Almost everyone has a smartphone and uses it not just to make calls or text but to access the web and do basic searches. According to the latest count by Statista, smartphone subscriptions all over the world have surpassed 6 billion. This number is predicted to increase by several hundred million in the next few years. The countries with the most smartphone users are the United States, China, and India.
Based on these stats, the world will become fully mobile in just a few years. People will rely more on their smartphones to perform even the simplest tasks including shopping, preparing meals, banking, navigating, and communicating with family and friends. There will be an app for everything, from weight loss to real estate with the medical app market expected to be the most profitable.
Let’s find out the future of the app industry, how it survived the Covid-19 pandemic, and how smartphones are changing the world in this special guide.
Smartphone Use During and After the Pandemic
One of the many studies about smartphone use during the Covid-19 pandemic was published in NCBI. The study revealed that there was an increase in the problematic use or overuse of smartphones among the young and adults.
Adults used their smartphones more than they used to before the pandemic. They relied on their phones to communicate with family and friends especially to find out their situation during lockdowns and shutdowns. Adults also used their devices to shop for necessities using food delivery apps, shopping apps, and medicine ordering apps.
Many people were forced to work from home and used their mobile devices with their laptops or PCs to work. They relied on communication apps, business apps, and marketing apps to help them with their tasks. Meanwhile, as a work-from-home setting becomes the new norm, smartphone users also relied on their devices for entertainment.
Even before the pandemic, mobile TV was already popular among Millennials. During the pandemic, smartphone users streamed more movies from Netflix, Hulu, and other online streaming apps. There was also an increase in mobile gaming with around 65% of smartphone users having gaming apps on their devices.
Adults also became more interested in podcasts in recent years and according to stats, around 65% of users will listen to their favorite podcasts through their mobile devices. Overall, an average adult in the U.S. spent more time using their smartphones than watching T.V.
Children and young adults also had longer screen times with their devices. In some countries, students had to use their smartphones to attend online classes which prompted the increase in smartphone usage. Young children watched cartoons and educational videos using their parent’s mobile devices to make up for going outside, playing, or traveling.
Teenagers with their smartphones used online social media platforms to connect with their friends as lockdowns prevented them from going outside and meeting. Teenagers also used their smartphones to watch videos on streaming sites and to play mobile games. Some teens have adopted the smartphone behaviors of adults and use their devices to shop, check their email, and use productivity apps like apps for fitness, lifestyle apps, and health apps.
The Most Widely Downloaded Apps in 2021
Almost every smartphone user has the following apps on their devices. Check out these apps that had more downloads than any other apps in 2021.
TikTok
In January 2021, Sensortower reported that TikTok had reached 68 million downloads. Overall, this social app has around 2 billion+ downloads! TikTok was massively used during the global lockdowns according to stats.
TikTok was built by ByteDance and is popular for sharing short yet meaningful videos. Users on the platform shared personal videos that fall into the entertainment, dance, comedy, and daily life categories. Businesses and organizations also used this app to share relevant information with their customers.
Facebook has been on the top app charts for years now and it has become more popular during the pandemic. This social media app is popular for both Android and iOS platforms and has helped private and business users.
Facebook subscribers used the app to connect with their loved ones and friends during the lockdown. They also learned about the latest news, local and international updates, stories from the people they follow, and more.
Instagram has a lot of features to keep people connected during the pandemic. It is also expected that this app will continue to be popular for years to come. Instagram users love features like filters, IGTV, reels, stories, and Direct. You can build followers using Instagram to support your business or cause.
Many Instagram users make use of this app to be updated with the latest news and events. It is popular among content creators and online marketers too making it one of the best apps for marketing and advertising.
WhatsApp tops all messaging apps when it comes to downloads and popularity. This app helps people keep in touch. Businesses use WhatsApp to contact clients and to take advantage of many features in the WhatsApp Business version.
WhatsApp is globally available and has 2 billion + users all over the world. You can use this app to call, send text messages, voice messages, send images, and other content for free.
Snapchat
Used mainly for messaging, Snapchat is one of the most popular social and sharing apps of 2021. In this app, you can share your Story using snaps or images in the past 24 hours. It also comes with features to update you with the latest events and news.
On average, Snapchat users send 4 billion + Snaps in a day. Snapchat is popular in both Android and Apple versions with more than 280 million active users daily.
Messenger
Facebook Messenger is one of the most widely used messaging apps on mobile. Users use Messenger to chat with family and friends and add photos, stickers, GIFs, audio, video, and different kinds of files. Many users also take advantage of voice and video calling features of Messenger.
Aside from individual Messenger users, this app is also widely popular among businesses, companies, groups, and organizations. During the pandemic, medical professionals, medical providers, and health institutions used Messenger to connect to patients. Messenger chatbots can answer simple health questions and inquiries about the coronavirus.
Zoom
Zoom is a video conferencing app that helped connect business and marketing teams during the pandemic. It continues to be used by schools, universities, and training institutions as a virtual classroom. Medical professionals also used Zoom to meet patients and to conduct teleconferences.
Stats showed that Zoom had 38 million + downloads in January of 2021. Around 45 billion minutes of online seminars or webinars were hosted by Zoom per year and it’s expected to remain the most popular video conferencing apps in 2022.
YouTube
YouTube is an unbeatable video app with around 2 billion monthly active users. It is used by private users to share video content and by businesses, influencers, groups, and organizations to spread their views, products, and services.
