There is an app for almost everything; you can order food, practice your driving test, plan your travel, transfer money and even play your favorite games.
The choice is huge with almost 4 million apps on Google Play and 2.2 million on the Apple App Store.
Some of Ethiopia's most popular mobile phone applications are the FynGeez - Amharic Keyboard - making it easy to communicate in four languages, including Tigrigna and Oromiffa.
Closely followed by the Ethiopian Calendar - making conversion between the Gregorian Calendar and the Ethiopian Calendar a breeze.
But perhaps one of the biggest successes is the Ethiopian mobile app that hit over a million downloads in 2020, Ethiopian Airlines.
So what can we learn from the most popular apps? And what features are expected on mobile apps?
Most mobile apps start with a simple idea, typically a service or a purpose-built app - like an online poker site, booking travel, or transferring money. A single purpose.
This means that the app answers the needs of the audience. So with that in mind, which features can make your mobile app unique?
Simplicity
While millions of people already have smartphones and know how to use most mobile apps.
Or are tech-savvy enough to navigate complicated mobile websites and apps - not everyone is. Make sure that even those having their first mobile app experience enjoy it.
It shouldn't be difficult to find what they need when someone uses your app. Keep it clean and uncluttered, with all of the 'must have' information right there.
Images
When you choose the wrong image size, the image may become distorted and stretched. It doesn't look great, but if there is information on the image, it can get lost too.
Your app should use the smartphone screen resolution and make sure your images are bright and clear.
Battery Preservation
Even if your mobile application is impressive, if it is draining the battery quickly, it will get deleted and replaced.
Make sure that you have implemented battery-preservation techniques so that your app user gets the best experience without worrying that their phone will hit low battery.
Synchronization
If your mobile application is an extension of your websites, or there are tablet and computer applications - it is essential they can sync. Synchronization technology means that your users will access their accounts, information and more across multiple devices.
Having synchronization ensures that your mobile app improves the users' lives and makes their experience feel seamless.
Data Collection
Almost all good websites you visit will offer you the opportunity to opt out of data collection, and your app needs to do the same.
When it comes to your mobile app, you should offer users the ability to choose their privacy and data security within the settings.
This isn't a feature to make your app cool or easy to use, but it keeps the communications between you and your users transparent.
Push Notifications
While emails can be a great form of communication between you and your customers, you are even closer when they use a mobile app.
This also means that it is more beneficial for you to send push notifications rather than emails.
While emails are quick, there is still a barrier there. Many emails will never be opened, Moengage, an online blog site explains that push notification arrives on the screen and needs action to remove it or check it out further. It prompts a response in a way that emails don't.
Not only that but depending on what your app is for, push notifications can also be very useful reminds for flight times, taxi arrival, receiving money into your account and more.
Security
Many mobile applications are packed with personal information. Gaming apps, travel apps and even banking apps often have our names, addresses, financial details and more. Your mobile app should have a robust set of security that protects your users.
Depending on the information stored within the app, you should consider two-factor authentication. Typically a text with a code, an email with a link or a stand-alone authentication app is ideal.
Security should be one of the first things you think about when brainstorming for your app.
Interesting
While an essential part of that app is that it works, the second is how it looks. Make sure that you work with eye-catching colours synonymous with your brand.
Your mobile app can be a huge and essential part of further improving and fostering the relationship between you and your customers, this is important for a online book site, when they are continuously purchasing new novels to read.
If your mobile app isn't attached to your Ethiopian business, then you can get as creative you like. Use the online artistry site to accessfeatures like the colour wheel to find complementary colours, and create something pleasing to the eye.
Updates
Once your mobile phone application hits the Ethiopian market, you will need to ensure that you can receive user feedback. You can create updates to keep the app working as intended from that user feedback.
The only way to make sure that your app remains successful and valuable to your audience is to make sure that you use the feedback. You can often find the feedback on the store that they got the app from and run regular tests yourself looking for coding issues.
Updates should run sporadically and never interfere with the user's app experience.
And finally, one of the most important things is to learn from the success of the apps that have launched before yours is how they continually improve their apps for great consumer experiences.
