How do you get started in mobile application development?

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How do you get started in mobile application development?

I'm looking to redirect my career path to mobile app development. I transistioned to Systems Engineering from Software Development for a number of years. After being out of the development game for some time, is like a lifetime, how do I retool? Opportunties for mobile application development are abundant and I want to approach it with a strong level of competency. Unsure of where and the best approach to get started down the mobile development path...



What is your current development stack : Java / .Net / LAMP / FOSS. If you have any web development experience you might want to start out using cross-platform development tools such as Titianium Appcelerator, PhoneGap, jQueryMobile to name a few. Try to target "FREE" platforms like Android / Windows Mango to start off with and then if you feel comfortable move up to iPhone and Blackberry. Strategize on your target platform or market (iOS/Android => Games/Apps) .

An good deal of opportunity lies in creating tablet based front-ends to open-source or open-api applications (e.g. a Mobile JIRA specific app or a mobile TigerCRM app for Tablets ) which provide REST based APIs.

Enterprise level apps based on the upcoming Windows 8 for tablets would see more prominence and a shortage of capable developers in the near future. You could also write applications that are useful for field-level agents such as Parcel Deliverers, Insurance Agents, Truckers, Road Side automobile assistance companies to name a few.
If you also create a robust server back-end to your mobile apps mentioned for the above targeted audience you might even have a product on your way soon.

Best of luck with your new "hobby -> full time job "