• Recognize the critical importance of offline functionality in mobile apps for ensuring uninterrupted productivity, reliability, and user satisfaction in the face of inevitable connectivity disruptions.
• Understand key design considerations for offline functionality, including defining offline requirements, optimizing local storage and sync, adapting user interfaces and business logic, and more.
• Gain insights into the technical implementation of offline features using service workers, local databases, caching, and synchronization techniques, as well as best practices for testing and optimizing offline capabilities.

As mobile devices proliferate into every area of our personal and professional lives, mobile apps have become critical for tasks ranging from everyday productivity to mission-critical business workflows. However, our reliance on these apps assumes always-on connectivity, which remains an unrealistic expectation. Between spotty cellular coverage, inadequate WiFi, and bandwidth restrictions, even the most well-connected users will inevitably find themselves without a signal at some point.  

When a business app fails due to connectivity issues, more than convenience is lost. Interrupted workflows directly translate to decreased productivity, frustrated users, and lost revenue. That is why building offline functionality into mobile apps is no longer an option but a necessity for usable and satisfactory user experiences.

Offline functionality ensures that apps can continue operating even when internet access is unavailable. By leveraging the storage and computing capacity of user devices themselves, key app features and workflows remain accessible locally. While offline, user input can be stored and data updates queued to sync with backend systems once connectivity is restored. This allows users to complete tasks uninterrupted while protecting data integrity and providing visual indicators when offline usage may be limited.

By investing in offline functionality, businesses can transform the mobile experience for employees and customers alike. Near-constant accessibility better supports users’ needs of the moment while future-proofing apps against the inevitability of poor connectivity. The end result is sustained productivity, more empowered users, and apps that quite literally work anywhere, anytime.

Understanding Offline Functionality

Offline functionality refers to the ability for mobile apps to continue operating even when internet connectivity is unavailable. This is achieved by leveraging the computing resources and storage capacity of user devices themselves.

The key components that enable offline usage include:

Local Data Storage

Data is persisted locally on the device so it remains accessible without a network connection. Common options include SQLite databases, IndexedDB object stores, and temporary cache storage.

Background Sync

When the app regains connectivity, background synchronization mechanisms update the local data store against the backend server to maintain consistency.  

Queued Requests

While offline, certain write requests like creating new records can be queued locally and synced later. This provides a seamless user experience.

To determine the optimal level of offline functionality, mobile apps can be categorized based on offline needs:

Fully Offline Capable

The entire app experience including reading and writing data is available without connectivity. Ideal for productivity apps, forms, etc.

Partially Offline Capable

The app allows read-only offline access to previously synced data, but cannot write/update until connectivity resumes. Common in news, weather apps.

Online-Only

The app is unusable without internet connectivity and does not implement offline functionality. Only feasible for real-time apps like video chat, streaming.

By assessing usage context and offline requirements, developers can implement the appropriate degree of offline capabilities. The end goal is for users to stay productive regardless of connectivity conditions.

Benefits of Offline Functionality

Implementing robust offline capabilities provides significant incentives beyond keeping users productive during connectivity disruptions. Key benefits include:

Improved Performance

Processing and accessing data locally rather than over the network significantly improves response times and overall performance. Apps feel snappier and more responsive.

Increased Reliability

By removing complete dependency on connectivity, offline functionality ensures apps remain usable for longer durations with fewer failures. This increased reliability enhances user satisfaction.

Enhanced Security

Storing data locally under proper access controls before transmission over networks improves security and helps comply with regulations. Controlled sync also reduces exposure.

Competitive Advantage

Users today expect apps to offer some offline support. For businesses operating in regions with poor connectivity, offline functionality provides a superior user experience compared to competitors.

Beyond these incentives, offline functions future-proof apps against changes in user connectivity behavior as 5G networks spread. Functions conceived as offline-first also promote efficient designs by default rather than as an afterthought.

Evaluating current or planned mobile apps to identify situations where offline usage would drive significant productivity gains, performance improvements, or fail-safety is key. The time and effort invested pay dividends across essential metrics like user satisfaction, retention, and lifetime value.

Designing for Offline Capability

The key to successfully implementing offline functionality is upfront design considering both online and offline states. Critical design aspects include:  

Defining Offline Needs

Determine what core datasets and functionalities users require when connectivity is interrupted. Prioritize features that will have the greatest offline impact.

Local Storage Design

Choose appropriate storage systems for different data types, whether temporary caches or persistent databases like SQLite. Apply data modeling best practices.

State Detection

Design status indicators, notifications, and user prompts that provide clarity on the current connectivity state and limit the availability of functions when offline.

Data Synchronization

Architect automated, bi-directional sync processes to transfer necessary data changes between local and remote databases when back online. 

Business Logic Adaptation

Ensure key backend logic runs both on the client-side and server-side by abstracting business rules into reusable modules.

User Interface Adaptations

Optimize UIs for both online and offline viewing by dynamically changing application flow. Disable or adapt features with required online connectivity.

Through careful consideration of offline usage scenarios and limitations during design, businesses can deliver more resilient mobile experiences. Planning ahead ultimately reduces complexity down the road compared to bolting on offline features later. The end result is a scalable architecture for the inevitable shifts in connectivity and user needs ahead.

Technical Implementation of Offline Features

While designing for offline usage is essential, bringing those plans to reality depends on leveraging the right technical capabilities. Some key technologies include:

• Service Workers: Act as network proxies to enable features like push notifications, background sync, and caching selected assets for offline access.
• Local Databases: Structured data stores like SQLite and IndexedDB persist tables, indexes, and queries on the client-side. They provide the backbone for app data offline.
• Local Storage: SessionStorage and LocalStorage store string-based data that doesn’t require structural querying but is simpler to use.
• Caching: Browser and app caching allow developers to store certain assets like images, CSS, JavaScript locally for significantly faster load times. 

To synchronize the local and remote data stores, a structured process is required: 

1. Queue pending operations like new records when offline to replay later.
2. Detect when connectivity resumes and app comes online.
3. Identify data changes on both client and server while disconnected.
4. Determine synchronization order and transform operations accordingly.
5. Handle sync failures through timeouts, retries, and integrity checks.

A major challenge is conflict resolution when the same data point gets updated both locally and remotely before syncing. Strategies like timestamp ordering, record locking, and manual merge functionality help handle these scenarios.

