According to IDC, the global market for augmented reality and virtual reality technologies will have increased to $162 billion by 2020, with more than half of that purchase going to devices for gaming and entertainment.
The average global household will spend $724 on VR and AR devices in 2020, up from $470 in 2015. By 2021, the market is expected to reach $1.24 trillion - close to where eSports stands now.
Nevertheless, with rapid growth comes new complexities.
Sure, there are hardcore fans who swear by particular hardware platforms and game platforms. But how do you decide what's the best option for your business?
If you are thinking about getting an AR app, you might wonder whether it's really worth the cost. There are, however, many free AR apps out there.
And several top-rated apps still cost money. The first thing you should do is set some guidelines for how much you're willing to spend on an app and then research top apps that already exist in the market.
The more research you do, the more convinced you will be that investing in an AR app is actually a smart idea.
The price of an AR app can vary widely. Typically, companies provide the app for free with some limitations. Some apps, like Pokรฉmon Go, have sold for hundreds of dollars.
You should also be aware that some AR apps are exclusive to certain platforms or devices. So, when you choose an app, be sure to look for any exclusivity clauses to know whether or not you can get the app if your company converts at a significant profit.
What is Augmented Reality (AR)?

AR is a technology supplementing the surrounding world with images and information created by special technical means and improves the user's immediate environment through digital data.
When applying AR, the application usually provides the user with an upgrade or additional function of the physical world.
It can enhance any place in the world and facilitate its inhabitants by providing detailed information about its location and topography, even if it's not visible to the naked eye.
Technology is constantly evolving and becoming more effective through technological advancement. The AR hardware industry is expected to grow from its estimated valuation of 2.4 billion US dollars in 2023 to over nine billion US dollars by 2027, according to Statista.
AR technology contains an array of useful functions which are constantly improving and evolving. This is the reason why AR is considered an essential component for every technological progress.
Whether we are talking about navigation, communication, entertainment or security, AR improves living standards for those around.
Technology that enhances its users lives through enhancing its users' reality. AR is more than just an additional tool in our toolbox; it's an entirely new way of interacting with the digital world and a major step towards improving both our physical and digital quality of life.
How does AR work?
Augmented reality (AR) has been around for a long time, but newer devices are better and more capable. When tiring of reading? Catch up on what you missed with augmented reality! Want to learn a new skill that could benefit your business? No problem! Augmented reality can help you visualize the steps needed for you to achieve your goal.
All you need is a smartphone with some space on its screen devoted to displaying the necessary infrastructure. Be it train tracks or a shopping mall, augmented reality allows you to see your progress visually at all times.
Augmented reality is generated using a camera placed in front of the smartphone (which uses its cameras to take photos and record video).
A camera sensor in the unit points at the person or object being viewed, and the algorithm uses this information to calculate the 3D location of the object based on the angle of view provided by the smartphone.
The height and width of the object are calculated based on its position in the photo, the angle between the camera and the person or object being viewed and other factors.
Augmented reality uses digital images, such as photographs or video, overlaid on top of the real world. Even if it is just a picture, it gives you an idea about the size, shape and condition of an object or person somewhere else.
For example, suppose I tell you that there is a statue of Nike inside a large room, then using an augmented reality app, you will be able to check out how big and solid it is.
This technology is becoming more popular every year as we become more reliant on it in our daily lives.
As you can see, AR apps differ significantly from regular applications on different platforms because they can be run from mobile phones, tablets or wearable devices and offer rich content that can complement their functionalities.
Classification of Augmented Reality Applications:
Autonomic applications which are not designed to interact with the user to get extra information. As a rule, such services provide additional data about a real-world object; they can be used for preventive maintenance but not for functional improvement or fundamental modification.
Such applications may be useful in guiding users toward desired goals, but they are not suitable for guiding a human being out of a room or onto a train.
Interactive applications which involve interaction with the user and enable him to select the type of data to be visualized.
Also, a user can change the parameters and properties of virtual objects. Such systems require input devices, say, a touch screen of mobile devices or a computer mouse.
An interface is usually implemented in two modes: as a service that the end-users afford when they pay for the product or service (computation service) or as an intrinsic requirement of the product or service itself (active audience)
What is forming the AR app cost?
