This week, a High Court ruled that the taxi mobile app Uber is lawful, meaning that people can continue to hail private taxis using the Uber app, rather than using London black cabs.
The Uber smartphone app in London
The core issue with Uber in London is that London cabs are fitted with meters that calculate fares. Only taxi cabs are allowed to use these meters.
Licensed Taxi Drivers Association and London Private Hire Car Association argued that Uber drivers use the app as the equivalent of a taxi metre, making it unlawful.
The process used by Uber is that the app sends information to Uber's servers about the taxi journey, and a fee is calculated.
High Court ruling on the Uber mobile app
Transport for London believed the Uber app was lawful, so sent the case to the High Court to establish legal certainty.
The judge ruled that Uber's process is lawful and does not constitute a meter.
When did Uber launch their app?
The Uber founders had the idea to do something taxi and technology based in 2008. Mobile app development began in 2009, with a prototype app produced. It was tested out on three cabs the following year before going live that summer.
Mobile app controversy
The ongoing controversy began almost immediately, with a cease and desist order issued in San Francisco. Nevertheless, the app was launched in more US cities.
As the app gained popularity, Uber was criticized for charging more at peak periods and during Hurricane Sandy.
The original cease and desist order was eventually removed in 2013, although other cease and desist orders continue to be issued against them. This is mostly based on Uber acting as the equivalent of a cab company but without the usual licensing needed.
Last year, it turned out that a rival mobile app, Lyft, was deliberately hailing and cancelling Uber fares, while Uber was also doing the same to its rival.
How does Uber make money from the app?
Uber takes 20% commission on each fare found via the mobile app, acting as a middle man. Net annual revenue is thought to be about $200m and as a company, Uber is thought to be worth in the region of £10bn. The mobile app is now used globally.
About the author:
Eastpoint Software Mobile App Development Company Cambridge, London and UK. We are a web and smartphone app development company. We specialize in bespoke web applications and mobile app development. If you have any questions and are looking for eCommerce and mobile app development, please give us a call on 01223 690164 or Mail Us info@eastpoint.co.uk. We are Eastpoint Software web and mobile app development team based in Cambridge and London. Our tech team love building apps, and are keen to take on new projects.
Visit us: https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/
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A survey by Ofcom has revealed that the majority of people in the UK prefer to go online using their mobile phone ahead of laptops, tablets, and desktop computers.
It's the first time the survey has put smartphones on top, with laptops being the most popular previously.
How important is mobile app development?
So what does this mean for websites? If more people are viewing websites and apps on their mobile, should development be prioritising mobile-specific designs?
Our feeling is that the survey shows that mobile should, when applicable, always be an option, but that it's often best alongside more traditional software development.
People preferring mobile doesn't mean laptops are not being used. Think of your own browsing habits. Do you reach for your mobile most of the time all things considered, but prefer to make purchases on a laptop or desktop?
That is certainly the case for me. While I would have to pick mobile for preferred device due to the amount of times a day I check emails and new websites, I much prefer using my huge desktop monitor to view websites. I would appreciate a mobile friendly website, but I also want to be greedy and be able to see desktop designs and tablet-sized websites too.
But even so, for certain areas, mobile development is the way to go. You don't necessarily need to 'cover all bases' and it very much depends on your target consumers/users, as well as budget.
What now for desktop development?
The survey shows a decline in website browsing via a desktop computer as a preferred method, which is to be expected. How many people do you know who still fire up a desktop pc at home?
But there are other factors to consider. Mostly, that checking your phone to check something like a news headline is fine, but often people will want a larger screen to do anything more involved. A lot of people will still have desktop computers at work, and view websites via a standard monitor while browsing on lunch breaks.
In terms of web design, desktop and laptop are covered by the same scale design, so although less people prefer desktops, plenty of people still use it, and plenty still prefer laptops. So a regular “desktop/laptop” design (ie, the usual full size website or application) should still be your first port of call in many situations.