By combining robust local data access with automated synchronization, businesses can start reaping the major dividends from offline functionality, including uninterrupted workflows and extreme performance.

Testing and Optimizing Offline Functionality

Robust testing is crucial to ensure offline implementations work reliably across diverse real-world environments. Key aspects include:

• Simulating Offline: Test offline mode by manually disabling network calls or using network condition simulators to mimic loss of connectivity.
• Storage Testing: Validate that critical data persists locally as expected and syncs back to the server when reconnected. 
• Interrupt Testing: Disrupt common user workflows mid-process to confirm stability when transitioning between online and offline modes.
• Boundary Testing: Force scenarios like storage limits being reached or queue thresholds being exceeded to confirm graceful failure handling.
• Crash Testing: Simulate app crashes and force close behaviors to verify offline data and state persists as required on restart.
• Exploratory Testing: Conduct manual tests across user workflows without scripted test cases to uncover gaps. Testing on field devices is vital.

In terms of optimizations, priority should be placed on:

• Minimizing payload size of synced data through compression and deltas rather than full transfers.
• Database and query optimization techniques tailored for local processing constraints.  
• Caching resource-intensive operations like API calls to improve offline response times.
• Applying incremental sync and upload throttling to conserve bandwidth costs.
• Monitoring device storage space and trimming non-essential offline data automatically.

By emulating offline conditions during testing and optimizing constraints unique to the edge environment, developers can deliver robust offline experiences that unlock the full potential of users’ devices.

Challenges and Considerations

While the benefits clearly show why offline functionality is becoming table-stakes for mobile apps, it is not without complexities. Developers should be aware of key issues like:

• Data Eventually Consistency: The same data can be updated both locally and remotely before syncing, leading to conflicts and inconsistencies that must be resolved.
• Storage Limits: Local device storage capacity poses realistic constraints on how much data can be persisted reliably offline. Caching and other optimizations are key.
• User Experience Design: App flows need to seamlessly transition between online and offline states while setting expectations on functionality availability to minimize confusion.
• Legal and Compliance: Data sovereignty, privacy, and regulatory compliance must be evaluated properly especially when providing offline access to sensitive data.  
• Security Challenges: Special care is required to safeguard offline data storage and transmission when connectivity resumes. The expanded attack surface needs protections.
• Sync: Synchronizing large data payload efficiently across poor networks requires optimizations like compression, incremental sync, and deduplication to preserve bandwidth.

These complexities reinforce why offline capabilities must be architected correctly from the start. Bolting them on as an afterthought typically compromises user experience. With deliberate design and testing, businesses can mitigate the risks and unlock substantial productivity gains from offline functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Offline Mobile App functionality

Why is offline functionality important for mobile apps?

Offline functionality is critical for mobile apps because it ensures users can continue being productive even when internet connectivity is unavailable. It provides reliability, performance, and user satisfaction benefits by reducing dependency on always-on connectivity.

What are the key components that enable offline usage in mobile apps?

The key components enabling offline usage include local data storage (e.g., SQLite databases, IndexedDB), background synchronization to update local data with the server when connectivity resumes, and queued requests to allow seamless user experiences when offline.

How can developers determine the optimal level of offline functionality for their mobile app?

Developers should assess their app’s usage context and offline requirements to determine the appropriate level of offline functionality. Apps can be categorized as fully offline capable (reading/writing data offline), partially offline capable (read-only access to synced data), or online-only. The goal is to implement offline capabilities that maximize user productivity.

What are some key considerations when designing mobile apps for offline usage?

Key design considerations include defining core datasets and functionalities needed offline, choosing appropriate local storage systems, providing clear connectivity state indicators to users, architecting bi-directional data synchronization, adapting business logic for both client-side and server-side execution, and optimizing user interfaces for offline viewing.

What are the main challenges developers face when implementing offline functionality in mobile apps?

The main challenges include handling data consistency issues when the same data is updated both locally and remotely before syncing, managing local storage constraints on devices, designing seamless user experiences between online/offline states, ensuring legal and compliance requirements for offline data access, securing offline data storage and transmission, and optimizing data synchronization for large payloads over poor network conditions.

Mobile apps have traditionally relied on upfront purchase fees and in-app advertising to drive revenue. However, over the past few years subscription-based business models have become increasingly popular and lucrative in the mobile space. According to recent estimates, consumer spending on mobile apps now exceeds $170 billion dollars globally each year. 

Implementing subscriptions can provide meaningful benefits for both app developers and users alike. At the most basic level, subscriptions provide developers with a recurring revenue stream that continues to earn income long after the initial user acquisition cost. By continually monetizing highly engaged users willing to pay a monthly or annual fee, the lifetime value of subscription-based app customers far exceeds that of customers who only make a one-time purchase. This results in more predictable and sustainable long-term revenue.

Additionally, subscriptions allow mobile apps to unlock more flexible and scalable monetization strategies. Developers can offer multiple subscription tiers at different price points to appeal to various user budgets. Exclusive or early access to new features can be gated behind subscription plans to drive ongoing value. There is also an opportunity to leverage loyalty programs and rewards to subscribers to maintain retention rates.

Understanding Subscription Models

A subscription model in mobile apps generates revenue through ongoing periodic payments from users rather than one-time purchases. Instead of paying a single upfront fee, users pay a recurring subscription fee (often monthly or yearly) to maintain access to premium features or content.

There are several major types of subscription models used in mobile apps:

Freemium

The app offers limited functionality for free to attract users, then charges a subscription for advanced features. Allows wide user acquisition before monetization.

Premium

The app is available for free to download but requires a subscription to access its full content catalog or service offering after a short free trial period.

Tiered Subscriptions

Offer various subscription packages at different price points with differing levels of access to features, content, and privileges within the app.

The benefit of these subscription models for developers is the transition from transactional revenue earned through one-time purchases and in-app ads to recurring revenue streams fueled by ongoing user subscriptions. While one-time purchases provide a useful initial influx of revenue, subscriptions can generate exponentially higher lifetime value for retained users. Top subscription apps can earn over 80% of revenue from existing subscriber renewals vs. new user acquisitions.

This shift to earning incremental revenue from an existing user base through continually renewed subscriptions provides more reliable and scalable long term monetization. Apps shift from continually needing to acquire new users to fund growth to focused retention of subscribed users.

