Create Your Own iPhone App

With the impending release of the new iPhone 4 as well as the rapidly expanding Apple App Store, many businesses are investigating the potential to have their own mobile app. Companies such as Target, Walgreens, and Southwest Airlines have had great success with offering their own iPhone apps. Not only are large companies creating their own iPhone apps but business of all sizes are starting to release their own apps. Business mobile solutions for restaurants, sports teams, realtors, and retail stores are starting to be seen.

Having an iPhone app provides businesses with a dynamic way of reaching new customers. Unlike a typical website, a mobile app is available for users wherever they may be. This flexibility allows businesses to promote themselves to customers who may be traveling, at work, or just looking for new apps for their iPhone or iPod Touch.

An iPhone app is also a great marketing tool for businesses. The mere presence in the Apple App Store provides high visibility and a professional appearance. By actively promoting their iPhone app, a business can capture valuable customers who are attracted to the fact that the business has its own mobile app.

The advanced features of the iPhone also permit businesses to provide new services to their customers. The geo-location feature of the iPhone can be used to show customers how to quickly find the business. Often called a "Near Me" function, this tool allows customers to see exactly where the business is and how to get there.

For a business interested in having its own iPhone app there are two options. The first is to pay a developer or company to create a custom iPhone app. This generally costs between $5,000 and $15,000 depending upon the complexity of the app. It may be a challenge to find a good iPhone app developer. Another challenge is that when information needs to be changed, the app must be updated and resubmitted to Apple. The approval process itself could take close to two weeks.

The other alternative is to use one the new services that can provide an iPhone app that requires no computer skills. This is very new technology and it is evolving quickly. One of the most advanced solutions is Mobtify. www.mobtify.com The Mobtify solution uses a complete Content Management System ("CMS"). A business uses the CMS to update the content of the iPhone app at any time. No computer skills are needed and the updates are pushed out to users in real-time.

Much like the beginning of the internet, companies that take advantage of the explosive growth in mobile technology will have a substantial advantage over the competition. In addition, like domain names, it is important for businesses to protect their names by ensuring they are first in the App Store.

Any business that wants to attract new customers should seriously consider having its own iPhone app. It's now quick, easy, and cheap for a business to have its very own custom iPhone app.