In 2014, Mobile usage statistics indicated that 86% of mobile usage was via mobile apps as opposed to 14% via mobile web. This is an increase from 2013’s 80-20% divide.

Experts are now suggesting that by 2015, mobile apps will surpass the presence of desktop web as a medium to connect online. In contrast, the above statistics by Mobile Insights company Flurry indicates that this is already happening as you read.

So what does this mean for a mobile startup?

Like any other product, a mobile app attempts to provide excellent user experience in order to generate loyalty. Loyalty in terms of not only referral to friends and network but also continued usage after the download. What makes a user return to your mobile app everyday, as a conscious, willing habit? Well, the 86% of time that a user spends on apps is quite fairly scattered between various functionalities.

Here’s the breakdown

Out of 86% App usage by an average user, they spend the time doing the following on both iOS and Android devices:

While 14% of Mobile web usage consisted of the following:

In addition, user behaviors generate a clear insight that more and more consumers prefer mobile interfaces and mobile apps to follow and track their preferred brands. Be it on social networks or other content consumption verticals, mobile startups are heavily gaining momentum due to user demand. Another simple insight that proves that 2014 is going to be a big year for mobile app development as well as mobile app design and a huge opportunity for mobile startups is the growth rate.

In 2013, overall mobile app usage increased by 115%.
In the growth pattern, clear categories emerged. Apps that enhance productivity registered a growth of 150% while Social media and messaging apps registered a whopping growth of 200%!

Why is this important?

Mobile users are a rapidly swelling demographic. The world and the society is going mobile at an unprecedented and exponential pace. Nowadays, the average age for a user to get their first mobile is merely 13 years. Which means mobile startups can start focusing on the inherent intense demand created by the market. Mobile apps are here to stay and it looks like they will rule the roost for quite some time.

Vinfotech is a web design and web development firm based out of San Francisco and India. We provide tailored and UX backed mobile app development solutions for mobile startups across the world. Give us a call.