Mobile phone applications are the most profitable area of software due to the explosion of smartphone adoption, beginning with Apple’s iPhone in 2007. These mobile apps are still normal software applications, albeit applications designed for scaled-down operating systems. Standard software development practices still dictate how these mobile apps go from the drawing board to mobile handset.
Define the application requirements. A good software application should fulfill previously unfulfilled user needs. Ask yourself questions such as how will the user put this application to use? What features does the user want to see? How will the user interact with the application? Software developers refer to the answers to these questions as the "application requirements." Write a document that addresses each of these areas from a functional, not technical, perspective. It should be clear what the objective of the application will be and how the finished product will function.
Test the application's functionality. Developers often refer to this step as "beta testing." The purpose here is to locate issues with the application's functionality and features. Repeat this step until you eliminate all known issues.