Finishing Mobile Apps When Other Developers Don’t Pull Through

Is the glass half-full or half empty? Is your mobile app nearly complete or is it almost finished? Aren’t these 2 ways of describing the same thing? Perspective in life can mean a lot, but when it comes to mobile app development, there are no such things as optimists or pessimists. Your app isn’t finished until it’s on your device and working the way it’s supposed to.

Hmmm...Nearly Complete or Almost Finished?

We’ve seen a lot of companies claiming to be “expert” mobile app developers but can’t finish the job. Some blog about the technical process of developing and boast about their skills. Others advertise the number of apps they’ve published but are offshore somewhere and don’t even have a phone number to call them on. As it turns out, human interaction is more important than ever in the digital age and these kinds of companies are keeping us busy at SolutionBuilt.

What happens if the unthinkable occurs? You find a developer and pay some or all of the costs for your mobile app up front. Shortly after beginning your project the developer disappears, goes out of business, or just doesn’t have the know-how to complete your project? If you’re lucky, you might at least have some incomplete code for your unfinished app. If you’re unlucky, you have nothing but a law-suit to look forward to in your future. It’s a scary scenario to consider, but through the years we have been shocked to see how many app developers claim to be the best, but can’t finish a project. We recently hooked up with Private line to pull together their semi-complete app project, on a tight time-line during the week before Christmas.

The Private Line mobile app for Android 2.6 and greater does exactly what its name implies. When your phone is in Private Line mode, only the numbers in your “Hotlist” will be able to call and text you. It offers them a direct Private Line to you, even when you’re in an important meeting, on vacation or otherwise unavailable to the rest of the world. Anyone not in your Hotlist is sent straight to Voicemail or to your inbox. You can send an automatic text to your Hotlist when you’re entering Private Line mode, so they know not to bother you unless it’s important. It’s a great idea and is perfect for doctors, professionals, or just about anyone who sometimes needs privacy and freedom from unwanted phone calls. It’s especially useful for moms and dads, keeping them accessible to their kids or babysitter while providing freedom from the world. Think of it as “Call-Allowing;” the offspring of your cellular services’ popular feature, “Call-Blocking.”

Private Line’s owners were referred to an app development company in another state, who they retained to develop and launch the app in the Android Market. Shortly after starting the project, communication with the developer ended and Private Line’s owners were left with almost nothing. Luckily, the previous developer mailed Private Line a DVD with the incomplete code and file structure. Desperate for help, Private Line performed a simple Google search for app developers and reached out to SolutionBuilt in Atlanta, GA. After a quick meeting and about a week later — just in time for their 2012 release, Private Line’s development was completed, tested and published to the Android Market.

“We love to do the tough stuff, which is why we’re proud to be the go-to-guys for so many,” says SolutionBuilt owner, Matt Rogers. “We’re happy to be developing, whether it’s from start to finish, or if we’re picking up where another developer left off. We just want to focus on delivering powerful mobile apps that leverage the latest in digital technology with passion and creativity.”

SolutionBuilt Releases Private Line App: $0.99 For Limited Time

Hot off the press: SolutionBuilt releases The Private Line App for Android 2.6 or greater. $0.99 for limited time!

Private Line

“Only The Most Important Calls Get Through”
Putting your phone on silent isn’t always the best way to go. Sometimes, you need to answer calls from important people, even if you’re otherwise unavailable. Finally, you can take a break from obsessively checking your phone! You decide who can reach you and when. Don’t ever be disturbed again!
The Private Line mobile app for Android does exactly what its name implies. When your phone is in Private Line mode, only the numbers in your “Hotlist” will be able to call and text you. It offers them a direct Private Line to you, even when you’re in an important meeting, on vacation or otherwise unavailable to the rest of the world. Anyone not in your Hotlist is sent straight to Voicemail or to your inbox. You can send an automatic text to your Hotlist when you’re entering Private Line mode, so they know not to bother you unless it’s important. It’s a great idea and is perfect for doctors, professionals, or just about anyone who sometimes needs privacy and freedom from unwanted phone calls. It’s especially useful for moms and dads, keeping them accessible to their kids or babysitter while providing freedom from the world. Think of it as “Call-Allowing;” the offspring of your cellular services’ popular feature, “Call-Blocking.”
Key Features:
• Customizable Hotlist so only callers you designate can reach you via call or text
• Any combination of ringer, vibration and flashing screen can be set as alerts
• Single tap reply to missed calls and text messages
• Send people customizable text message letting them know you’re entering Private Line mode
• All calls and texts are automatically logged in your device’s native log center
• Auto-Off function automatically exits Private Line mode after a length of time that you designate
• Convenient navigational tabs ensure important features are easily accessed
• Be accessible to important people while maintaining freedom from the rest of the world
Device Requirements
• Android 2.6 or Greater. Available in the Android Market.

