Dreamware / Services / Software Engineering / Mobile Applications
Mobile Applications
Cross-platform apps with serious backend integration.
About this service
Mobile apps are an execution problem as much as a design problem. The idea is rarely the hard part — building something that's fast, reliable, works offline when needed, and doesn't drain the battery is where most mobile projects struggle.
We build cross-platform mobile applications using React Native, delivering iOS and Android from a shared codebase. We take this approach for most projects because the economics make sense and the result is indistinguishable from native for 95% of use cases. When native capability is genuinely required, we'll say so.
The backend is where mobile apps get interesting. Push notifications, offline sync, background processing, authentication flows, and the API design that makes all of this work smoothly — this is where we invest careful design effort. A mobile app is only as good as its backend.
How Dreamware approaches this
We prototype the core user flows early — on real devices, not just simulators. Mobile UX is a different discipline from web UX: touch targets, gesture patterns, navigation hierarchies, and the conventions of each platform matter. We review designs for platform-specific patterns before build begins.
Backend integration is designed for the constraints of mobile: unreliable connectivity, battery sensitivity, and the expectation that the app works even when offline. We design sync patterns, conflict resolution, and optimistic UI carefully — the decisions made here affect every user interaction.
What you get
- Production mobile application — submitted to App Store and Google Play, passing review requirements
- Backend API — designed for mobile-specific constraints with offline support where needed
- Push notification system — configured and tested on both platforms
- Analytics integration — user behaviour tracking for product decision-making
- TestFlight/Play Store beta distribution — for pre-launch testing
- App Store assets and metadata — screenshots, descriptions, and preview videos
- Deployment pipeline — automated builds for both platforms
Investment guide
Mobile application projects typically run $40,000–$120,000 NZD for cross-platform React Native builds. Simple apps with limited backend integration sit at the lower end. Apps with complex offline sync, real-time features, or native device integrations sit higher. Backend costs are separate and depend on complexity. Annual App Store and Play Store fees ($149 USD and $25 USD respectively) are the client's responsibility.
All pricing in NZD excluding GST. Fixed-price engagements where scope allows — we'll confirm pricing after a free scoping conversation.
Ready to get started?
Book a free conversation. We'll tell you honestly what's realistic, what it costs, and how we'd approach it.