Platforms
The first step in analyzing your target market is identifying which type of users your app will serve. The customer is usually identified by characteristics such as location, age and income.
If you plan to develop an app in the U.S., for example, you must first understand where your target market lives and how they will interact with your product.
Only then can you determine if the audience for your product will consist primarily of young adults with low income or whether there will be additional interest groups.
Next, create a set of custom fields that will allow you to answer specific questions about your customer. These should be related to the platform through which he is using your product.
The field will also need a label, so you know it's a specific field for a specific platform. Finally, configure the form so that it will only be run on certain devices and populate
The rate of the augmented reality app development company
Multinational companies can quote much higher packages for developing a simple AR application. This is why it's necessary to consider all costs, including the cost of real estate, transportation, groceries, etc.
It is important to check rates and choose the company that offers you the best package. This shouldn't be difficult since you should have already done your research ahead of time.
It is still possible to work with an extremely cheap specialist, though, as long as you remain vigilant and use resources efficiently.
Rates are determined when you book sessions through the website. They are based on the distance from your location to the specialist and their specialization.
So, if you're in Dublin, the rate will be different than one in New York. Similarly, the best price you will find on a digital health solution will be different from what you would find in the states.
But this all depends on how much knowledge you want to gain and how much time you want to spend on your chosen solution.
A rough cost estimate of a company on a per hour basis:
USA and Canada: from $100 to $250 per hour
Western Europe: from $80 to $150 per hour
Eastern Europe: $25 to $100 per hour
Asia (mostly India): usually up to $ 55 per hour
The application complexity
It is possible to design an AR-friendly app that will be much more affordable than one with a complex interface.
The AR-friendly app will have fewer features but will be well made and beautiful. This app will cost you less if you use it once or twice a month than if you spend lots of time looking for an AR-friendly alternative that might never come.
Worse yet, these misdirected efforts could lead you astray from finding an affordable solution. AR-Friendly apps should be simple and intuitive.
The user should be able to get around them without being informed about how complex they are - or how much time and thought they require.
Make sure that whatever features are available are useful instead of redundant.
AR applications have a much lower fee than normal websites. But they still have to fulfill all the functionalities a regular website has, including those that clients expect.
So, in order to get a really good experience from an AR application, you have to be careful not to overdo it and simplify your interface too much.
Any change that makes it more difficult for users to understand the function of an application or fails to provide the expected results should be rejected.
MVP kits are great for simple prototyping purposes. You can try out features without spending more than necessary.
When you create an MVP, make sure you keep some core functionality intact and improve the presentation. The best apps are rich in content and useful in many ways, but they are simple and delightful to use.
In this sense, they are more like toys than products.
What must an AR application (regardless of its complexity) have?
AR can solve a lot of customer problems and help you get more customers. Still, it depends on whether you know how to use it.
Just like any other marketing technique, AR needs to be done in a way that will give your audience the best experience possible.
You have to make sure that the AR interface is intuitive and stable so that users don't get headaches or nausea when they try to use it.
Certain design elements must be maintained at all costs to get only stable work from the AR application.
If you are a small business owner, the best card you can get is one that allows you to work with customers and build a relationship with them.
Even if you are just a customer service rep or something similar, visitors to your website can see that you care about their experience with you and what you offer - this is much more convincing than a printed coupon or a video testimonial.
The best AR applications will work with your existing database of clients and existing social networks so that a virtual visit can be scheduled before any actual customer arrives.
Strategic analysis of the project
This is an important preparatory stage, which is required to clarify the tasks of the project. Moreover, it's the only chance to create an AR application that fully meets your expectations.
In order to secure both parties of the process, it is most reasonable to sign a contract, which will indicate all the details of future cooperation.
It is advisable to select the best company that can provide the scope of work and deliver what was promised. The most fundamental criteria to select a good AR developer varies depending on the audience.
As a result, it's hard to generalize what skill set is needed to make an AR application. Still, there are general trends.
The first and most effective is finding someone who is heavily involved in the community around your potential product.
Potential customers can earmark people who get excited about new things, likely a source of early excitement.
Choosing SDK
Augmented reality (AR) has been around for a long time. However, only recently has it become feasible to build high-quality augmented reality applications.
ARKit is one such tool. With ARKit, you can create amazing augmented reality apps for iPhones and iPad. AR applications can be used for various purposes, such as gaming, shopping, product context, health & safety, navigation, navigation & GPS tracking, among others.
