile applications are widely used and notably, used by a diverse cross-section of society. It is therefore possible for very precise marketing campaigns to be inserted into applications. Be it through title cards or themed applications, the opportunities are limitless.