Mobile App Development in Shanghai for iOS and Android

QPSoftware is a digital agency in Shanghai that develops iOS and Android apps, and the back ends that run them, for companies whose users are in China or abroad. Since 2009, we have delivered more than 200 projects, including the earthquake monitoring apps of Mageba and the native app of FamilyPlug.

Our mobile app development in Shanghai covers the technical choices, the development in sprints, the back end, the tests and the release on Chinese app stores. It is one of the services of our mobile app development agency in China, next to design and testing.

Native, hybrid or cross-platform: choosing the technology

We develop native apps with the languages and tools of each platform. A native app gets the most from its operating system, which makes it solid, secure and fast.

Hybrid apps, built with Ionic, and cross-platform apps, built with React Native, share one code base for iOS and Android. They are usually quicker and less expensive to develop, and they suit apps that must reach a wide audience fast. React Native is part of the technologies of the Mageba project.

For FamilyPlug, we built a native iOS and Android app from the ground up, with push notifications, two-way verification, in-app purchases, and audio and video messages. Our comparison of native vs. hybrid apps details the trade-offs of each approach.

The back end behind your app

An app is often the visible part of a larger system. For Mageba, the mobile app offers the same functions as the web app: real-time and historic dashboards based on Microsoft Power BI, event alerts by SMS and email, an API connection with building protection equipment, and a Bluetooth connection for on-site checks.

For Jia Club, a social platform for young professionals in Greater China, we built the platform on Drupal, with private messaging, social login and WeChat login.

Speed depends on the server side as much as on the app. Our article on making an app’s API faster with Redis shows how we use this in-memory database to answer requests faster.

Publishing on Chinese app stores

Before release, an app for mainland China needs a filing. Under a 2023 notice of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), apps that provide internet information services in mainland China are filed through their network access provider or the app store that distributes them, and app stores may not distribute an app without a filing.

iOS. App Store Connect asks for the ICP Filing Number of apps that must be available in China mainland.
Android. Apps are submitted to several local stores. A 2021 MIIT notice on apps and app stores names those of Tencent (MyApp), Xiaomi, OPPO, Huawei and vivo.

We prepare the builds, the store listings and the filing information with you.

How we develop your app

Scoping. Features, platforms, integrations and the choice of technology.
Design. Our designers design your mobile app: screens, then a prototype tested with users.
Development in sprints. We follow our agile methodology: each sprint ends with a usable version that you can review.
Testing. Functional tests on real devices, then regression tests, which check that new code does not break the features that already work. We test your app for the Chinese market on Chinese devices and networks.
Release and updates. Store submissions, then new versions of the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should we build a native app or a cross-platform app?

A native app is written for one platform and gives the best performance and full access to the device. A cross-platform app, for example in React Native, shares one code base for iOS and Android and usually takes less time and budget. We recommend one after reviewing your features, your users and how the app will grow.

Can you also build the back end and the dashboards?

Yes. We develop the back end, the APIs and the web interfaces that an app needs. For Mageba, the mobile app offers the same functions as the web app, with real-time and historic dashboards based on Microsoft Power BI, event alerts by SMS and email, and a Bluetooth connection for on-site checks.

What do we need to publish an app in mainland China?

First, a filing of the app with the Chinese authorities, made through a network access provider or an app store before launch. A foreign company needs a local entity to file. On iOS, App Store Connect then asks for the ICP Filing Number. On Android, the app is submitted to several local stores, each with its own process.

How long does it take to develop a mobile app?

It depends on the scope: the number of platforms, screens and features, the integrations with other systems and the testing. A cross-platform app usually takes less time than two native apps. We work in sprints and deliver a usable version at the end of each one, so you can follow progress throughout the project.

WE CREATE VERY PROFICIENT MOBILE APPLICATIONS

Our mobile app developers in Shanghai build, test and launch apps for the international market and for China. We choose the technology that fits your needs, and we can add analytics to follow how people use the app. User research and prototypes guide the development, so that the app answers the needs of its users.

QPSoftware has delivered more than 200 projects since 2009, and our certified Scrum Master keeps agile projects on track.