With over 1 billion smartphones and 180 billion mobile applications tracked annually, mobile development is certainly one of the newest and growing sectors.

The mobile app market is obviously dominated by Google apps (Gmail, Maps, Search), social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube), and game apps (Angry Birds, Temple Run). Giants like Walmart, Bank of America, and Amazon use mobile apps to make branding, improve customer engagement, direct marketing, etc. Small and medium-sized businesses follow the mobile system.

Ultimately a successful mobile strategy involves more than just a portable website. Mobile app development is driven by technological advances that require businesses to have a vision for the next few years. Below are some trends that will determine the future of mobile app development.