Mobile app development for iPhone and Android, from idea to app store

What goes into mobile app development

An app is what people download to their phone from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). Most apps also need a system behind the scenes that saves information, sends notifications and takes payments.

We build both parts, and we connect the app to the tools your business already uses, like your website.

Is an app right for your business?

An app makes sense when people use your service often, and on the go, and a website alone feels clumsy for them. Common situations:

• You want an app for your customers, for a new idea or an existing business.
• Your staff need a simple app for their daily work, on iPhone and Android.
• Your customers keep asking when you'll have an app.
• Your current app stopped working or stopped getting updates, and you need someone to take it over.

What your app can include

Depending on what you need, we can build in:

• The same app on iPhone and Android, with the same features on both
• Customer accounts, payments and subscriptions inside the app
• Notifications that bring people back, and links that open the right screen
• Automatic crash reports from day one, so we can fix problems before they turn into bad reviews
• Publishing on the App Store and Google Play, including the store page and the approval process
• Extras when they help, like using the phone's camera, location or Bluetooth, or a ChatGPT-style assistant that knows your business

One app for both phones, or two separate apps?

There are two ways to build for iPhone and Android. One shared app can run on both phones (developers call this cross-platform). Or you can have two separate apps, one for each phone (called native).

For most business apps, with accounts, forms, bookings and payments, one shared app is the practical choice. It's usually quicker and costs less, because there is only one app to build and look after. Two separate apps make sense when the app leans heavily on the camera, location or Bluetooth, or has to feel perfectly smooth. We help you choose based on your plans and budget, and we explain the choice in writing.

How it works, step by step

A focused first version takes about four weeks, and a full product can take 16 weeks or more, mostly because of what happens behind the scenes. On the first call you talk directly to an engineer.

• Free 30-minute call. Tell us about your business and your idea. Afterwards you get a one-page written summary, whether or not you hire us.
• Understanding your needs (about 1 week). Who will use the app, and what must it do? We don't give a price before this step.
• A written plan (1 to 2 weeks). What we'll build, and in what order. You approve the plan and the price before building starts.
• Building (2 to 12 weeks). We work in two-week rounds and show you progress every week. Early on, you can already try the real app on your own phone.
• Launch (about 1 week). Once Apple and Google approve the app, it goes to a small group of users first, then to everyone.
• Looking after it (optional). We keep the app updated and working with each new iPhone and Android version.

How much does an app cost?

There's no price list. The cost depends mostly on what happens behind the scenes: connections to the other tools you use, payments, and information that has to match everywhere. Two apps that look alike can be very different amounts of work.

After the free call and a short look at your needs, you get a written plan and a clear quote. Most projects are paid in two-week rounds, each with its own written plan. Small, clearly defined jobs can have a fixed price. If something new comes up that isn't in the plan, we talk to you before working on it.

After launch: updates, support, and you own everything

Apple and Google update their phone systems every year. An app that nobody updates for a year or so often stops working properly. Our optional ongoing care keeps your app updated and checked, and fixes problems as they come up. If you need it, we agree on response times in writing.

You own everything from day one: the code is kept in your company's account, the servers run in an account in your name, and the domain name (your web address) is registered to your business.

Phoned-Tech has been building software since 2013, and we're a team of 7+ senior engineers. A senior engineer stays on your project from the first day to handover, and we don't pass the hard parts to subcontractors.

When we're not the right fit

Better to hear it on the first call than three months in.

• Games. They're not one of our services, and a games studio will serve you better.
• Apps that only show content. If people mostly read, a fast website that works well on phones may do the job, with much less upkeep.
• Lowest price above all. Every project has a senior engineer from start to finish, and a junior team will quote less.
• Launch and forget. Every app needs regular updates, so plan a budget for upkeep from the start, with us or anyone else.