How Much Does It Cost To Build A Messenger App Like Whatssapp

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Since the time the growth in the smartphone industries has been seen , we have seen a massive revolution in mobile app development industry . The tremendous increase in number of social messaging apps like WhatsApp , Viber , WeChat etc has been seen as the outcome of the continuous growth of number of users worldwide .

According to Statista , there will be around more than 2.48 billion users of social messaging app by 2021 . Now as we are talking about social messaging app , we all must have use the most famous app WhatsApp . In this technology driven world WhatsApp and Telegram have been one of the most powerful tools for communication over the internet free of cost .

Now you must be reading this article because you are searching for how much does it cost to develop an messenger app like WhatsApp , and how long it will take for its development , and for it you might have settle your mind to develop it . This article helps you know step by step guide for the same .

Some Points To Be Taken Into Consideration Before Starting A Project

  • You should always take into consideration the MVP of the product in order to get the most viable feedback from user in respect of the modules feasibility factor .
  • You must choose the development team with utmost care . You should always hire an mobile app development company who has a strong team of developers , designers , testers and more for your successful app building
  • Planning of budget in advance is always beneficial while choosing a capable mobile app development agency who can cater all your needs . It is also important to track the progress of your app in regular intervals with your app development team .

Features Of Messenger App & Time To Develop That Feature : Explained

Log-in and Signup Into The Account

In any chat based app like WhatsApp , in order to go to dashboard of the app , user need to sign in into the app . For sign in almost all social messaging app use authentication by mobile number . As soon as you enter the mobile number , you will receive the OTP on your number which you can enter in the app for signing in successfully in the app .
After successful verification , you will have to add on all your contact list from your phone book that would increase the chances of using the app . The authentication process is very secured as it is directly linked with your phone and not like Facebook in which anyone knowing your password can enter into your account .
At the same time you will also get the benefit of profile , theme and background image customisation.
These all features will take near about 40 hours including the backend app , irrespective of the platform your choose from .

Messaging Feature

When we are talking about messaging feature , it means one on one chat , group chat and message broadcasting . One on one chat is one in which person upon clicking on one person specific name can start chatting with him by way of exchanging messages .
Group chat is one in which certain number of persons can chart together , whereas broadcasting features allow user to broadcast a single message to multiple user at once .
In addition to above features messaging must also include customisation of stickers , sending their own emojis stickers and more which has become the important part of interaction today and will surely attract more number of users if offered .
Just to make a note that WhatsApp does not store messages on their server . It is only active in temporary until it has been delivered . However in case you want to store your messages on server , the choice is yours and you have to make security arrangements for the same .
On an average it takes 200 hours including 100 hours for front end and 100 hours for backend .

Push Notification

We all are aware of how much is the importance of push notification in mobile app . And its even become more important if you are creating an app like WhatsApp . User must be informed for new messages , addition of user in new group and so on by way of push notification .The pop ups and push notification carry out their task of sending and receiving messages if their screen is locked .
The total time it takes to integrate push notification is 16 hours which includes client and server side .

Transferring MultiMedia Files & Location Sharing

Together with enabling the messaging feature , you must allow your user to share multimedia files such as videos , audios , pictures , GIF together with short voice messages . It is also beneficial to give user access to share the contact to .
Geo location feature is another important things which you must offer to your user thus allowing them to share the exact location with friends .
The multimedia option will take around 56 hours and location sharing feature will take around 12 hours .

Attractive App Design

This is the most important things that you must focus on. On the basis of design your user will either user your app or delete it . You have to play here with beautiful and creative design with easy to use UX . Designer should have the capability to play with colours , font styles , background images and content for getting an awesome look and feel of the app .
Usually app designing will take around 60-70 hours , but it may take more depending on the complexity of the design .

App Personalised Setting

Setting is somewhat which help user to control app as they want . The very first thing when it comes to setting is profile setting wherein user can set they display picture , update their status , nickname and more .
Other account setting may include privacy setting , notification setting , message tone setting and more . It usually takes 40 to 50 hours depending on the customisation needed to complete .

The Overall Cost

However it is difficult to predict the overall cost of the app , but keeping in mind the basic features as listed above it may range between $ 30k – $ 40 k approx.  However it may increase and decrease on the basis of functionality add on .

Common UX Mistake During App Development

Mobile-App-Development

Without any doubt it is crystal clear that an attractive app design will always attract user’s . Although mobile app development is complex task . In 2018 , where app stores are flooded with varieties of app , it’s very difficult to come up with unique brand identity which comes with User Experience (UX) design .

Attracting traffic from the search engines will takes years , if promoted continuously , and that is the reason most of the mobile apps does not able to get public attention . For any top mobile app development company the very first aim is to get better outcomes by way of user experience and user interface (UI) . It is seen in most of the cases that if the user does not find app attractive than  they most likely will not return to the app and website , due to pathetic experience .

When we are talking about UX , its much more than just interface and visual design . A good UX designer is known to be one who are innovators , creative and follows of latest trends .