The Benefits of Implementing a Subscription Model

Increased Revenue Stability

The recurring nature of subscription fees results in stable, predictable revenue streams that are insulated from fluctuations in new user acquisitions. Revenue becomes decoupled from continually chasing new app downloads and can instead rely on the predictable income of ongoing renewals from current subscribers. This contrasts sharply with the unpredictable spikes and dips in one-time in-app purchase revenue.

Enhanced User Engagement 

By monetizing through subscriptions, developers are incentivized to continually add features and content that encourages subscribers to actively engage with the app on an ongoing basis. This leads to higher retention as today’s subscribers renew tomorrow’s subscriptions. Furthermore, the “always on” relationship of subscriptions allows push notifications to drive habitual usage.

Data-Driven Insights

Mobile apps can gather more nuanced data from recurring subscriber interactions to improve the user experience. User preferences can be gauged in an ongoing manner to personalize app interactions. Feedback from subscription renewals or cancellations also provides actionable signals into user value perceptions.

Customer Loyalty and Value

Subscriptions allow users to feel part of an exclusive community receiving premium content and features. Tiered subscription plans can offer privileges and status associated with higher loyalty levels. This leads to subscribers perceiving greater long-term value in the app vs. one-time transactions. The app becomes a trusted lifestyle service rather than an à la carte luxury.

Considerations for Implementing a Subscription Model

Identifying the right subscription pricing and tiers

Crafting an appealing yet profitable subscription pricing structure is crucial. Price too low and margins suffer. Price too high and user adoption lags. Typically a good starting point is pricing tiers to capture the most lucrative 2-3% of existing users already accustomed to spending in-app. Testing different price points and grandfathering in early adopters can reveal optimal pricing. 

Offering multiple subscription tiers (basic, pro, enterprise etc.) helps capture broader range of user budgets. Higher tiers can unlock added perks and exclusives. But beware of too much complexity. Simplicity and transparent value are key.

Ensuring a balance between free and premium features

While subscriptions paywall the most valuable features, some base functionality should remain free to allow user acquisition and organic sharing. Find the balance between free as a conversion funnel into paid plans while avoiding free riders abusing generosity. 

Providing a seamless user experience 

Frictionless signup/login, transparent billing and intuitive subscription management are vital to minimize subscriber churn. Users expect app store native purchase flows and automatic cross-device syncing of their subscription status. 

Handling subscription cancellations and customer support

Proactive win-back offers via email for lapsing or canceled subscribers can cost-effectively re-engage users. Surveys can identify cancellation triggers like pricing vs. feature complaints to refine the model. Top-notch support demonstrates commitment to subscribers as valued customers of an ongoing service.

Strategies for Successfully Transitioning to a Subscription Model

Conducting market research and user surveys

Market research establishes willingness to pay benchmarks. User surveys gauge interest in hypothetical pricing plans and premium features. This minimizes guesswork around pricing sensitivity and feature priorities.

Clearly communicating the value proposition 

Articulate to users why transitioning some or all app functionality to subscriptions is mutually beneficial. Demonstrate the recurring value users gain via access to premium content and features. 

Offering free trials or introductory discounts

Limited-time free access or discounted subscriptions encourage users to experience priced plans risk-free. Overcoming inertia by incentivizing first purchases remains vital. Discounts also reward early adopters willing to support the transition.

Continuously iterating and improving based on user feedback

Solicit and monitor user reviews and app store ratings to rectify shortcomings. Feature requests, complaints or confusion around the transition can shape ongoing refinements. Frequent releases to fix issues and please subscribers are advised over slow, monumental changes.

The path to subscriptions begins by laying the groundwork with users as a valued partner. Transparency, responsiveness and demonstrating a commitment to delivering ongoing value can smooth the shift away from one-time transactions. Continual tuning of the model based on real user data drives the sustainability of app subscriptions over the long haul.

Overcoming Potential Challenges

Subscriber Acquisition

In a crowded app marketplace, convincing users to pay for subscriptions requires creative promotional strategies. Generous introductory free trials backed by compelling content allow products to “sell themselves” before asking users to pay. 

Prominent app store placement and ratings boost organic discovery. Content creators or influencers can organically showcase premium features to followers. Sponsored app install ads target lookalike audiences to existing subscriber demographics. Referral programs incentivize sharing to further amplify reach.

Churn Rate Management

Even satisfied users inevitably churn over time. Developing an ongoing rapport with subscribers via “red carpet” treatment and perks can extend the relationship. Seek feedback on pain points and user frustrations through voluntary surveys and monitoring app store reviews. Data on usage patterns identifies disengaged users to target reactivation campaigns. 

Surprise loyalty rewards delight users while exclusives cater to their egos. Developing an emotional connection grounded in tangible value pays dividends in renewals. Staying perpetually relevant through new features and UX improvements demonstrates a commitment to excellence.

By tackling subscriber acquisition holistically and nurturing subscribers as one would a trusted friend, apps can scale sustainably on recurring user enthusiasm rather than fleeting hype. The metrics of an appealing subscription model–strong conversion rates, low churn, and expanding average revenue per user–compound over time into market leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions on Mobile App Subscriptions

 What are the key benefits of a subscription model for mobile apps?

Subscription models offer numerous benefits for mobile app developers, including a stable and predictable revenue stream, enhanced user engagement, and increased customer loyalty. Subscriptions encourage ongoing revenue from existing users rather than one-time payments, which can make financial planning more manageable and sustainable for developers.

What are the different types of subscription models available for mobile apps?

There are several types of subscription models used in mobile apps:

• Freemium: Offers core features for free while charging for advanced features.
• Premium: Requires a subscription to access the full content or service after a free trial period.
• Tiered Subscriptions: Provides various levels of access and features at different price points, catering to a range of user needs and budgets.

How can developers decide the pricing for their subscription models?

Pricing should be competitive yet profitable. Developers often start by targeting the top 2-3% of users willing to pay for premium features. It’s advisable to conduct market research, test various price points, and possibly offer introductory discounts to determine the optimal pricing strategy that balances user acquisition and revenue generation.

What strategies can be employed to enhance subscriber retention in mobile apps?

To enhance subscriber retention, developers should focus on continuously adding value through new and improved features, maintaining a seamless user experience, and implementing loyalty programs or rewards for long-term subscribers. Regular feedback collection and analysis are crucial to understand subscribers’ needs and reduce churn.