The most important thing is to offer choice when possible, and take into account what will work best in specific circumstances.
Navigating web and mobile development – what should I get?
We always help our clients understand the pros and cons of creating apps for different devices and, with their input, weigh up what is best for them.
If a client has a budget in mind, we make our suggestions for what we think might be a good starting point based on that budget, and how to reach the most people in the best way, for their spend.
About us – Mobile Apps Development in Cambridge, London and UK:
Eastpoint Software Web and Mobile App Developers and Development Company Cambridge, London and UK. Our team has decades of experience and are always striving to learn and stay up to date, to give our clients the best possible mobile app development.
Visit us: https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/
https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/
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Why develop a mobile app?Use of mobile devices is set to overtake desktop for accessing websites . Think about how often you use your phone, or you see other people using theirs. It's common to use your mobile to browse websites, search for information and make purchases.
A mobile app enhances the user experience further and achieves a greater engagement with your users. Often a mobile app offers features that a mobile web site (or web app) isn't capable of because it can have greater access to the mobile device's hardware (such as GPS, camera and microphone).
Planning:
Thorough understanding of what you want and ensure we've got all the information that we need to design a solution to meet that.
Design and user experience:
We will look at who your app needs to appeal to, and be appropriate for, the intended audience. It needs to be consistent with existing branding where applicable.
Development:
Creating the working product based on those things using our experience with various technologies to devise and develop a solution.
Testing:
We make sure that what we've produced is what we set out to produce, and ensure it all works correctly on varied device types.
We like automated and manual testing, making sure that where possible we have automated tests to cover the design functionality, backed up with the manual testing. You can't beat a human set of eyes looking at it.
Support, analysis and improvement:
We'll work to ensuring that product continues to perform in the way that it's expected long after the product is launched.
Long term support for mobile apps is key to it's success as new devices and device updates often change the underlying systems which could otherwise harm performance of the application.
And as user uptake of your application grows, we'll work with you to collect and analyse information about usage and help to guide design changes and enhancements.
We like to maintain relationships with clients over the years, supporting systems, offering advice, and remaining a part of the project.
Native, web and hybrid apps:
There are options for type of mobile app you can build, depending on how you want it to be used.
A native app is specific to, for example, Android or iOS (Apple). Generally, the result is slicker and perhaps better access to things such as accelerator, camera, location, because it has built specificially for that device.
Mobile web apps are applications run via a website, and can be seen in the browser on your mobile phone.
A hybrid app is a HTML5, CSS and Javascript web application (the same technology used for normal websites), that is then adapted to be used on various devices. Hybrid apps are installed in the same way (through App Store or Play Store), so depending on the features and/or design the user may never be aware of the difference. Hybrid apps do have some limitations, but they have the benefit of being much quicker to develop and deploy to different devices types.
Eastpoint Software Mobile Application Development Company in UK, London and Cambridge. We have offices in Cambridge and London, and are based in Cambridge. Our office is at the Hauser Forum, do come and meet us to discuss projects. Get in touch with us at info@eastpoint.co.uk or, as Blondie would say, call me on 01223 690164.
Visit us: https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/
Eastpoint Software, Mobile App Development, Mobile Apps Development, Mobile Application Development, Mobile App Development Cambridge, Mobile Apps Development Cambridge, Mobile Application Development Cambridge, Mobile App Development London, Mobile Apps Development London, Mobile Application Development London, Mobile Application Development UK, Mobile Apps Development UK, Mobile App Development UK
The year is nearly over, so let's look back at what Eastpoint's little developer elves got up to this year.
What happened at Eastpoint Software in 2014?
Mobile and tablet apps:
More people are using mobiles and i Pads these days. We all know this because we all do it, it's simple, quick, and doesn't involve waiting for a PC to load up while staring existentially out of the window. Apps are a great way of presenting a product or service in a way that's easy for customers to use, which makes Web, Mobile and eCommerce App Development increasingly beneficial investment.