Some of the common UX mistake that user must avoid during mobile app development are listed below :

Considering UX As One Person Responsibility

If you are thinking of giving a role of UX to a single person then you are absolutely wrong . UX is never going to the one person responsibility , rather it is done in team work . Usually defining a common goal and taking the whole team advisory and involvement during all over developmental process will help you to control experience and expertise at their expertise levels to notify all product assessments .

Not Considering UX At Beginning Phase

The ultimate user of the app audience . It is very important to get user feedback , their tongue of taste while designing UX at beginning stage . There are various different models that that needs to be adopted to enhance the chance of app success like MVP , prototype , wireframe and more .

Avoid Complicated Login Pages

You must have seen the apps that contain lengthy and complicated login process , which sometime irritates user which finally leads to deletion of apps . Offering a simple social login or login via email and phone number / else providing them with guest login option is better solution .

Complicated And Messy App

Application should always be neat and clean , should provide navigation guide to user about how they can use the app highlighting important features of app and a clear cut easy to use functioning . The designer should have a clear vision preset in mind that the app is getting developed for personal use and not commercial use . Together with the designer innovativeness , you must also take care of clients demand and choice to get the best output .

Confusion Between UI And UX

UI and UX are two different things , although U is considered as core in mobile app development . It is has not been handled with care , all other depending modules and function will also not be on the track . The technology is continuously changing in dynamically changing environment and the design must adopt the latest technology in order to get best fit output . Use of material design , visual design , graphical design can help app in delivering the best UX .

Don’t Write Complicated Content

Content is the king to success in online environment . It helps in SEO , it helps in engaging user , getting app features on App Store and much more . Avoiding complicated content writing will add value to your app . User finds very difficult to read and understand  complicated content , and hence content should be informative .

Don’t Avoid Feedback

Feedback is always known as a charger for mobile app . Taking feedback as important things and making the changes accordingly will help the team to know the outcome go their hard-work performed . Always asking clients for feedback , rating and comments will add on to your app brand value and help you improve the app according to the needs and choice of the user. Feedback is always for betterment of app , no never ever think of neglecting it .

How Business App Engages Customers And Helps In Branding

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Everyone in the world is rushing towards buying an smartphones these days all over the world , and that is the reason nearly about 2.6 billion people are using smartphones these days . Android and iOS are mostly gaining the large market shared over the world . Due to cheap price of Android smartphones , the number of user in developing countries are rushing towards android smartphones.

Due to high demand of smartphones , business are also focusing on rolling out an mobile app for overall improving their customer engagement and brand value . A good mobile app helps develop a stronger relationship with the customer in long run .

Let’s quickly look at the way business app can helps engaging customer and increasing brand value :

Delivering Awesome Experience To Customer

Enterprise must focus on delivering the app that making difference in the life of the user by offering them easy to use functionality , customer support on one go , FAQ’s and more .
For any app to make difference , it must be capable of identifying the pain points of customer , for instance say why even after high number of downloads of app customer is not getting converted ? Simplicity of the app converts leads into customers and at the same time increases the brand value . Feedbacks and comments of the app must be solved by the enterprises by rolling out the viable update . The best apps are known to be the one which are highly focused on delivering after functionality for the user . For example say a enterprise is offering app that helps you to search for FAQ, do self service , get in touch with customer support on one go and much more .

How Apps Offers Proactive Communication

Apps once downloaded from respective app stores remains in user phone unless uninstalled , which was not the case with website wherein you have to type the URL every time . Some apps also offers an offline access .
One of the greatest features in app is push notification which is proven very effective in user engagement 24×7 . Push notification is facilitates customer’s attention , even if customer is not using the app at that time . The best push notification can be sent to customer for discount and offers together with the notification of the product / services they can recently searched in the app .
Today’s world has changed and customer to . Customer are getting more demandable , they want information within seconds and service in double quick time . Once the customer can be influenced in downloading the app , the brand can boost their information directly to customer phones .

Customisation App Delivery

In order to get your app a success , you have to offer personalised app as required . The world in 2018 has completely changed due to coming of emerging technologies like Blockchain , Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (MI) in order to read user minds and facilitate them accordingly .
Smart marketers are now using app location capabilities , geofencing technologies , time data driven content to offer promotion , loyalty programme and discounts according to the location and time of the user .

Complement Buying From Brick And Mortar Shop

Many of the retailer are now using the marketing strategy of in app customer experiences . The app could , offer the user to download and scan barcode of the product , check stock availability products reviews , description , current offers and more . Some apps are also offering placing the order online via a app , thereby helping user to avoid queuing up or getting the item at the convenience of home .
However the brand cannot afford to engage customer on long go to get their app installed , if they are not providing regular update , content and features within the app . App development agency must also remember that user is doing favour on company by installing the app , so it must not take user private information , or much space on their smartphones . It is the duty of the mobile app development company to provide sound and robust app that offers real value to users .
Winklix is also one of the mobile app development company expertise in improving business for higher productivity and profits .