Complete Guide On Mobile App Development Timeline

Nowadays, mobile apps help businesses streamline operations, improve service quality, enhance customer experience, and expand their global reach. Reports say the global mobile app market volume will reach US$781 billion by 2029. As an entrepreneur, the more essential it is to build an app, the more crucial it is to be well aware of its development timeline.

This blog explains everything about mobile app development, including its process, timeline, cost, etc. Let's read ahead to understand it deeply.

Different Phases of Mobile App Development and Their Timelines

Developing a robust and efficient app requires dedicated time and research, depending on its complexities and requirements, for easier user access. However, the majority of app development projects include the following phases.

1. Research and Competitor Analysis

First, the project team connects with stakeholders to discuss their project's functional and non-functional requirements. Later, they conduct in-depth research to create a robust mobile app development cycle plan and identify the target audience, market trends, and user needs. This step takes around 2-3 weeks and helps define the app's development costs, solidifying the project's objective.

2. UI/UX Design and Pre-Development Requirements

The second phase is prototyping and UI/UX designing, which usually takes 5-7 weeks. In this phase, designers create an interactive app model showcasing its core functionalities and visual representation of user experience. They make the app's essential elements like user interface, layouts, animations, color schemes, and typography. Once the prototype is ready, they test it with the representative users to collect their feedback and identify areas for improvement. Then, the design team iterates and makes adjustments as per user feedback to give them a smooth experience.

3. App Architect and Technical Design

One crucial phase that defines the mobile application development timeline is the app's architecture phase. This phase takes around 6-7 weeks, during which the development team determines the app's robust AI technology stack, including frameworks, databases, and technologies that match the project requirement, performance outcome, and long-term success.

4. App Development Stage

The critical stage is the development, in which UI/UX designers, software engineers, and testers collaborate closely to bring the app's design and functionality to life. Developers integrate the app's backend, such as the database and APIs, to ensure data flows smoothly in 3 to 6 months.

• Front-end Development- Developers work rigorously on the front-end components of the app, such as layout, design, and UI elements, utilizing technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Usually, it takes around 6-8 weeks for front-end development to design an intuitive and aesthetically appealing app.
• Backend Development- Backend development works entirely on service and database, whether a car rental app, food delivery, E-commerce, etc. Developers collect data from backend services and load it to the mobile screen for users to see. They use programming languages and frameworks like Node Js, Python, and PHD to develop robust mobile apps.

5. Comprehensive Testing

Once the app is developed, testing is another critical process in the complete Android or iOS mobile app development timeline. Proficient testing engineers verify the app's stability, functionality, performance, and security using tools such as Selenium, Appium, Cucumber Katalon Studio, and Playwright. They ask representatives to give feedback to identify any bugs or errors. Based on the testing feedback, the development team creates mitigation strategies, writes code, refines, and addresses issues. The testers need at least 2-3 weeks to test the app entirely and guarantee a reliable and secure application.

6. App Launching

Finally, when the testing phase is over, the developers spend around 1 week deploying the application on dedicated platforms like Google PlayStore, cloud infrastructure, Apple Store, or Netify.

Even after development, the team conducts APM( Application performance monitoring) to closely monitor the app's performance, including crashes, load time, server response, etc. They ensure whether it's running smoothly or needs further improvement on unexpected issues.

Factors Affecting the Mobile App Development Timeline

The following are some crucial factors affecting the mobile application development timeline.

1. App Features and Functionalities

An app's features and functionalities determine its development time. Developing an app with more features and functionalities requires more research than developing one with fewer requirements. For example, creating a gaming app requires user control and complex features like sound effects, animations, and leaderboards, which require more time to develop than a simple app with basic features.

2. App Complexity

Usually, an iOS mobile app development timeline is faster than an Android application because iOS requires less device integration with consistent hardware. In contrast, an Android app needs compatibility with multiple devices of various sizes. Additionally, Swift is the programming language used in iOS, which is considered a more efficient and streamlined language than Java or Kotlin used in Android app development.

3. Regulatory Compliance

Various industries have regulations and rules that developers must follow, such as HIPAA and GDPR, impacting the mobile application development timeline.

4. Expertise in Development Team

The choice of a company with a skilled mobile app development team structure defines the true success and timeline for developing an app. They incorporate strong technical, collaboration, communication, and business acumen skills, work vigorously, and speed up the iOS and Android app development timeline without compromising quality.

How Much Does it Cost to Develop Different Mobile Apps?

The following are the different applications with their respective development timelines and costs.

1. Simple Mobile App:

A simple application with 1 or 2 main functions and minimal interactivity primarily provides users with fresh content that takes one or two months to develop. The estimated cost ranges between$5000 and $6000; however, the choice of platform may vary the development rates.