We are keen to continue building more mobile and ecommerce apps next year. Get in touch with us about your mobile app idea on info@eastpoint.co.uk or, as Blondie would say, call me on 01223 690164.
Responsive websites:
Websites that were built to be viewed on a monitor do not always look so studly and buff on a little screen. Some need a helping hand and seem need to be built from scratch (a great opportunity to zhuzh up the website and maybe re brand like you always meant to).
Having a website that adapts to different monitors and devices is called responsive, and is a popular and wise investment. We've carried out several of these software development projects this year.
Website upgrades:
Websites are just like anything else – they get tired, things change around them, and they need a bit of fairy dust because they are sad. We've carried out many enhancements and additions this year.
Outsourcing App Development:
We often work with technology partners to deliver skills that they do not have in-house. This year we worked on several long-term web app development projects.
Emerging Technologies:
Our clever clogs developers are always learning new technologies and adapting how they work. This year, our favourite new technology was AngularJS, which we used on a cyber security app. Intriguing!
Agile:
There's been more interest and understanding of agile working – which means completing a project in stages without having to decide on the entire project's timeline and spec at the outset. This allows you to change the spec or scope as the software product is built, so it can evolve during the build to the benefit of the final product.
Testing and QA:
We are Eastpoint Web , Mobile and eCommerce App Development Services Cambridge, London and UK. This year a full-time QA lead joined our team. Welcome! Now get back to work. Working with us in 2015 If you are looking for web, mobile and eCommerce app and software development or outsourcing in Cambridge, London or the UK, give us a call on 01223 690164, or email info@eastpoint.co.uk. Let us know your requirements and we'll see what we can do!
If you're looking for an estimate for an app, let us know the details you have and we can provide a no-obligation quote. We specialized in ecommerce apps and software development.
Visit us: http://www.eastpoint.co.uk/
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eCommerce Mobile Application Development process:If you're someone who has had an idea for a mobile app and would like to know more about the process and costs, hopefully this blog post will shed some light.
We work with non-technical clients as well as technology partners and agencies – this article is aimed at clients with little prior knowledge of how apps work in terms of the build, but have got a great idea from a user perspective that they want to see in action.
Cost and time:
Most developers will tell you something along the lines of 'how long is a piece of string' when asked how much a web app costs.
And of course, they're right, but it is possible to give a guideline. For any app, you are looking at thousands rather than hundreds. Most apps will take weeks to design, build and test, at least.
You are unlikely to find much below £5,000 in terms of building a complete app, and that would be for a very simple one.
It is likely you will want to budget more than that, particularly if you have specific, potentially complex, requirements. The number of devices you want your app to be suitable for will also affect the cost.
Who builds it? Who designs it?
We are a tech and design company, so we can create all aspects of the app. A lot of app designers will take charge of the entire project – so writing the technology that powers the app, and designing the way it looks to the people using it.
We are happy to accommodate your design requests – whether that's us working on the technical development, you doing the design yourself, or providing us with the designs from somebody you already work with. Some companies will always want to do the design in-house, this is something to check.
What is the mobile development process?
If you are starting from scratch with a new app developer, it's likely you will first chat about and confirms your requirements. Once everyone is on the same page, the technical solution will be decided and the user interface designed, so you know how it will work from a user's point of view.
App development will then begin in earnest and once completed, full testing and QA is carried out. Once you sign off the app, it will be ready for you to use, sell, or look at in awe.
Maintenance of mobile apps and future work:
Your app will be good to go and often comes with a warranty for a specified time. However, software may need other updates in or outside of this time to keep it ticking over, or you may want to refresh your app in the future with new ideas, improvements or additions.
About us:
We are a software team based in Cambridge and London. We build web and mobile apps, as well as websites and eCommerce Platforms. We provide Mobile Apps Development and eCommerce Website Development Platforms in Cambridge, London and UK.
Visit us: http://www.eastpoint.co.uk/
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