New Mobile App From SolutionBuilt, Big Change – Hot Off The Press

Having already developed mobile applications across various platforms for the Medical, Pharmaceutical, Energy, and Gaming industries, SolutionBuilt is no stranger to a challenge. In fact, owner and CEO Matt Rogers says, “SolutionBuilt’s team of sales and marketing is very goal oriented, that’s why we really took the Big Change app as a serious challenge.  I see how this app can be used by everyone, sales people, people that want to save up their money, and people wanting life change. If you use it for only completing one goal you can embetter your financial health and well being. It can pay for Itself.”

Available in the Apple app store today, Friday November 4, 2011, the Big Change iPhone app is a way for people who are striving to reach self-improvement goals or give up a vice like smoking or coffee, to track their progress and watch their bank accounts grow with each deferral. A user looking to make a big change in his life can in turn, watch some big change accumulate in his bank account; hence the clever name.

Users will setup their account and associate up to 8 preset goals and 1 custom goal and allocate a corresponding dollar amount to each one. Then the user is prompted to create a short description. Big Change tracks your progress and lets you see your virtual bank account grow each time you defer a trip to the coffee shop or complete a one hour workout.

LIKE Big Change On Facebook

Big Change integrates with Facebook and Twitter allowing you to share goals on your wall and with your friends, adding another level of fun and motivational support to this app. It utilizes native Apple iOS framework providing the user with intuitive functionality and controls. It includes a Central Administration Panel (CAP) through which new users are prompted to setup their profile information which is then communicated back to the server.

Download the Big Change app today, and get started breaking habits, reaching goals and saving money!

Check out Big Change on Facebook for more information.
More about Mobile App Development from SolutionBuilt.

Mobile App Development: It’s What’s For Dinner.

Here in the SolutionBuilt offices, we’ve been working on no less than 3 mobile app development projects at a time. We’re not complaining though. We eat it up! Working our fingers to the bone and occasionally breaking a wrist while we’re at it (ahem, Ryan) we’ve been preaching the gospel of mobile apps and mobile websites since the early days.
Peep the video. See what we’re like in our environment–broken wrist and all.
Drop us line – We’d love to hear your ideas.
Mobile App Developers In Atlanta

Excellent SEO Basics

SEO or Search Engine Optimization Can Help Your Business Get Found Online.

SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization; a method of optimizing onsite website code as well as creating unique content so that it can be found organically by search engines. Excellent SEO consists of both onsite optimization and offsite optimization and is extremely important because, even though you might have a great business with a nice website, if it doesn’t pop up on the first or second page of search results the chances are, people won’t find your business online. SEO should be a very important part of your overall online marketing strategy.

• 90% of web traffic comes from search engines
• 85% of searches don’t go beyond the second page

Here’s a good place to start for excellent SEO strategy for your website.

1) Site architecture: SEO starts with the development of the site itself.

• a. Directory structure


SEO To Get Found in Google

• b. File naming
• c. SEO navigation
• d. Site Semantics
• e. Usage of H tags
• f. Internal linking

2) Keyword research:

• a. Start with the basics keywords.
• b. Perform ongoing research to refine your keywords.
• c. Add long-tail keywords.

3) Meta tags

• a. Title
• b. Description
• c. Keywords

4) On Page Optimization:

• a. Write copy that is informative and engaging.
• b. Ensure correct placement and optimal density of keywords
• c. Correct usage of alt tags and image tags.

5) Off page optimization: To get the best search engine results placements, extensive link-building must occur.

• a. Paid text links
• b. Link directories
• c. Articles
• d. Blogging
• e. white papers and press releases

Search Engine Optimization | Atlanta SEO | SolutionBuilt

Apple’s iPad Slays Another Imposter, HP’s Touchpad

The Apple iPad has ruled the land for more than a year now. Less than 2 months ago, HP unveiled it’s Touchpad, the “iPad Killer.” After just 49 days on the market, HP has decided to kill it; manufacturing 250,000 but selling only 25,000. Best Buy has asked HP to take their entire inventory back. In fact, HP is ending it’s entire WebOS Hardware business which means, no more Touchpad, no more Pre phones and may be ending it’s PC arm as well. In a recent survey in the New York Times, more than 50 percent of those surveyed, who were between 22 and 60 years old, said they already owned a tablet or were interested in buying one soon, with 95 percent of these respondents choosing the Apple iPad.

Apple currently owns 61% of the market share with Android being the closest competitor at around 30%. What makes the difference between success and failure in the tablet market? Is it that App Developers can develop the best apps for the iPad? Is it the shear number (200,000+) of apps in the Apple store? Or is the quality of the device and it’s OS software that determines success or failure in the tablet market? It seems it’s a combination of all of the above.

Some say that the HP’s WebOS 3.0 was the best tablet operating system…just not in its buggy, unpredictable, and not-quite-done state.
Until someone does something mind blowing with its software, or hardware, we don’t expect the reign of the iPad to end any time soon.

iPad App Developers | Atlanta App Developers

10 iPad App Development Tips To Help Yours Rise Above The Din

IPad App Developers know that trying to create a popular app can be a tricky business. As the iPad becomes more and more popular among users, the app store is becoming a more crowded place, and it can be difficult for many apps to rise above the din. Despite the huge number of mobile applications already out there, the app development space is still relatively young. When it comes to ipad application development, the question of whether to make a game versus a functional app weighs heavily in the minds of many developers. There are many reasons that support either decision, but when done correctly both can yield very successful results.