What challenges might developers face when transitioning to a subscription model, and how can they overcome them?

Developers may face challenges such as determining the right balance between free and paid features, setting appropriate pricing levels, and managing user perceptions of value. To overcome these challenges, it is important to clearly communicate the benefits of the subscription, offer a seamless transition with introductory trials or discounts, and ensure there is enough premium content to justify the ongoing cost to users.

After reading this article, you’ll:

• Understand the psychological principles behind gamification, such as motivation, rewards, dopamine, and intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, and how these drive user engagement and retention in mobile apps.
• Learn about common gamification elements used in mobile apps, including points, badges, leaderboards, challenges, storylines, and avatars, and how these tap into human desires for achievement, status, self-expression and competition to boost app usage.
• Discover best practices for successfully implementing gamification in mobile apps, such as setting clear goals, understanding the target audience, designing balanced game mechanics, analyzing results, and avoiding pitfalls like overemphasis on gamification at the expense of core functionality.

1. Acquire a comprehensive understanding of the significance and challenges of implementing a mobile-first strategy in today’s digital business landscape.
2. Gain insights into the key components and best practices for successful mobile app development, including performance optimization and cross-platform accessibility.
3. Learn about Dogtown Media’s unique approach to mobile app development, including their focus on innovative solutions, user-centric design, and adapting to the latest technological trends.

In the last decade, digital technology has revolutionized the way businesses operate and interact with their customers. The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in the realm of mobile devices, has led to a significant shift in consumer behavior and business strategies. Businesses are now reimagining their models to align with this digital transformation, prioritizing agility and customer-centric approaches.

A mobile-first strategy is a modern approach where businesses design and develop their digital services, such as websites and applications, primarily for mobile devices before making them compatible with desktops. This strategy stems from the understanding that an increasing number of users are accessing the internet via smartphones and tablets, making mobile platforms the primary touchpoint for businesses to engage with their audience.

The Importance of a Mobile-First Approach

Recent studies and data analytics reveal a surge in mobile device usage over the past decade. For instance, over 50% of global website traffic now comes from mobile devices. This trend is not just a passing phase but a paradigm shift in how consumers access information and services, highlighting the need for businesses to prioritize mobile platforms in their digital strategies.

The convenience and accessibility of mobile devices have led to a change in consumer behavior. Users expect real-time access to information, seamless navigation, and personalized experiences, all of which are readily facilitated by mobile platforms. Businesses that fail to adapt to this mobile-first environment risk losing relevance and falling behind in an increasingly competitive market.

Benefits of a Mobile-First Strategy

Improved User Experience

A mobile-first approach ensures that the user experience is optimized for smaller screens and touch-based interactions, leading to higher satisfaction and engagement rates. This focus on mobile usability enhances the overall quality of the digital service, making it more appealing and user-friendly.

Increased Reach and Engagement

With the majority of users accessing the internet via mobile devices, a mobile-first strategy significantly expands a business’s reach. Mobile apps and optimized websites cater to a wider audience, increasing engagement levels through push notifications, location-based services, and other mobile-specific functionalities.

Competitive Advantage in the Market

In an era where mobile presence is crucial, adopting a mobile-first strategy places businesses ahead of competitors who are slower to adapt. This forward-thinking approach demonstrates a commitment to meeting customer needs and staying at the forefront of digital trends, fostering brand loyalty and a strong market presence.

Challenges in Implementing a Mobile-First Strategy

Technical and Design Considerations

Implementing a mobile-first strategy is not without its challenges, particularly in technical and design aspects. Developers must ensure that the app or website functions seamlessly across different mobile devices and operating systems. This requires a deep understanding of varied screen sizes, resolutions, and hardware capabilities. Additionally, the design must be intuitive and responsive, adapting smoothly to various mobile environments while maintaining functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Balancing Mobile and Desktop Experiences

While a mobile-first approach prioritizes mobile users, it’s crucial not to neglect the desktop experience. This balancing act involves creating a unified user experience that translates well across all platforms. Businesses must ensure that their desktop versions are not just scaled-up versions of the mobile site but are optimized for larger screens and different user interactions. This requires a careful and strategic design approach to ensure consistency and quality of user experience on both mobile and desktop platforms.

Key Components of an Effective Mobile-First Strategy

Emphasis on Intuitive UX/UI Design

A cornerstone of a successful mobile-first strategy is the emphasis on intuitive and engaging user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. This involves creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also easy to navigate on small screens. The UX/UI should be user-centric, facilitating quick and efficient interactions, and minimizing the learning curve for new users.

Integration of Latest Technologies

Incorporating cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) can significantly enhance the capabilities of mobile apps. AI can personalize user experiences, automate tasks, and provide insightful analytics. IoT integration extends the app’s functionality to interact with other connected devices, creating a more immersive and interactive experience.

Ensuring Security and Compliance

For mobile-first strategies, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare and finance, security and compliance are paramount. This involves implementing robust data encryption, secure user authentication methods, and adhering to industry-specific regulatory standards. A successful mobile-first approach must prioritize the protection of user data and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Performance Optimization

In the realm of mobile-first strategy, the importance of fast loading times and smooth performance on mobile devices cannot be overstated. Users often abandon apps or websites that take too long to load, making quick loading times vital for user retention and engagement. To achieve this, several techniques are employed. Image optimization is critical; it involves reducing file sizes to speed up load times without losing image quality.

Caching strategies are another key method, where frequently accessed data is stored locally to reduce load times on subsequent visits. Additionally, minimizing the amount of code, and employing efficient algorithms can significantly enhance app performance, ensuring a seamless and responsive user experience.

Cross-Platform Accessibility

A cornerstone of a successful mobile-first approach is ensuring that the app or website is accessible and consistent across various mobile platforms and devices. This encompasses not only the wide array of smartphones but also includes tablets and other mobile devices. The goal is to provide a user experience that is cohesive and reliable, regardless of the device or operating system being used.

This requires meticulous design and development efforts to ensure that the application adapts to different screen sizes and system functionalities while maintaining a consistent look, feel, and usability. Regular testing on multiple devices is essential to identify and address any compatibility issues.

