How to Build a Location Based App for Android and iPhone – TRooTech

In the world, 2 billion smartphone users linked and since this is probable to keep growing, the mobile apps do so much and dominate our lives completely.

Since the advent of Google maps, the location-based apps have come a long way, and have accomplished a lot. From just serving you with the proper directions to actually integrating various aspects of the service with GEO location, the apps have evolved to exceed customer expectations with best-in-class user experience. The location-based apps now aim to solve potential issues and close gaps that might exist in the target markets. Remember the app Ushahidi that aimed to rescue survivors of the earthquake that hit Haiti? It helped children stuck under the debris send SMS and ask for help.

There have been many such examples where location-based apps have managed to offer unique solutions to problems that have been persisting for a while.

Currently, the apps have moved from suggesting the direction from point A to point B to actually offering help locating newer places and exploring a city. Want to know which new restaurant has opened up in the city? Want to know the ATM that is closest to where you are located? There’s a location-based app that serves all these purposes.

So, how does a location-based app collect this information and serve it immediately to the person seeking it? Here, we will take you through the whole process on how a location-based app works, and the functionality and technology it uses to deliver the services as expected.

Features Location-based App Should Have

What is so special about around-me that people want a look-alike? It is a location-based discovery app that offers instant information on things that are present in your surroundings. From the points of interest in your vicinity to restaurants, cafes and hospitals, the app includes all the necessary details similar travel guide apps.  It comes with important information to the place such as opening hours, website, contact details and other details important for the viewer.

The integration of maps to these apps makes finding direction to the place easy and instantaneous. These are some of the features that you simply cannot miss out in a location-based app that you are planning to create. Some of the additional features that need to be present in these apps include local places that you should explore and the general walking routes to these places. Suggest some of the best eateries in town as well as the nightlife that the city caters to.

There are apps that incorporate location tracking as a functionality. App development like Uber, Pokemon Go etc. are some of the examples. Social and location combined apps are also rowing popular in today’s time. Want to watch content from different parts of the world, and view live streams, and then geo social app is what you should be planning next.

The main thing is that using a lot of features, you can create real interesting and unique app solutions incorporating the location-based functionality.

APIs and Augmented Reality for Location-based Apps

GPS based apps have become quite common, as it helps locate the end user. This location acquisition enhances user experience with Wi-Fi and mobile network inclusion. While GPS is good for outdoors, you need something that can work indoors and around the tall buildings. With iBeacon technology, you can enable Bluetooth-based data sharing as well as location tracking.

What APIs should you be planning for your location-based app? If you are planning to integrate navigation to the app instead of simple direction, then you should go for an iBeacon- enabled app instead of the GPS enabled one. GPS is better when you are working with apps that involve offering directions and routing options. This is the hardware aspect of the app. Let’s have a quick look at how the APIs should be chosen for the app solution.

The Apple Map Kit API should be integrated for iOS apps while the Android API for Google Maps works best for the Android based app solutions. Google Maps has enhanced its indoor navigation feature, which is yet to be done by Apple Maps API. The Google Places API, Foursquare API and other travel apps APIs can be integrated based on what you aim to achieve from your app solution.

Taking it further is the inclusion of Augmented Reality in location-based apps is the next big thing. This was introduced by Pokemon Go, which pulled in AR in the best possible way. There are quite a lot of AR tools and platforms that can be initiated into the apps for an incredible solution.

Choose the tools that have perfected security and tracking for the app solution.

So, here we end the discussion on how to build a location-based app like around-me. Take cues from here, and build on your idea to create the unique solution.