Medical Mobile App Clearance Times Decrease

by Holly Shoemaker

The Emergo Group, a medical device consulting firm, has provided updated information that shows the time it takes for apps that undergo the 510(k) process has decreased.

Numbers at a Glance

The study shows that medical mobile apps that undergo the 510(k) process takes about 138 days to receive clearance from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011, which was down from 146 days in 2010.

The data analysis took submissions through the end of 2011 to look at a 12-month data set. The analysis showed that 95 to 97 percent of all 510(k) applications received FDA clearance within one year of submission.

What is 510(k)?

The 510(k) status is a pre-market submission made to the FDA to show that a device may be marketed as safe and effective. Introducing a new device or changing the usage are some reasons for needing this clearance. The FDA publishes further guidelines here.

Good News for Developers 

One of the hurdles for developers designing medical mobile apps was the time needed for clearance. Any additional delay meant using more time, money and other resources. What the study found was that many medical mobile apps have a shorter wait time for clearance when compared to other devices.

Another study by MobiHealth News found 76 cleared apps in the FDA’s 510(k) database, and the average clearance time was less than the time reported by Emergo Group. This study found the clearance time was 25 days shorter between 1997 and 2012, with an average time of 110 days.

Outstanding Issue

Developers continue to debate what the time for clearance actually means. The FDA’s data defines the dates as when the agency receives the 510(k) application and the official “decision date.” Some developers and companies say the wait for clearance is longer because discussions occur before the actual filing of the application.

While medical mobile apps requiring FDA clearance takes more planning, developers have many tools to assist them. I still recommend using Happtique guidelines to assist, as that app store dedicates itself to just health apps.

Concluding Thoughts

No matter which study patients believe has more validity, both show progress when it comes to medical mobile apps clearance. That is untimely good news for patients too because they gain access to better quality information. Once approved, the device is deemed safe and effective, which helps marketing efforts and branding.

RIM's Port-A-Thon Has Hours to Go

by Holly Shoemaker

Developers looking to make a little cash from Research In Motion (RIM), have a few hours left today. In anticipation of its BlackBerry 10 launch on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, RIM is conducting another Port-A-Thon, a 36-hour marathon that began at noon on Friday, January 18, 2013. In that 36-hour span, RIM will pay Android developers $100 for every approved app that gets ported over to BlackBerry 10. There is a a limit of 20 paid apps per developer.

Port-A Thon Rules

RIM has allocated $500,000 toward distribution, and to qualify developers must register and submit their apps into the BlackBerry World Vendor Portal by 11:59:59 PM EST on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Any app submitted outside that timeframe, will not count, and BlackBerry must approve all apps.

Valuable Sessions?

RIM sees value in these sessions, and the Port-A-Thon held on January 11, 2013 brought in over 15,000 apps. RIM ultimately needs to gain back consumer satisfaction and apps provide a way to do that. However, the company needs to hope that top apps get transported over and meet the needs of all stakeholders involved.

URL Redirect and Testings Keys to Successful QR Codes

by Holly Shoemaker

With the increase in smartphone use, quick response (QR) codes are becoming a way to get the latest deals and promotions out to consumers. They were an integral part of holiday shopping, and the U.S. Postal Service and others will continue to place emphasis on them as part of their marketing campaigns in 2013.

What is a QR Code?

A QR code is simply a readable bar code that stores up to 4,296 characters of information in its data. Bar codes may come in different patterns, multiple shapes and colors. However, the pattern in the corners should always remain clear.

Designing an Effective Code

While the color, pattern and shape of the code may vary, there are some basic guidelines developers should adhere to when developing a QR code:

• Keep the code simple – A more complex code will lead to a larger code pattern, meaning the image projected on the smartphone will become larger for the consumer to read. Therefore, developers should simplify the code to keep the image easy to read.
• Use a shorter URL – Keep the URL small. When the URL becomes larger, so does the pattern of code. When the code stores more information, the image becomes harder to read.
• Create a URL Redirect – The URL itself is often the biggest long-term challenge for developers because QR codes cannot be edited. If the code needs altering, companies will need new marketing materials because the old code becomes void. To avoid the costs associated with printing new materials to accommodate a new code, create a URL redirect or URL forwarding. This allows developers to have the code land where it needs, without changing the URL itself. A URL redirect also keeps the URL shorter, easier to manage and allows the developer to change the end location without the need for editing.

Always Test and Test Again

As with all apps, developers need to test the code. First, print the code to make sure it fits the needed specs. Then use a few different scanners to ensure the bar code works. Make sure the phone works across platforms and devices so test on iPhones and various Android devices. Developers should also test with different lighting as the end user will not always scan the code under the same lighting conditions.

Concluding Thoughts

Keep the URL short and the pattern easy to read. If the URL goes astray from where the end user needs to land, the code itself becomes useless. Therefore, test the code to ensure it works under multiple conditions to take into consideration multiple scanning scenarios.

BlackBerry 10 Finally Receives Launch Date, but Specifics Lack

by Holly Shoemaker

Research In Motion (RIM) has finally set a release date for its BlackBerry 10 devices – January 30, 2013. Consumers should expect to first see a full touchscreen device followed by ones with keyboard capability.

Thorsten Heins, the company’s CEO, said RIM initially used about 50 carriers for testing. While he said the number increased, no specifics were provided at this time. The company also remained vague on what devices the four major U.S. carriers would stock.

In terms of apps, Heins said the company will gain ground, but specifics lack here too. He did not mention any new apps for the BlackBerry 10, but said it will offer must-have ones and programs specific to countries. For interested developers, RIM started accepting apps for BlackBerry App World for the new QNX-based operating system in October. 

Stakeholders Respond Well

The market and analysts responded favorably to the news. Goldman Sachs upgraded the company’s shares. It stated there is a 30 percent chance that RIM’s BlackBerry 10 lineup with be successful. Goldman Sachs upgraded the company’s status to "buy" from "neutral." In turn, the stock market responded well. RIM’s shares rose almost 10 percent. While the stock rose 78 percent since September, it has lost more than 90 percent from its 2008 high.

When will the company make a profit? Analysts still expect the company to clock in a loss next year, with a turnaround expected in February 2014.

Concluding Thoughts

This is encouraging news for RIM, although the company still cannot compete with the upcoming holiday season. To that point, RIM does not seem all that concerned. Its devices will initially target the high-end market and rely on the popularity it had focusing on QWERTY. Now, after much disappointment, RIM must stay firm on this release date.