Regular Updates and Maintenance

Maintaining and updating the mobile platform is as crucial as its initial development. Keeping the app updated with the latest features and security patches is key to staying relevant and secure in a fast-evolving digital landscape. This involves not only adding new functionalities and staying in tune with technological advancements but also ensuring that the app remains compatible with the latest operating system updates.

Regular maintenance is equally important to ensure optimal performance. This includes routine checks for bugs, performance issues, and user feedback. Addressing these aspects promptly and continuously can significantly enhance user satisfaction, fostering a loyal and engaged user base.

Dogtown Media’s Role in Mobilizing Businesses

Case Studies of Successful Mobile-First Implementations by Dogtown Media

Google Train Up App

Dogtown Media developed the Google Train Up app to enhance the training of retail employees on Google products. This app serves as an educational tool, emphasizing best sales practices for Google’s range of products​​.

Cardiovascular Emergency Protocol App

We created a mobile application providing current cardiovascular emergency protocols for physicians. This app ensures that vital medical information is accessible to healthcare professionals anywhere and anytime, enhancing the responsiveness in critical situations​​.

UN Communication App

For the United Nations, Dogtown Media developed an app facilitating quick communication among UN officials and stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region. This app represents a significant step in enhancing diplomatic and organizational communication, covering a vast demographic of 1.5 billion people.

Dogtown Media’s Approach to Mobile App Development

Dogtown Media adopts a distinct approach to mobile app development, characterized by its emphasis on innovative solutions and a deep understanding of the latest technological trends. Our process begins with a thorough analysis of the client’s needs, followed by the development of a tailored strategy that aligns with the specific requirements and goals of the project.

Dogtown Media’s team, consisting of seasoned tech veterans, brings a blend of expertise in design, programming, and strategy, ensuring that each app is not only technically sound but also user-centric and market-ready. We focus on creating apps that solve real-world problems, simplify tasks, and enhance user enjoyment, making us stand out in the crowded mobile app market. Additionally, our commitment to professionalism and perfectionism is evident in every stage of development, from initial concept to final deployment, ensuring high-quality, impactful mobile applications.

By 2030, the United States is expected to have a tech talent shortage. This year alone, 4.3 million jobs in America’s technology sector are projected to go unfilled — that equates to lost revenue of $162 billion. Luckily, Ted Lieu, California’s 33rd Congressional District Representative, has a solution for the state: Inspire our youth to innovate with the Congressional App Challenge.

Held last Thursday, the 2020 Congressional App Challenge featured sixteen students from ten high schools across Los Angeles County. Altogether, they submitted eleven amazing mobile app concepts. And Congressman Lieu invited Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media’s Co-Founder and CEO, to participate as a judge in the competition!

About the Congressional App Challenge

The United States House of Representatives established the Congressional App Challenge in 2014 to “connect today’s Congress with tomorrow’s coders.” The event encourages students from all corners of the country to get more hands-on with their STEM education by creating and submitting mobile app concepts. The winner receives national recognition and also has their work featured in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Building!

For Congressman Ted Lieu, the event is a special occasion that connects him back to his own education: “As one of just four computer science majors in Congress, I believe it is essential to encourage and nurture a generation of technology-savvy students who will continue to innovate our economy and advance our technological edge. The App Challenge provides young students throughout my district an opportunity to pursue their creative and technical talents. I encourage all eligible students to participate.”

Since its first year, the Congressional App Challenge has grown exponentially. In 2019, 10,211 students submitted mobile apps. To put this number in perspective, that’s a 373% increase from 2016! This event also now outpaces Silicon valley in terms of diversity: Compared to America’s tech innovation hub, participants are five times more likely to identify as latinx, four times more likely to identify as black, and two times more likely to identify as female.

On the other side of the equation, the Congressional App Challenge is also increasing STEM’s visibility in politics. Since 2016, 54% more Congress members have become involved in the competition and the mentions of STEM and computer science in congress have grown by over 2000%.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s reception was completely remote. Dr. William Goodin, Industry Relations Coordinator at UCLA’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and Mr. Howard Stahl, Santa Monica College’s Department Chair for Computer Science & Information Systems, judged this year’s submissions alongside Marc.

And the Winners Are…

Dylan and Winston Iskandar of Mira Costa High School and Chadwick School were selected as this year’s winners! Inspired by the ‘new normal’ we all find ourselves in during the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo developed a mobile app called “GroceryBuddies” that connects volunteers with at-risk individuals so they can help them run errands and get groceries. You can learn more about it in the video below:

Jake and Kate North of Stanford Online High School came in second place with their mobile app concept, “Ideos.” “MyChemistry,” a pocket-reference tool for chemistry information that was developed by Rachel Fox of Agoura High School, came in third place:

And “MaskCheck,” an app created by Jayden Bulexa of Beverly Hills High School that helps to educate people about and enforce mask-wearing, received an honorable mention:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8cHHSW9wPY&feature=youtu.be

Each of these entries was incredibly innovative. “As a recovering Computer Science major, I am inspired by all these students who have committed themselves to creating these innovative apps,” Congressman Lieu said.

Marc was also astounded by the level of creativity and quality that these young mobile app developers brought to the table: “It’s an exciting honor to witness the next generation of innovators harness the potential of STEM to improve our lives. I thank Congressman Lieu for the opportunity to help inspire, educate, and foster a passion for technology in our youth.”

It’s absolutely amazing that there’s so much young tech talent in the Los Angeles County area alone! We can’t wait to see what 2021’s participants have to offer.

There’s no shortage of hype surrounding 5G. Per the June 2019 Ericsson Mobility Report, “No previous generation of mobile technology has had the potential to drive economic growth to the extent that 5G promises.” Now, this potential is finally becoming a reality. 5G is poised to disrupt practically every industry. But the fifth generation of cellular technology may not be here as soon as you think. A few obstacles stand in the way of 5G’s arrival. Still, opportunities abound for ambitious entrepreneurs.

How 5G Will Usher in a New Era for Numerous Industries

Qualcomm claims 5G will reach initial download speeds of 1.4 gigabits per second. That’s about 20 times faster than 4G. Latency, the lag you experience when issuing a command to your smartphone, is also important to consider. A lag of a few hundred milliseconds is common with 4G. 5G will trim this down to a couple of milliseconds, making data transferring much more reliable.

