Every application developer looks forward to having their applications downloaded by as many users as possible. Intel is making this a reality for 3 top applications from Kenya. The applications were drawn from 14 applications in Kenya that took part in the Intel App Elite challenge.
Today, developers cannot meat their dreams due to lack of enough and updated resources. Natively written applications require more effort from the developers and this is why Intel provided the competitors with Intel Integrated Native Developer Experience (Intel INDE) which assists developers in writing “native code”.
Native applications lead to better customer satisfaction. Happy users are more likely to recommend the applications to their friends, or to rate the applications higher, leading to more downloads for the developer. Citing the just completed Elite challenge, Intel realizes that it’s not enough for a developer to just build their application, but optimizing their application for usability highly impacts their chances of success.
Many developers initially code their applications to be “cross platform”, which while enabling them to launch their applications fast and across the flurry of mobile devices in the market, it comes at a cost of usability of the application. To release an app into the market, a developer also needs to test usability and efficiency. Intel therefore developed tools that emulate the actual experience on a range of mobile devices. The tools known as Appthwack and Testdroid, are cloud based.
The developers behind the 14 applications benefited by getting access to technical software solutions. This helped them in making their applications perform better on a range of mobile devices. In addition, they also got access to consultants who advised and guided them in using the tools. Intel is the world’s leading supplier of chipsets which provide computing power to a range of devices, including smartphones and tablets. This enables Intel to contribute their skills and experience in helping developers write better mobile applications.
In addition to technical skills, developers benefited from a cash investment that will help them market their apps, including to users outside Kenya. The 3 apps were ranked based on how much effort the developers had put in improving the user experience and reducing errors.
GoJimmyGo, JTL Biashara and Mobi Biashara will benefit from the $5,000 (approximately Ksh. 458,000) marketing investment from Intel. GoJimmyGo is a mobile game where the user tries to evade a chasing dog. JTL Biashara is a customer service app that enables clients to interact with their service providers and make payments. Mobi Biashara is a mobile banking app targeting financial institutions providing depositing, withdrawing, loan management and share management for their clients.
The 14 apps that took part in Intel App Elite are as below:
- KenyaBuzz Raha
- Safaricom Daily Nation reader
- Ticket sasa
- Eve Woman
- Ghafla Kenya
- Mobi Biashara
- KRA
- Shoppers Delight
- JTL Faiba
- Ushahidi
- GoJimmyGo
- Haki
- Translater
- Pesadroid