Augmented reality users come from many different industries; however, the most common use case is for entertainment and business involving location-based content.
App Coding Process
Processing of gyroscope data
AR apps are some of the most innovative and successful smartphone applications nowadays. They have become an integral part of our life since they allow people to navigate through their city with accurate guides, find nearby places of interest or even learn about the history of their city.
Augmented reality technology is not only used for similar purposes in the real world, but it also has applications in technology, arts and entertainment.
Augmented reality apps have been in development for several years now. A gamepad or cursor controlled early versions, but now most AR apps are controlled by smartphone users.
Today, there are several hundred AR apps available for both Android and iPhone. These apps provide viewers with a wide variety of information, tips and tricks, training simulations and tutorials.
The AR technology behind them is not new, but recent improvements in smartphone technology have enabled developers to create more immersive and detailed experiences than ever before.
GPS module
It should be noted that GPS positioning is not required for this technology to function. The module can be bought separately and installed in the vehicle with a Tx chip or an antenna.
There are versions equipped with a camera if the owner prefers to take photos or record video using his smartphone while driving.
The biggest disadvantage of this technology is that it cannot measure a vehicle's exact location every time it senses one-a drawback that some might find acceptable.
Design Solution
The augmented reality design stage involves building a wireframe of a product or user interface (UI) using 3D modeling software.
This stage aims to get an initial idea of how a product or interface will look and function. After defining the overall look and feel of an interface, this stage becomes obsolete as the design becomes locked in by the software and hardware involved in creating the product or creating the image.
During this stage, the cool augmented reality glasses, or the smartwatch, will be launched so that we can enjoy a more immersive experience.
When designing for AR/VR, you will need to consider many factors such as resolution, the field of view and the visual effects to make your experience as amazing as possible.
The perspective you see through an augmented reality device can be similar to 3D television, but it needs to be treated as an additional dimension.
Hire an android developer to develop the app
Developers are the unsung heroes of any enterprise. These talented individuals can be found working tirelessly, with little regard for their own schedules, to build software that solves real problems for consumers.
There are several reasons why you should choose to work with an Android app development company instead of one based elsewhere.
While there is no set process for choosing an Android app development company, some factors can help you make your decision.
Hiring iOS developer iOS-based AR apps
When it comes to choosing an experienced iOS developer, there are a few things you should consider. You want a person who will take care of the project with passion and care.
The hiring manager should see the results of their work within a month and see signs of continued improvement. They also need to have a clear idea of what they're getting themselves into before putting their name on a project.
Hiring software developer
If you want to develop an AR-based software system, you have to hire a software developer. Hiring the best software developers gives companies an edge over their competitors and builds their momentum for pivoting in the ever-changing tech scene.
It also helps them retain talent that could make them more competitive in the future.
What to Look for when Hiring a developer?
For software development, it's critical to consider your budget and prioritize features.
Your team may benefit from working with a freelancer, but so also might a competitor looking to steal your customers.
If the project involves building and maintaining a large system, a third-party system may make the project easier. However, if the system is responsible for little more than maintaining your website, using open-source frameworks might make more sense.
Final Words
There was a time when people couldn't even imagine using a computer. Today everyone has a smartphone with great capabilities.
They want augmented reality on their phone, too, and many smartphone manufacturers started making phones with AR capabilities.
It looks like smartphones will be the device that users will use most with AR capability since almost everyone carries around a smartphone with them regularly.
This means that small businesses will likely be the first ones to adopt this technology since they have a large customer base that they can reach with the help of an iPhone or an Android smartphone.
Augmented Reality is rendered like not true reality, consisting not of solid objects but of synthetic images. They allow for more natural interaction with the world around us.
Similarly, artificial intelligence and machine learning development have resulted in substantial progress in recent years concerning applications in technology.
The coming decades will witness considerable growth of both technological abilities and corporate interests in virtually all fields.
Augmented and virtual reality will shape the future of technology in a way that hasn't been seen before. Imagine having the opportunity to go behind some of the most popular and well-known buildings in the world, immerse yourself in environments that are only viewable through a smartphone and experience everything from the perspective of an active participant - all while being able to customize your experience by purchasing content or applying effects through AR apps.