This unprecedented speed and reliability will change the landscape of technology. 5G will open up a multitude of avenues for developers to build new mobile app features. It will also enable new capabilities in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

By allowing algorithms to expand their training datasets and run analyses concurrently, 5G will foster faster innovation and growth for AI and machine learning applications. The enriched insights and heightened precision that this produces will immensely improve the orchestra of sensors that IoT relies on.

Various sectors will benefit from these advantages. Smart cities and connected autonomous vehicles will become more viable. Virtual reality goggles will dwindle in size to resemble the devices we’ve seen in science fiction. We’ll be able to experience augmented reality in real-time. And manufacturing supply chains around the world will be able to optimize every step in their process.

5G will also transform healthcare applications. MRI machines and blood pressure monitors will be able to transfer data without delay. Surgeons will be able to operate remotely with no latency between their movements and those of a corresponding robotic arm. 5G will also save you a trip to the doctor’shttps://www.dogtownmedia.com/app-development-services/healthcare-app-developer/ office; telemedicine is expected to grow at an annual compound rate of 16.5% from 2017 to 2023, thanks to this technology. All of this adds up to better experiences and outcomes for patients.

Tempering Expectations

To reach the reality described above, we must address a few substantial challenges. Building 5G applications simply isn’t practical yet. Only the most prominent telecom companies have access to 5G kits, and only a handful of phones are 5G-enabled. In fact, 44% of telecom companies that responded to a survey by JABIL don’t have the proper tools for testing and managing 5G applications.

In a survey of 204 executives working at telecommunications companies with over 1,000 employees working on 5G network development, Jabil found that 53% of respondents believed 5G’s sheer complexity would be the greatest challenge to overcome. This problem becomes more convoluted when you consider that mobile carriers are providing different iterations of 5G as they try to capture market share as quickly as possible. Consequently, developers can’t define what 5G actually is; we’re stuck playing a guessing game.

To make matters worse, the vast majority of developers don’t have access to 5G infrastructure. Besides new software and devices, 5G requires hundreds of thousands of cell sites. Installing this infrastructure easily amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars in costs.

So when should we really expect 5G to become mainstream? According to 60% of Jabil’s survey participants, that should happen by 2021. 20% think it will occur in 2022. And 11% are patiently waiting until 2023 for 5G to become ubiquitous.

Fortunately, there is a silver lining to all of this.

How Entrepreneurs Can Get Ready for 5G

Regardless of when 5G arrives, entrepreneurs can take steps now to prepare for this new mobile era:

1. Practice with Simulations

You may not have access to true 5G network capabilities. But that doesn’t mean you can’t replicate them. For instance, Dogtown Media, my mobile technology firm, has used tools like the Raspberry Pi device and DIY kits such as Framework to simulate 5G’s rapid data transfer capabilities in a development environment. Beyond this, Qualcomm and some telecom consulting companies now offer services that enable developers to simulate 5G experiences.

These substitutes are usually much slower than the real thing. But they still give you a great way to practice.

2. Plan for Two User Experiences

5G adoption will be piecemeal. Major telecoms aren’t incentivized to make the costly infrastructure investments necessary to bring this technology to rural areas immediately. So a large amount of the U.S. population will have to make do with slower networks.

To bridge this digital divide, development teams should plan on creating 4G and 5G experiences of their products. By tailoring your offerings to this reality, you can capture more of the market share.

3. Brace Your Budget for More Work

All of this extra work to make two user experiences requires more time, effort, and money. So plan ahead accordingly by increasing your development budgets by 20% to 50%.

Users who travel across coverage areas may instantly downgrade or upgrade to different networks as a result. To accommodate this and provide a seamless experience, technologies must be flexible and capable of automatically detecting connectivity. This creates even more work for your development team.

5G has tremendous potential to create new value chains, unlock new business opportunities, and fundamentally change how we interact with technology. There’s no doubt it will bring radical transformation. But getting to this point still requires significant investment and serious work.

Don’t let this dissuade you from preparing for this new mobile era. While many people are patiently waiting for this future to come, others are working on making it a reality. At Dogtown Media, we’re creating the mobile future every day. Get in touch with my team for a Free Mobile App Consultation. If you can dream it, we can build it!

The hype surrounding 5G has been building for years. Now, it’s finally becoming a reality. The fifth generation of cellular network technology is being rolled out in cities across the United States and around the world, and phones are slowly but surely coming equipped with 5G capabilities.

Without question, the opportunities this new technology presents are immense and exciting. But for developers looking to innovate 5G solutions and apps, it feels more like limbo than a revolution. And for business leaders making bold claims about what they’ll do with 5G capabilities, this poses a serious problem.

Waiting to launch

It’s not surprising that companies like Walt Disney Studios and the New York Times have announced they’re getting in on the 5G action soon. They need to catch the attention of the public and stay competitive.

Some companies have gone even further, making big promises about 5G and assuring customers those changes will come within a short time frame — despite experts’ predictions. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson recently said he envisions 5G becoming a fixed replacement for broadband within three to five years, promising consumers faster speeds than most cable and DSL connections.

However, with the struggles 5G developers are facing, there is serious reason to be skeptical about this timeline. Mobile developers will innovate with 5G by way of apps, but the app ecosystem in its current state doesn’t have access to 5G infrastructure. That’s holding us back. We’re playing a guessing game because we can only simulate a 5G experience, not actually create one.

Only the most prominent telecom companies currently have access to 5G kits, which bars smaller development firms and entrepreneurs from innovating and building applications. These major players roll out 5G technology in highly populated urban areas, often near stadiums or in major downtowns, to reach the most people and get the most out of their PR efforts.

Until coverage extends far beyond those concentrated areas and impacts people outside of those limited spaces, the power of 5G technology will remain out of reach for most of us. And it’s critical for businesses to understand that this limited access to 5G is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what developers are dealing with.

Carriers are providing vastly different versions of 5G as they try to provide coverage to as many people as possible as quickly as they can. But they simply don’t have the capabilities to extend consistent, widespread coverage at this time. And because of this, developers can’t define what this new network actually is and build for it.

Beyond that, the significant costs of installing this infrastructure and software also present a barrier for innovators. For 5G to be effective, it needs hundreds of thousands of cell sites, new software and mobile devices, and up-to-date connective nodes and switches — all of which costs hundreds of billions of dollars.