When trying to develop a great app, put yourself in the mindset of the customer. Here are some helpful tips that are relevant no matter what type of app you are developing.

• Brainstorm ideas and think of something new or perhaps an enhancement to existing applications. Will your app be a functional app that fulfills a need or a game app.

• Work on your value Proposition. What is it that makes your app different and why should people be interested? A good value proposition should clearly and concisely demonstrate the features and benefits of your iPad app.

• Define your target audience. Figure out who has a need for your iPad app and who is most likely to buy it. How and when will they use your iPad app? What features are most appealing? Think about age, location, gender, income level, education level, marital or family status, occupation, and ethnicity.

• Innovate. New apps flood the market every day. Focus on developing a unique app or enhancing existing ideas that fulfill a particular need.

• Polished Design. An appealing look with specific features that answer a realistic need will help make your app stand out from the competition.

• Simplicity. Keep your app, especially the first version, simple. Few moving parts — just the stuff the user really needs to do the job. You can provide updates in increments.

• Usability. Consider the most important aspects of your app and how usability fits into the experience. In what context does your app benefit the user more than it would on a laptop or PC.

• Updates. Customers love freebies. Updates are an excellent opportunity to re-engage with your customer. By keeping things simple at the beginning, you save yourself room to offer frequent and incremental updates.

• Pricing your app can be a touchy task. Remember that Apple takes 30%. Think about your development cost, the value the app provides, how your competition is priced, how big your market is, and whether or not you are planning frequent updates.

• Build a Companion Website. A well designed website will help with your marketing efforts. Include an email or contact address for support along with your iTunes download link to the app store.

Defining and documenting your plans and getting the right support is a huge part of iPad application development, irrespective of size. You should ensure that the iPad app developer you choose is able to support your commercial and technical requirements in both the short and long term. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

SB Office Remodel Update

So our last post was a video on our Youtube Channel showing a 3d walk through of the office that shows the accent wall colors.  What once started as adding a few interesting partitions turned to a remodel with defined spaces for our reception, offices, meetings, and even a theater.

We will have white walls, black trim and accent walls. The reception area will be the dark blue shown on the left.   Which counter tops do you like best?

Do you like any of them?  Let us know.  Leave a comment or drop us a line.

SB Office Remodel

If anyone of you have visited or called us on the phone you may know that the SolutionBuilt office is not the most conducive environment if you enjoy your privacy at work.

Here is a link to the “BEFORE” photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/solutionbuilt/sets/72157623780476247/

We will post up the “AFTER” photos soon.

However the open space of the loft and walls of windows that overlook the city of Marietta and Kennesaw Mountain is pretty hard to beat.

So now its time to highlight our offices positive attributes.  And what better way to do that than keeping the space open, building a lounge with a HD projector and all the fixings, and making our deck a outdoor oasis.

So its a rather large project so we hired an interior designer to get rid of the builder beige and introducing some creative sound dampening materials.  Here are some links to the products we are considering:

http://www.serenityhealth.com/indoor-fountains.html
http://www.myfavoritethings.tv/gifts/furniture/waterfalls/commercial%20custom%20waterfalls/custom%203%20panel%20waterfall.shtml
http://www.bonluxat.com/a/komplot-design-room-divider.html
http://www.audimutesoundproofing.com/acoustical-panels.aspx
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2007/12/room-divider-roundup.html

Stay tuned as we will update you along our journey!

One Good Reason to Develop a Mobile Website

Own a business? Are you in marketing or sales? Hell, are you in a band? You need to hire a mobile website developer ASAP. Here’s one reason why.

A couple of weeks ago while eating lunch, my boss’ phone rang. A friend of his was offering him 2 free tickets to the Pink Floyd show later in the week but he didn’t know at which venue the concert was. Since neither of us were sitting at our computers, we picked up our iPhones at the same time to type in: www.pinkfloyd.com

As website developers in Atlanta, we make sure that our client’s can get found in search, no matter what device is being used. Whether it’s through a mobile website, or iphone application, we provide a digital presence that is engaging and will convert visitors into customers. Needless to say, we were stunned by what we saw on our iPhones. A black screen, with no content at all. Nothing.

Personally, I love Pink Floyd. I grew up listening to them and have traveled to the 4th dimension many times while listening to their music. But when a band as enormously influential and powerful as Pink Floyd doesn’t have a mobile website – in this day and age, the generation gap becomes painfully obvious.

Do you know that half a billion people used mobile search last year? That number is expected to double in the next 5 years as mobile overtakes the PC as the most popular way to get on the Web. Need more reasons to hire a mobile web developer?

• Google has a separate index for mobile content. Another way to get found in search.
• 1/5 of Americans access the mobile web each day.
• $1.6 billion purchased from mobile devices in 2009.
• There are an estimated 2 billion cell phones worldwide.

Pink Floyd…I’m talking to you.