Blackberry Reviews

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 first came about around the same time as mobile phones. In particular, SMS messaging was one of the first applications to be incorporated into handsets and is still the most widely used today. However, early mobile applications were constrained by the phones of the time and their limited capacity to access the Internet.

It wasn't until the release of smartphones capable of browsing the web like a home computer that applications really developed into the complex and diverse programs we have today. Because even the most inexpensive phones on the market are capable of running most applications, developers have worked quickly to release programs for almost every conceivable purpose. Handset developers have also put much emphasis on developing phones that are capable of running more and more sophisticated applications. It has become a reality of the modern mobile phone industry that consumers consider a phones ability to run applications as, if not more, important than its more traditional calling functions.

Currently, most mobile applications are downloadable and for offline use. Google though is hard at work on developing web-based applications. While this means users will require a reliable internet connection, wireless networks are quickly becoming more dependable and far reaching. Offering applications that don't need to be downloaded allows developers a far greater scope to be creative and push the limits of what is possible. Along with the development of 4G networks capable of handling far greater quantities of information, it is clear that both the quality and complexity of applications will continue to develop substantially.

Mobile applications present a unique opportunity to advertise when consumers are active and away from other forms of media. Because of the diversity of applications available, they appeal to all aspects of society. Inserting advert into applications therefore has the potential to reach substantial markets. With web-based applications, this potential only increases.