2. Moderate Mobile Apps:

A moderate app is a mobile app that uses real-time data to provide current information. Developing these apps requires additional research and time, and they are estimated to cost between $20,000 and $80,000, depending on the deployment platform.

3. Complex Mobile Apps:

Mobile applications like gaming are challenging to develop due to their complicated functionalities, such as GPS navigation. This increases the development cost, estimated to range between $100,000 and $133,000 per app.

The Necessity of a Defined Timeline in Mobile App Development

A well-defined mobile app development timeline includes proper planning, perfect execution, and efficient delivery. Creating a structured roadmap for the project is crucial, making the development process more organized and focused.

1. Project Management

A dedicated timeline is like a detailed blueprint or framework for managing the complete development process. Teams can track progress, identify improvement areas, and make adjustments with informed decisions to build a secure and efficient mobile application.

2. Proper Resource Allocation

A detailed mobile app development timeline provides a clear roadmap for distinct project phases like design, development, testing, and launch. Project managers can effectively distribute tasks to team members, ensuring that each mate is assigned the right job in their expertise. This, therefore, optimizes their workload and effectively utilizes resources.

3. Risk Mitigation

Breaking down the development project into phases helps identify and mitigate potential problems at an early stage, such as technical challenges and complex features. Such proactive planning keeps the project on course for robust development and timely deployment.

4. Budget Control

Apparently, a clear timeline ensures proactive risk identification and mitigation strategies, which prevents unexpected setbacks and budget constraints due to costly delays.

5. Quality Assurance

A detailed mobile application development timeline provides a structured framework that defines the specific period for different types of testing, such as integrations, user acceptance, and technical. It helps developers identify and address potential issues promptly for better quality enhancement.

Tips to Shorten the App Development Timeline

Nowadays, people's demands are rapidly increasing due to the increasing craze of mobile apps. Following are the tips that development teams use to shorten a mobile app development timeline

1. Create MVP of the App

Launching a mobile app with all functions active is not necessary. It affects the mobile application development timeline and cost. Therefore, creating an MVP for the application is a great idea, as it simplifies the development process, improves the app's efficiency, and shortens all Android, iOS, and iPhone app development timelines.

2. WireFrame Blueprint

An ideal mobile app development company's developers always create a detailed wireframe that includes the layout for the app's architect and design. A clear wireframe blueprint helps developers understand the overall concept, making the development process smoother and shorter.

3. Automate Testing

Automating repetitive testing tasks allows developers to quickly receive user feedback, detect bugs at the early stages, and ensure fast release, reducing the overall mobile application development timeline.

Strategies to Accelerate the App Development Process

Below are some tried and tested tactics that help professionals simplify and shorten the mobile app development timeline.

1. Agile Development

Agile development speeds up mobile app development time by dividing the complete process into smaller sprint tasks. Teams collect user feedback, which empowers them to work, update, and make improvements quickly. This methodology ensures the timely delivery of well-performing applications with better flexibility that aligns with user requirements.

2. Cross Platform Development Services

In cross-platform app development, developers must write code only once, which they can reuse on multiple platforms like iOS and Android. A unified codebase helps them streamline and shorten the development timeline.

3. Cloud-based Tools and Services

Utilizing cloud-based tools ensures scalable storage and real-time updates, simplifying app development. These tools also allow professionals to work from any location, receive shared information, and easily integrate new features or APIs, reducing downtime and ensuring faster deployment.

Why Choose Suffescom for Mobile App Development

Partner with Industry's leading mobile app development company, Suffescom. Over the last 13+ years, they have created a proven track of delivering world-class, tailored web and mobile app development services. Their skilled developers, designers, and testing engineers work dedicatedly to build solutions that help businesses boost their ROI and expand their reach. Contact our professionals today and watch your business grow to the next level.

FAQs Related to Mobile App Development Timeline

What steps are involved in mobile app development?

The development process of a robust mobile app includes the following steps.

• Comprehensive research
• UI/UX design
• Development
• Integrations
• Testing
• Launching

How long does it take for Google Play Store and Apple Store to approve your app?

Usually, the Google Play Store takes 3 to 6 days to find your app. However, we publish the application as quickly as possible because of its standard publishing by default.

On the other hand, it takes approximately 2 to 7 days to pass the application based on Apple Stores' strict criteria. However, you must be a little patient for almost 4 weeks until your app review.

How much time does it take to gain 1000 app users?

If estimated, it takes around one to six months to gain 1000 app users, but it entirely depends on your marketing strategies and service quality.

How do we shorten the mobile app development timeline?

There are specific tried and tested strategies that help shorten the mobile app development timeline, such as:

• Create MVP
• Cross-platform development
• Detailed wireframing
• Automated testing
• Agile methodologies

• Mobile App Development Company
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