To be clear, none of this is to say that the next generation of wireless isn’t coming — it is. In fact, almost 20% of all data traffic will be over 5G networks by 2023. But this transition will require a paradigm shift in the way we test and validate networks. At present, 44% of telecoms say they don’t have the tools for testing and managing 5G applications. More than that, the current generation of modems developed by Qualcomm and its competitors are expensive and largely unavailable.

To be sure, some providers are trying to move too quickly and producing no tangible results. AT&T phones, for instance, feature a “5G E” icon in the upper corner, but that icon doesn’t actually indicate a 5G connection. In many cases, 5G E might even be slower than 4G LTE networks, which doesn’t give users or developers any steady ground to stand on.

In the grand scheme of things, claims about 5G are not rooted in reality — yet. Business leaders making big, ambitious assertions about what they’ll do with 5G should heed the warning that 5G will be essentially unusable when rolled out if nothing has been developed for the network.

The great divide

The reality for developers is that building 5G applications simply isn’t practical. Not yet, at least. Until Apple makes serious progress in expanding its capabilities, developing iOS apps is out of the question. And only a few types of Android phones are 5G-enabled.

Most of the 5G running today is a non-standalone version that runs off a 4G core and doesn’t actually deliver most of the promised sophisticated network capabilities. So at this point in time, most investment opportunities in 5G are limited for business leaders, too.

Until accessibility increases, developers will have to make do with using tools like the Raspberry Pi and DIY kits like Framework to test ideas. Ultimately, though, even the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth systems we’re using to connect prototypes are much slower than the real thing.

None of this means developers shouldn’t be planning for 5G; the contrary is true. We have to create while keeping in mind that we’ll have a two-tier connectivity divide based on geolocation — and two types of user experiences as a result. One will seem dated and slow; the other will feel futuristic and completely different from anything we’ve built before.

Making it real

Moving from 4G to 5G networks will be significantly different than when 4G replaced 3G — because it’s not a replacement this time. 5G will build on 4G LTE by using updated software and complementing its predecessor rather than doing away with it.

Hurdles won’t disappear when 5G arrives, either. Just like you might use an extender to boost Wi-Fi coverage in certain parts of your house, developers and entrepreneurs will need to create technology to extend 5G networks if widespread use is ever going to be available. Coverage of 5G networks today essentially comes in hot spots, causing connectivity to be sporadic and undependable.

For this reason, it’s critical that the infrastructure to expand 5G’s reach exists, and it’s our job to build it. Budgets will have to be created with this in mind, and development teams should anticipate 20% to 50% more work depending on the tech stack in development.

In a 2017 article, The Economist coined the phrase “data-network effect” to describe the exponential growth of data that will take place as a result of 5G adoption. It’ll enable huge advances in AI, leading to the creation of bots that can do more than we ever imagined.

Experiences enabled by 5G will be deeply personal and fundamentally change the way we interact with technology when they come. The real-time cloud access capabilities of 5G could provide unprecedented advances in the use of AI in phones and wearables. But until we’re able to overcome the hurdles we face as developers and entrepreneurs in creating the apps that will drive those experiences, the promises of tomorrow will remain elusive.

Want to leverage emerging technologies like 5G, AI, and IoT in your organization? Get in touch with my team for a Free Consultation.

Original Article Featured in Forbes.

The 5G era is upon us. At Dogtown Media, our team constantly discovers new ways technology can profoundly impact the world, and 5G will be the rising tide that raises all ships. According to the June 2019 Ericsson Mobility Report, “No previous generation of mobile technology has had the potential to drive economic growth to the extent that 5G promises.”

In just five years, 5G is predicted to carry 35% of global mobile data traffic and 60% of mobile subscriptions in North America. From a consumer standpoint, it’s certainly exciting. But it will be far more than faster access to Instagram Stories that’s going to ignite the trillions of dollars in economic growth that PricewaterhouseCooper predicts will come as a result of the next-generation network.

Imagine a hospital in which medical devices such as blood pressure monitors, wearables and MRI machines are all sending and receiving information without any delay. Thanks to 5G-fueled medical tech development, surgeons will even be able to conduct operations remotely with virtually no latency between their own movements and those of a robotic arm actually conducting the surgery miles away. Sound like science fiction? It’s not. The technology was successfully demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The 5G Future

Healthcare is just one industry in which 5G will impact the future, and much more is to come. The network is still in its infancy. Thus far, it’s only been rolled out in densely populated areas like Chicago and Los Angeles, where telecoms get the best return on their infrastructure investments and the most publicity. Even if you’re in one of the few areas that actually have a 5G network, taking advantage of the futuristic speeds requires using a device that supports 5G.

To date, there are only a few Android devices with 5G capabilities, and iPhone users will likely have to wait until the end of 2020 to start tapping into the next-generation network. There is a silver lining, however. Your business doesn’t have to wait for years to start preparing for the 5G future — you can get started now.

Instead of passively waiting for the 5G era to arrive, you can be the one shaping tomorrow’s breakthrough technology. Simply start by following these three steps today:

1. Run simulations.

Unless you want to establish a temporary development office in the Los Angeles Convention Center, there aren’t many ways to experiment with 5G network capabilities. In order to get around this obstacle, our team has conducted experiments using a Raspberry Pi device to simulate what it’s like having rapid data transfer capabilities in a developing environment. Similarly, Qualcomm works with Android app developers by simulating 5G network speeds for them as they build. And beyond that, some telecom consulting companies offer services that allow users to simulate 5G, but those services are paid and not nearly as home-brewed as using a device like the Raspberry Pi.

Until you can access the devices and infrastructure necessary for real-world testing, simulations are a great way to get practice.

2. Prepare for two user experiences.

Adoption of 5G won’t just happen with the flip of a switch. Instead, teams should create separate 4G and 5G experiences in order to bridge the digital divide. A huge portion of the U.S. population will be stuck on slower networks because telecoms lack the incentives to make expensive infrastructure investments in sparsely populated rural areas. It’ll be necessary for developers to deliver a two-tiered experience in order to appeal to users in 5G areas while still attending to their 4G audience in the meantime.

3. Build more work into your budget.

All that extra development takes time, so plan on increasing budgets by 20% to 50%. Not only will different users have access to different networks, but the same user might also travel across coverage areas and need to seamlessly downgrade or upgrade to a different network. This flexibility will require technologies that automatically detect connectivity strength and speed, creating even more work for development teams — and a need for more development workers.

