Building Mobile Apps for IoT Devices

Internet of Things has initiated a completely new market with the name IoT application development, where mobile apps can coalesce with the devices introduced in the IoT industry.

The app development for IoT is more like coding and programming mobile apps such that we can control the real-world connected devices with the native support of Bluetooth functionality, Wi-Fi support and other device controls. Most Fortune 500 companies are poised to build digital interfaces (using mobile applications) that will let users and clients control their IoT gadgets. It is a powerful means to extend the utility of an enterprise mobile app across global audiences.

Although there isn’t a vast difference in how to build an app for IoT device connectivity, it requires the developers and programmers to gain an understanding of device-level APIs. These application programming interfaces (APIs) are the logic connectors that allow harnessing the power of devices and gadgets from Internet of Things for a creating a memorable user experience.

For instance, smartphone users having the connected apps with IoT devices can:

> Discover their devices automatically

> Remote control their door bells, air conditioners, windows and doors of homes and other home appliances

> Connect hospital equipment to networks preventing data exposure to the third party

> Empower connected app with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support

> Track down the lost keys using wireless technology devices

The list of benefits is endless. It certainly downpours an exceptional level of convenience to the world and help everyone maintain the privacy of their everyday tasks.

Real-time examples

To know better about the connectivity, we have listed a few examples of available IoT mobile apps developed by leading companies in the market.

Philips Hue – Personal Wireless Lighting

The ways of lighting your homes have transformed remarkably through Philips Hue smart connect lighting. It creates a personal wireless lighting environment in your home and takes the charge of changing your home decor, helping you relax or focus on your work, changing the room atmosphere and much more. Available in the Apple App Store now, your iPhone allows you to control every Philips hue product in your home. Serving as a HomeKit compatibility bridge, you can control the light’s intensity and colors via voice commands given to mobile devices. Remotely, you can switch on/off the lights at home and will also get notified whether the lights are off or not  as you leave home.

Tado – Smart air conditioning

Compatible with iOS and Android devices, Tado is a smart invention in the IoT application development discipline. Installing tado app on your device, you can personally assist the cooling and heating systems in your home through your mobile phone app. The app connects well with your tado° smart heater and tado° smart AC and adjust the temperature settings of your place based on your location. It pre-heats/pre-cools before you reach home and when you are away (with its geofencing feature).

Your business mobile app can also add up to the user’s comfort if you build apps to connect them to IoT devices. Pulling off data to gather information, providing function interfaces for the applications to perform the same function, using cloud computing to develop IoT apps as public clouds are already API-oriented and many other related strategies will help you better connect the mobile technology with Internet-oriented devices.

Furthermore, as much as it is conducive to building apps for IoT devices, it is important to make sure that the whole development process is cost-effective, real-time data-driven and resourceful for the enterprise, engaging more traffic and generating more business on the whole. All told, we once again discover the importance of having a mobile app for your business.