Weidenhammer is a technology consulting firm that specializes in custom Application Development, Mobile Development & Optimization, Web Design & Development, Systems Integration, Managed and Cloud Services, Network and Infrastructure Solutions, and Business/IT Consulting.

1. TUESDAY,OCTOBER6,2015 | 16BUSINESSWEEKLY/READINGEAGLE
T E C H N O L O G Y
By David A. Kostival
Reading Eagle correspondent
M
ost businesses real-
ize the value of an
online presence in a
tech-savvy world, but websites
no longer can be considered
cutting-edge technology.
Companies now have to de-
termine if developing a mobile
device app is their next impor-
tant step in an ever-changing
world.
Mobile apps are what keep
our smartphones exciting, and
can perform tasks ranging from
allowing a user to access his net
worth to finding where to get
the best sushi in town.
And as more people use their
smartphones for day-to-day
work and life activities, the
development of apps has sky-
rocketed.
Millions of apps
In July, Statista Inc., a sta-
tistics company, determined
that Android users were able to
choose among 1.6 million apps
on Google Play. Apple’s App
Store offered 1.5 million apps.
Coming in third, fourth and
fifth place, Amazon App Store
offers 400,000 apps, Windows
Phone Store has 340,000 apps
and BlackBerry World has
130,000 apps.
There is no shortages of apps,
but those numbers may only re-
flect the beginning of a trend.
Amanda L. Dolan, manager
of solution delivery at We-
idenhammer Systems Corp.,
Wyomissing, said mobile app
development has grown signifi-
cantly over the past year.
“There has been an increase
in the number of clients look-
ing at mobile applications,”
Dolan said. “Mobile apps allow
our clients to reach custom-
ers, increase sales and improve
operational efficiency, while
increasing quality and decreas-
ing cost.”
Rob Wolf, creator and found-
er of Launch DM, Wyomissing,
agreed. Wolf said that 2014 was
a turning point, when traffic on
mobile devices exceeded com-
puter online usage.
“You have to pay attention
to analytics,” Wolf said. “We
steer clients in this direction,
because it’s becoming common
sense to have a mobile pres-
ence. It’s become the new busi-
ness survival kit.”
Identify goals
Dolan said businesses can
create a mobile strategy by
identifying goals.
“Most clients come to us with
a solution in mind, but it’s often
necessary for us to help them
step back and evaluate their
mobile strategies,” she said.
“We evaluate the appropriate
solution options for the goals
and determine solutions such
as adaptive or responsive web-
sites, Web apps or mobile apps
and Android versus Apple.”
Michael H. Nymark, senior
technical lead at Weidenham-
mer, said mobile apps fall into
two categories: native or hybrid.
A native app is designed for
each type of operating system
and ties into the respective de-
vice’s hardware and software.
Hybrid mobile apps are built
with a combination of Web
technologies and are hosted
inside a native application. This
enables them to access device
capabilities that often are re-
stricted to access from inside
mobile browsers.
“Our challenge is sticking
to customer’s requests while
meeting Apple and Google in-
terface requirements,” Nymark
said.
Social integration
“A big thing is social integra-
tion, where an app ties into
Facebook and Twitter, allowing
for easy access to informa-
tion,” Nymark said. “There is
also more integration with the
Internet of Things, which in-
cludes apps that enable devices
to talk to one another.”
Nymark said another com-
mon feature is using features
such as health and fitness
trackers already embedded in
phones.
“Apps can use that data, and
then challenge people to walk
more,” he said.
Set to launch next month, one app allows fans to voice their opinions in real time.
Experts say that apps for mobile devices have to reflect client goals, have ready
tie-ins to social media and the Internet of Things and have a support budget.
Anarrayofapplications
Local app developers’
favorite apps
Amanda L. Dolan, manager of■
solution delivery, Weidenham-
mer Systems Corp., Wyomiss-
ing:
IFTTT, or, If This Then That:
Creates simple connec-
tions between apps such
as Facebook, Dropbox, In-
stagram, Twitter, Gmail as
well as devices.
Perka: Customizes loyalty
programs to encourage re-
peat visits to businesses.
Michael H. Nymark, senior■
technical lead, Weidenhammer:
Venmo: Make and share in-
stant monetary payments
to friends.
Simple: Banking and financial
management.
Paul Rosa, founder, Sploops.■
com, Spring Township:
Periscope: Live steaming vid-
eo.
