App	
  Epidemics	
                                                                                                    	
  


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Modelling	
  the	
  Effects	
  of	
  Publicity	
  in	
  a	
  Mobile	
  App	
  Ecosystem	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              	
  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Soo	
  Ling	
  Lim	
  and	
  Peter	
  J.	
  Bentley,	
  University	
  College	
  London	
  	
  


                                                                                                                                                                                     AppEco	
  Model	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Experiments	
  
                                  Developer	
  agent	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   App Store                                                                                                                                        We	
  inves:gated	
  3	
  causal	
  factors	
  for	
  epidemics:	
  
                                  	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      •  Changes	
  in	
  host	
  exposure	
  
                                  Represents	
  a	
  solo	
  developer	
  or	
  a	
  team	
  of	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         •  Changes	
  in	
  host	
  suscep:bility	
  
                                  developers	
  working	
  together	
  to	
  make	
  an	
  
                                  app	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •  Changes	
  in	
  app	
  infec:ousness	
  
                                  	
  
                                  Uses	
  an	
  evolu:onary	
  strategy	
  to	
  build	
  apps	
  
                                  	
                                                                                                                                                                                    Developer                                                                                              App                                                                                                  User
                                  AHributes:	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       builds and                                                                                       downloaded by
                                  •  Development	
  dura:on	
                                                                                                                                                                                                         uploads
                                  •  Days	
  taken	
  
                                  •  Probability	
  inac:ve	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Results	
  
                                  App	
  artefact	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            	
  	
                                                                                    Infec=ous    	
                                                                                                Non-­‐infec=ous      	
  
                                  	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Developer agents                                                                                                                                                         Strategy	
                                        Excellent	
  App	
                      Good	
  App  	
                     Average	
  App      	
             Excellent	
  App     	
                   Good	
  App  	
                        Average	
  App      	
  
                                  Built	
  by	
  developer	
  agent	
                                                                                                                                                   Initialise ecosystem                                          build and upload                                                                                        Update app store                                                 No	
  Exposure	
                                6201.11	
  (1768.24)	
                  694.58	
  (707.44)	
                   0.26	
  (0.81)	
                    3.32	
  (1.80)	
                        0.77	
  (0.89)	
                        0.26	
  (0.54)	
  
                                  	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        apps
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Mass	
  Exposure	
                              5829.48	
  (1681.26)	
                  935.53	
  (120.93)	
                   5.19	
  (4.90)	
                 4188.15	
  (657.08)	
                     13.26	
  (24.53)	
                       2.88	
  (1.69)	
  
                                  AHributes:	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Targeted	
  Exposure	
                          5889.71	
  (1721.91)	
                  892.86	
  (319.30)	
                   0.71	
  (1.27)	
                  53.49	
  (409.15)	
                       3.78	
  (1.62)	
                        1.71	
  (0.71)	
  
                                  •  Features	
  (10x10	
  grid)	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               loop for N timesteps                                                                                          Recurring	
  Exposure	
                         5832.04	
  (1338.54)	
                  913.66	
  (515.99)	
                   0.71	
  (1.27)	
                    6.22	
  (2.12)	
                        1.51	
  (1.07)	
                        0.36	
  (0.66)	
  
                                  •  Number	
  of	
  downloads	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Enhancing	
  Mode	
  of	
  Transmission	
       5818.77	
  (1847.14)	
                  623.34	
  (708.93)	
                   1.29	
  (0.81)	
                    4.02	
  (1.88)	
                        1.76	
  (0.84)	
                        1.23	
  (0.49)	
  
                                  •  Probability	
  infec:ous	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       User agents browse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               through	
  Top	
  Apps	
  Chart	
  
                                  •  Time	
  uploaded	
  to	
  app	
  store	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Increase agent                                                                         and download apps,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Exit                                                                                                                                                                                                      Enhancing	
  Mode	
  of	
  Transmission	
       5840.05	
  (1610.12)	
                  1020.07	
  (67.89)	
                 172.48	
  (19.50)	
                4258.01	
  (517.44)	
                     490.36	
  (58.39)	
                    123.46	
  (17.69)	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 population                                                                             and recommend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         apps to friends                                                       through	
  New	
  Apps	
  Chart	
  
                                  User	
  agent	
  
                                  	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Total	
  downloads	
  averaged	
  over	
  100	
  runs	
  (standard	
  devia=on	
  in	
  brackets).	
  One	
  download	
  is	
  equivalent	
  to	
  10,000	
  real	
  downloads.	
  