5G is coming and will bring with it radical transformation. But it will demand a significant investment in order for consumers and industries to leverage its true potential. To avoid being left behind, start preparing your team now. If you run into difficulties, don’t give up. 5G is here to stay, and it will be changing the world in the blink of an eye.

At Dogtown Media, we’re creating the mobile future every day. Get in touch with my team for a Free Mobile App Consultation. If you can dream it, we can build it!

 

Marc Fischer, CEO and Co-founder of Dogtown Media, a mobile technology leader since 2011, was interviewed by B2B research and reviews agency GoodFirms. The firm has partnered with VC-backed startups, Google, Harvard Medical school and the United Nations with an aim to create purpose-driven digital products. The purpose behind founding the enterprise was to be a part of the technological revolution and drive innovation for companies across the globe.

Since the introduction of the app store in 2008, Marc says he and his co-founder Rob Pope, on a trip to San Fransisco decided to join forces and apply their tech-savvy nature to become mobile app developers. From that single idea, today Dogtown Media has created over 200 mobile apps that have captured the attention of millions of users, as well as being featured on international TV programs.

Marc, commenting on his team, says that it is an in-house cross-functional team of well-experienced designers developers and software engineers. When determining the timeframe of an app from discovery to launch, Marc says that many factors come into play, most notably the complexity of the app project in question.

They take that information provided by the client, alongside in-house research, to create certain phase deadlines for the project. All these mindful strategies adopted by the firm ranks it as one of the top app development companies globally.

Here is the research scorecard conducted by GoodFirms for Mobile App Development services by Dogtown Media.

In addition to the development of apps, team is extremely experienced in UX/UI design. The innovative mindsets of their designers have created apps that are engaging and are centered on user experiences that delight all stakeholders. The apps they have created are able to scale from one to a million users, with no drop off in performance and experience for the end user.

With respect to price, Marc mentions that their price range is contingent upon the length and involvement of the projects. He even mentions that price is secondary to Dogtown Media and deployment of the creative technology is their foremost priority. All such aspects has meant that the researchers at GoodFirms have ranked Dogtown Media among the top mobile app design companies globally.

Moreover, Marc also mentions the parameters their firm looks at when they select an appropriate platform for mobile app development. Reviewing GoodFirms, he said that GoodFirms has really helped them reach enterprises of a high caliber that are seeking app development services. You can read the full Interview here to know what Marc shares in his own words.

About GoodFirms

Washington, D.C. based GoodFirms is a B2B research and reviews firm that focuses its efforts in finding the top software development and mobile app development companies delivering unparalleled services to its clients. GoodFirms’ extensive research process ranks the companies, boosts their online reputation and helps service seekers pick the right technology partner that meets their business needs.

The transition to 5G, short for fifth-generation cellular networks, will forever change how we use smartphones and emerging technologies. Are you ready?

Unprecedented Potential

Before we begin, let’s start off with exactly what 5G is. Technically speaking, 5G is a set of rules and practices used to establish the operations and functionality of a cellular network. This includes aspects such as the radio frequencies employed, as well as how devices like antennas and computer chips transmit radio signals and share data.

Back in the 1970s, cellular engineers agreed upon a set of specifications to uphold for cellular networks. These specifications and resulting implementations get upgraded approximately every decade. So 5G is the fifth iteration of these specifications for wireless networks.

To utilize 5G, consumers will need to get new phones, and carriers will need to install new transmission equipment that is able to handle the new service’s capabilities. But convincing either party to do so shouldn’t be too challenging when they consider the benefits. With new mobile internet speeds, playing mobile games, shopping on your favorite app, and watching live sports will all get a revamp. Some experts even expect 5G to allow people to download entire movies and seasons of shows in seconds.

It’s worth noting again that smartphones will be far from the only thing that 5G affects. Other technologies and devices dependent on wireless networks, like drones, industrial robotics, cars, and security cameras will also feel the effects. 5G will also foster faster innovation and growth for disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

With that being said, it’s really no wonder why leaders of countries like the U.S. and China see these new networks as a major competitive advantage.

So, just how fast will 5G be? Obviously, the answer depends on a variety of factors like where you live and which wireless carrier you use. During testing, Qualcomm stated that it was able to reach download speeds of 4.5 gigabits per second. But you should temper your expectations a bit; the San Diego-based developer of hardware said that initial median rates of 1.5 gigabits per second are more likely.

To put this in perspective, that’s basically 20 times faster than what 4G can offer. During testing, this median speed resulted in a typical movie being downloaded in 17 seconds, a fraction of the usual six minutes required on 4G.

When considering speed, latency is just as important to consider as pure download and upload rates. Latency is the lag you experience when you issue a command to your smartphone and wait for a response. With 4G, a lag of 50 to a few hundred milliseconds is normal due to the signals passing through multiple carrier switching centers. It’s also common for bits of your data dropped during transmittal when they are not essential for the task you are completing.

5G will cut latency down to only a couple of milliseconds and should be much more reliable in data transferring. This will open up a plethora of new capabilities.

For example, you can say goodbye to those clunky headsets required for virtual reality (VR). With 5G, VR developers will be able to delegate some device responsibilities to other machines wirelessly, meaning we’ll be one step closer to VR goggles the size of eyeglasses.

Similarly, we’ll be able to experience augmented reality (AR) in real time. Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, says it will now be possible for people to point their smartphones at a sports event and see statistics superimposed on players as the game proceeds.

Should We Buy 5G Phones Right Away?

As with any new technology, there’s still a lot of infrastructure groundwork and kinks to work out for 5G. Michael Thelander is the president of wireless consultancy Signals Research. Here’s his take on the situation: “I wouldn’t buy a 5G phone until it supports 5G in one of the lower-frequency bands. For all operators but Sprint, this means at least late 2019, and more likely 2020.”

Still, that hasn’t stopped insiders from showing their excitement. This year, 5G technology is a big part of major trade events like the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and MWC Barcelona in Spain. And as manufacturers like Samsung demonstrate their prototypes, other device makers are racing to catch up.

Everyone’s gearing up for a faster future with 5G. And once it’s here, things will never be the same. What are you most excited about when it comes to 5G? Let us know in the comments!