Rob Wolf, founder, Launch■
DM, Wyomissing:
Sales Buddy Pro: Sales pre-
sentation app.
‘We wanted to create
a platform to allow a
sports fan to be the
opinion guy. Why not
allow someone to be
the next face in
sports video?’
— Paul Rosa, Sploops
LLC, Spring Township
READING EAGLE: LAUREN A. LITTLE
In the company’s collaboration room, Weidenhammer Systems Corp. Manager of Solution Delivery Amanda L.
Dolan and Senior Technical Lead Michael H. Nymark work together on ideas for an app they are creating.

2. 17 | TUESDAY,OCTOBER6,2015BUSINESSWEEKLY/READINGEAGLE
Dolan said goal-based mobile
apps allow clients to better
reach customers through user-
location-based search results,
health and fitness tracking and
service request submission.
“Apps can also improve sales
by allowing customers to order
products and services, and ac-
cess mobile marketing with
push notifications,” Dolan said.
Sports fan app
Wilson graduate Paul Rosa
and his business partner Sean
Roth, Sploops LLC, Spring
Township, are graduates of
Bloomsburg University. The
partners founded a new busi-
ness based on an idea for an app.
Sploops is an app scheduled
to be launched in November.
The app will allow die-hard
sports fans to be seen and
heard while broadcasting their
opinions on an online sports
community.
The concept started as a
website with many variations.
In 2014, the focus became the
development of a mobile app
for Apple, Rosa explained.
“We saw a big need for a sports
connection, because there were
no other places except for call-
in radio shows or text-based
forums,” Rosa said. “We wanted
to create a platform to allow a
sports fan to be the opinion guy.
Why not allow someone to be
the next face in sports video?”
Rosa said he sees video in
apps as the next thing on the
horizon.
“Usability and easy naviga-
tion is important for an app,”
Rosa said. “Younger users have
grown up with smartphones, so
an app has to be easy to use and
have videos and pictures. Peo-
ple want to be visual; the text-
based era is fully behind us.”
Improve efficiency
While many businesses may
be looking to attract custom-
ers with apps, Dolan said some
types of large businesses often
will opt for internal apps, which
can improve operational effi-
ciency, provide for a corporate
directory, manage time and ex-
penses and automate the busi-
ness process with integration
to business systems.
“Actual apps will vary as every
type of business and industry
needs different things,” Dolan
said. “Companies are using mo-
bile apps across all spectrums.”
When it comes down to it,
Wolf said, apps cater to the high
use of hand-held devices be-
cause of functionality.
“Apps perform more highly
functional tasks with less hu-
man interaction, and they can
run offline if needed,” Wolf said.
“In a field sales presentation,
you can have peace of mind
knowing that your app will
work regardless of having an
Internet connection,” Wolf said.
“Typical meetings often start
late because of Internet con-
nection problems.”
Collect analytics
Wolf also pointed out that an
app can collect a lot of analytics,
making it personal to the end
user.
“Apps can sync with all data
and streamline the interaction
between business and custom-
er,” he said.
One concern in app develop-
ment is the overall cost.
Wolf said someone can easily
have an app developed in India
at $15 an hour, but then inher-
its a world of problems.
“Ongoing support is neces-
sary,” he said. “If you want to
get into the app world, then
open a support budget.”
Dolan and Nymark said the
cost to create an app is feature-
driven and that there is no typi-
cal example.
Dolan said she did a Google
search, which revealed the
cost of developing an app can
range anywhere from $6,400 to
$450,000.
“All customers are different,
and all of the work is tailored
to every individual client,”
Dolan said.
Ongoing support
Dolan and Nymark agreed
with Wolf, saying ongoing sup-
port is essential to ensure an
app will continue to work with
each new device.
“There may be features that
do not work in older applica-
tions,” Nymark said. “Some
companies choose to source
the support and maintenance
in-house. But if they don’t do
anything, I’m not sure how an
app can stay viable.”
Dolan said growth projec-
tions are excellent as more
customers become comfortable
with a mobile business.
“As more companies begin
to adopt apps, there are more
opportunities,” Dolan said.
“The future is limitless, as they
become more and more com-
mon.”
“There are all sorts of chal-
lenges apps will address go-
ing forward,” Nymark said.
“It’s an incredible young
industry with tremendous
potential.” ■
Contact David A. Kostival: money@read-
ingeagle.com.
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Source: PC Magazine