Before you start the IoT app development process, you should get familiar with the working of such an app. Customized IoT apps include connected devices and sensors which operate with the help of the internet. It may seem simple on the surface, but there are complex processes involved like the analysis of the collected data.
For better understanding let’s take the example of “Smart Homes”. All major systems in a house like lighting, air conditioning, even cooking devices are all interconnected through cloud-based technology to the main hub. In this case, the main interface is the smartphones through which all the appliances can be controlled.
Technologies Used For IoT App Development
IoT apps can be developed for both Android and iOS platforms using different types of technologies WiFi, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth 2.0, iBeacon, Zigbee and NFC. Each one of these technologies used for IoT App Development has its individual uses and benefits.
Wi-Fi
As we know WiFi is a wireless networking technology that provides high-speed internet without physical connections.
Compared to other wireless communication
technologies WiFi has certain benefits for IoT applications. Since it is practically a basic necessity today, the infrastructure for it already exists. Also, it provides robust security, low power consumption, is easy to implement with maximum capacity & high throughput and it costs less.
WiFi Direct
Also called Wi-Fi P2P, it can connect devices without the help of a wireless access point. Wi-Fi direct can be used for different activities like internet browsing, file sharing, and communication between devices at the usual Wi-Fi speed.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth has been since before IoT even existed, you can say that it paved a way for wireless data exchange between devices. But Bluetooth can do much more than just data transfer; it has become a powerful tool in IoT solutions. But its usefulness for IoT depends on what task you are trying to accomplish. For example, Bluetooth IoT applications are a great option to consider for indoor asset tracking scenarios due to the low-power requirements, ideally infinite scalability, and reliability.
Bluetooth Smart
Bluetooth Smart or
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
has carved the path for use of Bluetooth in IoT applications. BLE puts a twist on the classic Bluetooth technology making it less power-consuming without comprising on communication range. These changes proved essential for Bluetooth IoT Applications. Along with this low implementation costs and Multi-vendor interoperability are also great features of Bluetooth Smart.
Zigbee
Zigbee
is a high-level communication protocol, it is less expensive and easy to implement compared to other WPANs. It consumes less power and limits data transmission from 10 to 100 meters like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The mesh networking style used in Zigbee attributes to lower power consumption and low cost. Zigbee focuses on wireless and sensor networks in IoT.
NFC
NFC has originated from RFID technology,
it is a wireless communication technology for communication between electronic devices. Wherein, one device should be movable like a smartphone to achieve near-field communication with the other device by bringing them within 10cm of each other. Compare to Bluetooth, NFC takes less set-up time and is more secure due to its shorter range. NFC makes it very simple to connect two different IoT devices.
Beacons/iBeacons
Beacons are small, wireless devices, they use BLE technology to broadcast radio signals or to communicate with other devices.
iBeacon is Apple’s technology
standard, to be used on both iOS & Android mobile apps. A mobile app installed on a smartphone will listen for iBeacons and then communicates the relevant data. Applications areas for iBeacons are retail, marketing, connected homes, etc.