Andy Sullivan: Against the Grain

Wed, 08/09/2017 - 7:04am — Diane Dyer

Are apps the way of the future? Let me clarify, I’m talking about applications for your phone and not appetizers you order at a restaurant. When I went to research for this column, I came upon some pretty funny stuff. This first headline was so obvious it was hilarious. It was: Watch out: Cell phones can be addictive. You don’t say!

It seems like almost every retail store has an app. From restaurants: Moe’s, Firehouse subs just to name a few, to ESPN, NBC Sports, not to mention your favorite sports team, apps are overtaking us. Most of them are a necessity. A lot are just for fun. The great thing about these store and restaurant apps is that you can earn rewards. The best thing about that? Free food! I will share this story of frustration. I downloaded the Moe’s app. First time downloaders are supposed to receive a free cup of queso with your meal. I told the cashier and showed even showed her the app. I got the points but did NOT get my free queso! I was irritated. The next time I go back, you best believer I’m bringing it up again. If you haven’t picked up on it, I love queso.

January 2007 saw the birth of the iPhone. You probably saw the “Happy Birthday, iPhone” stories on the news this past January. Steve Ballmer called it the “most expensive phone in the world”. In October 2008, Apple announced it sold 4.7 million iPhones in the summer quarter, giving it nearly 13% of the Smartphone market. Windows Mobile bit the dust that same year.

As you can see, apps aren’t the way of the future. They’re the way of the recent past, present and future. As of 2014, 18-24 year old’s have used 28 apps per month, 29 per month for ages 25-34, 29 for 35-44, 25 apps used by 45-54 year old’s and 55+ year old’s used 22 apps per month. Three years later, I can only assume those numbers have risen exponentially. I definitely use apps daily, down to the minute even.

We definitely live in the app age and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just remember to look up from your phones while you’re walking.

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