                                  Has	
  preferences	
  (or	
  taste	
  informa:on)	
  that	
  
                                  determine	
  the	
  app	
  features	
  that	
  it	
  prefers	
  
                                  	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (a)	
                                                                                                    (b)	
  
                                  AHributes:	
  
                                  •  Preferences	
  (10x10	
  grid)	
  
                                  •  Days	
  between	
  browse	
  
                                  •  Days	
  elapsed	
  
                                  •  Number	
  of	
  friends	
  


                                  App	
  store	
  environment	
  
                                  	
  
                                  Shop	
  front	
  for	
  users	
  to	
  browse	
  and	
  
                                  download	
  apps	
  
                                  	
  
                                  Browsing	
  methods:	
  
                                  •  New	
  Apps	
  Chart	
  
                                  •  Top	
  Apps	
  Chart	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              !
                                  •  Keyword	
  Search	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         An	
  epidemic	
  curve	
  for	
  a	
  good	
  app	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  resul=ng	
  from	
  Mass	
  Exposure	
  in	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            an	
  example	
  run.	
  


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The	
  spread	
  of	
  the	
  excellent	
  infec=ous	
  app	
  through	
  the	
  user	
  network	
  using	
  	
  
                                                                                                                   Calibra=ng	
  AppEco	
  for	
  iOS	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     (a)	
  the	
  Mass	
  Exposure	
  strategy,	
  and	
  (b)	
  the	
  Enhancing	
  Mode	
  of	
  Transmission	
  through	
  New	
  Apps	
  Chart	
  strategy.	
  	
  



250"                                                                                                                                                   250"                                                                                                                                                             250"


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Conclusions	
  
                                                                                                                      Total&iOS&App&Users&(Million)&




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Total&iOS&App&Users&(Million)&




200"                                                                                                                                                   200"                                                                                                                                                             200"



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     !
150"                                                                                                                                                   150"                                                                                                                                                             150"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    •  Enhancing	
  the	
  mode	
  of	
  transmission	
  through	
  New	
  Apps	
  Chart	
  results	
  in	
  the	
  highest	
  chance	
  of	
  an	
  epidemic.	
  
100"                                                                                                               Actual" 100"                                                                                                                                                                                         100"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Actual"                                                                                                                                                     Actual"                                                                                               •  The	
  more	
  suscep:ble	
  the	
  users	
  are	
  to	
  the	
  app	
  (i.e.,	
  the	
  more	
  users	
  like	
  the	
  app),	
  the	
  more	
  downloads	
  the	
  app	
  receives.	
  
 50"
                                                                                                                   Simulated"
                                                                                                                           50"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Simulated"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         50"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Simulated"        Spike	
  in	
  app	
  downloads	
  as	
  reported	
                                    However,	
  a	
  highly	
  desirable	
  app	
  may	
  s:ll	
  receive	
  no	
  downloads	
  just	
  because	
  users	
  are	
  unaware	
  of	
  it.	
  	
  
  0"                                                                                                                                                     0"                                                                                                                                                               0"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 by	
  Apple	
  to	
  the	
  second	
  author	
  for	
                              •  Infec:ous	
  apps	
  are	
  more	
  likely	
  to	
  trigger	
  an	
  epidemic	
  and	
  receive	
  more	
  downloads	
  than	
  non-­‐infec:ous	
  apps.	
  	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  his	
  iStethoscope	
  Pro	
  app	
  aFer	
  a	
                                  •  Non-­‐infec:ous	
  apps	
  can	
  be	
  downloaded	
  at	
  an	
  epidemic	
  propor:on,	
  but	
  users	
  must	
  be	
  very	
  suscep:ble	
  to	
  the	
  apps	
  and	
  
       Q4'08"
                Q1'09"
                         Q2'09"
                                  Q3'09"
                                           Q4'09"
                                                    Q1'10"
                                                             Q2'10"
                                                                      Q3'10"
                                                                               Q4'10"
                                                                                        Q1'11"
                                                                                                 Q2'11"
                                                                                                          Q3'11"




                                                                                                                                                                  Q4'08"
                                                                                                                                                                           Q1'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                    Q2'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                             Q3'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Q4'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Q1'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Q2'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Q3'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Q4'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Q1'11"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Q2'11"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Q3'11"




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Q4'08"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Q1'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Q2'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Q3'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Q4'09"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Q1'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Q2'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Q3'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Q4'10"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Q1'11"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Q2'11"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Q3'11"




                                                    Quarter&
                                                                                                                                                              !                                                Quarter&
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           !                                                Quarter&
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           !                    publicity	
  event.	
                                                  the	
  apps	
  have	
  to	
  be	
  publicised,	
  best	
  by	
  the	
  New	
  Apps	
  Chart	
  strategy,	
  followed	
  by	
  Mass	
  Exposure	
  and	
  Targeted	
  Exposure.	
  