During the pandemic, many users relied on YouTube for entertainment. Many also used educational YouTube videos to help them with their everyday tasks. Medical professionals used this platform to disseminate information about Covid-19, to encourage people to comply with health protocols, and to promote vaccine awareness.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that YouTube will continue to dominate the apps world in 2022 and the following years. YouTube’s Shorts is becoming more and more popular among users.
Amazon
Amazon has everything you need from A to Z which is why it’s one of the most downloaded apps this year. It has a vast category of products so shopping is easy. Many people relied on Amazon to shop for
their needs during the pandemic. A report said that around 206 million users check out Amazon every month for their electronics, health products, fashion, power tools, sporting goods, and many more.
People also love Amazon for its easy-to-use interface, timely delivery, and seamless checkouts. Also, Amazon has tons of offers and deals that are impossible to resist.
The Hottest Trends in Apps Advertising for 2022
Get ready for the following trends in-app marketing and advertising for 2022.
Healthcare Apps Will Become Bigger
Medical apps will continue to lead the trend this coming 2022 as the end of the coronavirus pandemic remains uncertain. People have used various medical and health apps on their smartphones to check the latest about the coronavirus, to learn how to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and to schedule vaccinations.
There are medical apps used to connect with medical professionals and to conduct teleconsultation sessions. These apps also helped find services like mobile laboratories, medicine delivery services, medical equipment orders, and so on.
For safe travel, some apps help with contact tracing and for filling out health declaration forms in public places like schools, banks, malls, markets, airports, and others.
Healthcare apps continue to grow in number and research has shown that healthcare apps on mobile devices have a lot of amazing benefits including enhancing wellness and health. These apps can also decrease hospital readmissions, lower costs for patients, and can assist patients in managing their chronic illnesses.
A good example of a healthcare app is Treatment.com, an app made possible by the Global Library of Medicine and CARA. Treatment.com uses artificial intelligence and machine learning with the help of 40 medical professionals located around the world. The Treatment.com engine can assess a patient’s signs and symptoms and produce a diagnosis that’s comparable with a trained physician.
Big tech companies also realize the advantage of healthcare apps and are taking a stake in the market. Microsoft Corporation has Microsoft Dynamics 365 with unique patient access that aims to improve the overall online experience for users through flexible scheduling, an online patient portal, and connecting with medical professionals.
Another tech giant poised to lead the healthcare app market is Amazon with Amazon Care. This app was initially created for Amazon employees including their families but later, ventured into the care of employees from other companies.
Finally, there’s Watson Health from IBM. This healthcare platform uses A.I., blockchain technology, and data analytics to help its clients with all their healthcare needs. This app has easy solutions to help medical professionals and researchers.
Wearable Devices
Wearable devices will continue to dominate the industry next year. Nowadays, wearable devices can help users monitor health and at the same time access a mobile device for calls, texts, and emails. These devices are mainly controlled by the user’s smartphone.
Medical apps are also integrated into many wearable devices. These devices allow users to track their weight, health stats like blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate, and respiration, and more. Users can monitor and save their information in an online database which they can use when consulting with a medical professional.
Mobile apps like medical apps affect every part of a user’s life and there are no signs of slowing down. Developers must tap into this opportunity by creating a groundbreaking application to gain unlimited rewards.
Mobile eCommerce
The mobile eCommerce trend will continue as many businesses have shifted from face-to-face customer interactions to mobile retail. Experts believe that mobile shopping will remain even as restrictions are lifted and businesses return to regular operations. And as a result of the popularity of mobile eCommerce, payment methods like Google Wallet and Apple Pay will also remain popular.
Another exciting development is the use of a mobile app that will allow you to shop without money and credit cards. This will work with wearable technology to allow m-business, which is a new trend in mobile shopping.
Beacon Technology
Beacon technology has been around for years but it is expected to be big in 2022. Beacon technology works using Bluetooth as retailers transmit information to a nearby Bluetooth-enabled device. The beacon senses the user and targets his device with marketing ads such as information about a sale, new products, or a special deal.
At the moment, beacon technology is primarily used in retail but it has great use in industries like healthcare, tourism, and more. Beacon technology aids in marketing and will keep shopping safer and more efficient.
IOT
The Internet of things connects all your smart devices like your TV, refrigerator, home entertainment, security devices, etc. This technology is expected to be a hit in 2022 as more companies are adopting smart technology with their products. IoT marketing gathers data and uses this technology to interact individually with customers.
5G Technology
New 5G technology is faster with up to 20 Gbps data rates and up to 100++ Mbps average data rates. 5G has enhanced capacity with lower latency compared to 4G. This huge change will allow users to fully enjoy a variety of apps including gaming apps that rely on a fast, dependable mobile network.
Also, many mobile app development trends are triggered by the shift to 5G. 5G connections may increase next year covering more and more devices.
Electronic Wallets
Electronic wallets or e-wallets are very convenient and safer than using your credit card when shopping online. You can pay for your purchase without revealing too much information about yourself.
The use of e-wallets for payment will continue. More businesses may accept e-wallet payments and use this payment option for years to come.
AR and VR
Augmented reality and virtual reality will be adopted by more brands to help customers shop. Medical apps can help users navigate through the site and use tools to conduct medical examinations. Real estate companies may use these technologies to help customers shop for the property that best suits their needs. AR and VR has so many benefits which is why it’s one of the top trends to watch out for next year.
Final Words
New apps with better, safer, and more efficient features are sure to hit app stores next year. If you’re an app developer, knowing these top trends can help you create an app that will meet these requirements to enhance users’ experience. The future certainly looks bright for app developers in 2022 and the next years to come.
