Predictions for the 5G Impact on Mobile App Technology

There's been a lot of hype lately about 5G networks. You've probably heard or read that 5G is next generation wireless network technology that’s expected to change the way people live and work. While it's been reported that 5G service is expected to be nearly 100 times faster than 4G, what will this really mean for technological advancements in industry and just how will that impact the consumer?

I think its fair to say that, once 5G networks are installed for broad usage (which has been predicted to take years), it will revolutionize how the mobile world functions. It will redefine the mobile app developer's ability to impact user experience and will, once again, change the ways in which humans interact.

Let's break it down with just a few examples:

A Focus on Wearable Technology

It should come as no surprise that app developers begin to focus more on wearable technology as 5G usage becomes more commonplace down the road.

The enhanced connectivity that 5G provides will allow developers to cater to the needs that users currently rely on smartphones to satisfy. For example, an Apple Watch with a 5G connection will be able to seamlessly provide GPS directions, play video, etc.

While smartphones are perfectly capable of handling these tasks, 5G technology will be able to do it in a more efficient and convenient way. As such, 5G connectivity will be a major selling point for brands that offer these products in the future.

Lower Latency

For those unaware, 5G connections are intended to have an initial download speed of approximately 20 GB per second and a latency of 1 millisecond. You can probably imagine the tremendous impact this will have for many types of applications in mobile app development.

For example, mobile apps that focus on gaming will be able to provide a much higher level of performance to the user. In fact, downtime and general lag may become a thing of the past as more and more people adopt 5G.

But, the benefits of this network connectivity are not limited to entertainment. Businesses will be able to use productivity apps at their highest level of efficiency in order to increase their overall revenue.

A common example could involve using software to audit your company website for attributes that could be improved. 5G will allow this process to become virtually instantaneous, allowing you to streamline it as much as possible.

Heavier Use of Cloud Storage

The faster connections facilitated by 5G will make the cloud a viable option when it comes to primary storage. Users will be able to access their necessary files and content with very little if any delay. In turn, this will free up physical storage space on the device using a 5G connection so that its performance can be further optimized.

Mobile applications that rely almost entirely on cloud storage will become more convenient options for users. Eventually, there will be a shift that begins to establish cloud storage as the primary method for mobile apps. This also means that developers that fail to adapt will likely find they are unable to compete with those who do.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Integration

In the past, this type of technology was more or less limited to gaming and relatively simple applications that were designed specifically to showcase how augmented reality and virtual reality function.

However, 5G will allow developers to bring this technology to an entirely different level. For instance, those in the real estate industry will be able to create applications that allow customers to take virtual tours of a property.

This is especially useful during instances where a physical showing isn't a viable option, a situation that we've seen all throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The increased functionality that 5G offers will be able to ensure that developers are able to provide an immersive and seamless user experience. In turn, this can drastically increase various metrics a company focuses on, such as lead generation, revenue, productivity, etc.

Higher Connection Density

This term refers to the total number of connections that a network is able to support within a given area. The more devices that a network is able to support, the less likely it is that other users will impact the quality of your own connection.

As mentioned previously, 5G is anticipated to be able to handle approximately 100 times more devices per square kilometer than a 4G network connection. This means that those who live in relatively populated areas will likely find that they no longer experience any slowdown while using their device during peak times.

Improved Overall Security

As connection speeds become faster, people will begin to use their devices more often and accomplish tasks at an increased rate. This will directly translate into more data being stored, created, and collected.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals are fully aware of this situation and are waiting to take advantage of it through data breaches and other hacking methods. So, it will be up to developers to increase the security of their mobile app as much as possible in order to combat this scenario.

Otherwise, the utility that 5G provides will more or less be used against the user. Fortunately, many developers are aware of this issue and are already working to create comprehensive security measures for their applications.

Understanding How 5G Can Benefit Mobile App Development Can Seem Difficult

But it doesn't have to be.

Although countries began launching 5G networks in 2018, telecom providers have been slow to build out capacity because they haven’t been confident that the demand from consumers is there. It may be no surprise that COVID-19 has changed that. As large numbers of people have been forced to isolate, an increase in working and studying from home has been stressing networks and creating higher demand for bandwidth. It's now very likely that the 5G market may materialize sooner than expected.

With the above information in mind about mobile app development and the impact 5G will have, it's never too soon to start making the technological decisions that your company can benefit from the most. 

Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do to help.