www.appeco.co.uk	
  

How to market your app

  • 1.
    App  Epidemics     Modelling  the  Effects  of  Publicity  in  a  Mobile  App  Ecosystem     Soo  Ling  Lim  and  Peter  J.  Bentley,  University  College  London     AppEco  Model   Experiments   Developer  agent   App Store We  inves:gated  3  causal  factors  for  epidemics:     •  Changes  in  host  exposure   Represents  a  solo  developer  or  a  team  of   •  Changes  in  host  suscep:bility   developers  working  together  to  make  an   app   •  Changes  in  app  infec:ousness     Uses  an  evolu:onary  strategy  to  build  apps     Developer App User AHributes:   builds and downloaded by •  Development  dura:on   uploads •  Days  taken   •  Probability  inac:ve   Results   App  artefact       Infec=ous   Non-­‐infec=ous     Developer agents Strategy   Excellent  App   Good  App   Average  App   Excellent  App   Good  App   Average  App   Built  by  developer  agent   Initialise ecosystem build and upload Update app store No  Exposure   6201.11  (1768.24)   694.58  (707.44)   0.26  (0.81)   3.32  (1.80)   0.77  (0.89)   0.26  (0.54)     apps Mass  Exposure   5829.48  (1681.26)   935.53  (120.93)   5.19  (4.90)   4188.15  (657.08)   13.26  (24.53)   2.88  (1.69)   AHributes:   Targeted  Exposure   5889.71  (1721.91)   892.86  (319.30)   0.71  (1.27)   53.49  (409.15)   3.78  (1.62)   1.71  (0.71)   •  Features  (10x10  grid)   loop for N timesteps Recurring  Exposure   5832.04  (1338.54)   913.66  (515.99)   0.71  (1.27)   6.22  (2.12)   1.51  (1.07)   0.36  (0.66)   •  Number  of  downloads   Enhancing  Mode  of  Transmission   5818.77  (1847.14)   623.34  (708.93)   1.29  (0.81)   4.02  (1.88)   1.76  (0.84)   1.23  (0.49)   •  Probability  infec:ous   User agents browse through  Top  Apps  Chart   •  Time  uploaded  to  app  store   Increase agent and download apps, Exit Enhancing  Mode  of  Transmission   5840.05  (1610.12)   1020.07  (67.89)   172.48  (19.50)   4258.01  (517.44)   490.36  (58.39)   123.46  (17.69)   population and recommend apps to friends through  New  Apps  Chart   User  agent     Total  downloads  averaged  over  100  runs  (standard  devia=on  in  brackets).  One  download  is  equivalent  to  10,000  real  downloads.   Has  preferences  (or  taste  informa:on)  that   determine  the  app  features  that  it  prefers     (a)   (b)   AHributes:   •  Preferences  (10x10  grid)   •  Days  between  browse   •  Days  elapsed   •  Number  of  friends   App  store  environment     Shop  front  for  users  to  browse  and   download  apps     Browsing  methods:   •  New  Apps  Chart   •  Top  Apps  Chart   ! •  Keyword  Search   An  epidemic  curve  for  a  good  app   resul=ng  from  Mass  Exposure  in   an  example  run.   The  spread  of  the  excellent  infec=ous  app  through  the  user  network  using     Calibra=ng  AppEco  for  iOS   (a)  the  Mass  Exposure  strategy,  and  (b)  the  Enhancing  Mode  of  Transmission  through  New  Apps  Chart  strategy.     250" 250" 250" Conclusions   Total&iOS&App&Users&(Million)& Total&iOS&App&Users&(Million)& 200" 200" 200" ! 150" 150" 150" •  Enhancing  the  mode  of  transmission  through  New  Apps  Chart  results  in  the  highest  chance  of  an  epidemic.   100" Actual" 100" 100" Actual" Actual" •  The  more  suscep:ble  the  users  are  to  the  app  (i.e.,  the  more  users  like  the  app),  the  more  downloads  the  app  receives.   50" Simulated" 50" Simulated" 50" Simulated" Spike  in  app  downloads  as  reported   However,  a  highly  desirable  app  may  s:ll  receive  no  downloads  just  because  users  are  unaware  of  it.     0" 0" 0" by  Apple  to  the  second  author  for   •  Infec:ous  apps  are  more  likely  to  trigger  an  epidemic  and  receive  more  downloads  than  non-­‐infec:ous  apps.     his  iStethoscope  Pro  app  aFer  a   •  Non-­‐infec:ous  apps  can  be  downloaded  at  an  epidemic  propor:on,  but  users  must  be  very  suscep:ble  to  the  apps  and   Q4'08" Q1'09" Q2'09" Q3'09" Q4'09" Q1'10" Q2'10" Q3'10" Q4'10" Q1'11" Q2'11" Q3'11" Q4'08" Q1'09" Q2'09" Q3'09" Q4'09" Q1'10" Q2'10" Q3'10" Q4'10" Q1'11" Q2'11" Q3'11" Q4'08" Q1'09" Q2'09" Q3'09" Q4'09" Q1'10" Q2'10" Q3'10" Q4'10" Q1'11" Q2'11" Q3'11" Quarter& ! Quarter& ! Quarter& ! publicity  event.   the  apps  have  to  be  publicised,  best  by  the  New  Apps  Chart  strategy,  followed  by  Mass  Exposure  and  Targeted  Exposure.  
  • 2.