The results of new research from the University of Toronto looked into the top three applications.

The outcome of a new study, conducted by the University of Toronto, has revealed that the three most downloaded mobile apps for fitness tracking aren’t nearly as accurate as their users likely believe them to be.

The U of T study indicated that fitness apps have a notably lower accuracy rate than regular pedometers.

When it comes to measuring how much a person walks in a day, standard pedometers were found to be considerably more accurate than the top three downloaded mobile apps that are meant to be used for the same purpose. This is concerning as those applications have been increasing in their popularity and are used by people who are attempting to motivate themselves to reach a more healthful physical activity level every day.

While messaging mobile apps remain the most popular, health and fitness applications have high engagement rates.

In fact, a Flurry Analytics survey conducted last September on behalf of Yahoo Canada actually showed that health and fitness apps scored higher on their engagement rate. It is estimated that they are on 11 percent of smartphones. There may be fewer of them than messaging apps, but they cause greater engagement with their users than those more popular rivals.

Due to this high engagement rate, it has made this type of mobile application extremely appealing to companies of all sizes. Everyone from giants to tiny startups are trying to carve out a piece of the market for themselves.

Unfortunately, in this haste to take part, it doesn’t look as though all the participants are taking the care that would be required to make sure their mobile apps are as accurate for users as the main alternative – using a traditional pedometer. The apps that were considered by the study included Moves, Runtastic and Accupedo. The authors of the report stated that “the most commonly downloaded smartphone applications are neither valid nor consistent in measuring step counts.” Several tests were run on both Android and Apple devices in order to allow the researchers to come to this conclusion.

Mobile commerce in India may see major changes in 2016

Beaconstac has released a new report concerning the developments that may occur in India’s mobile commerce space throughout 2016. The report highlights the impact that the country’s financial technology startups are likely to have on the growing sector. Notably, these startups can enable much more than payments with their technology, giving consumers better services that can make their lives more convenient. Demand for such services is growing among Indian consumers, as more people are beginning to base their daily lives on mobile technology.

Financial technology is beginning to make the lives of Indian consumers more convenient

The report shows that financial technology startups are beginning to introduce convenient services that allow consumers to call for taxi rides, order movie tickets, and pay their utility bills all through simple mobile applications. These startups are also making mobile wallets more widely available. Consumers can use these digital wallets to store financial information, making the process of mobile payments even more convenient. The availability of such services and wallets will likely encourage more consumers to participate in mobile commerce this year.

Hyperlocal mobile commerce is gaining momentum throughout India

Beaconstac’s report also predicts that the mobile commerce ecosystem is becoming “hyperlocal.” This refers to information and services that are oriented around a well-define community. Hyperlocal mobile commerce services are designed to connect consumers with retailers and other businesses within their immediate area. Companies interested in connecting with mobile consumers will need to find ways to engage their defined community, offering services and products that align with the needs of potential customers.

Businesses are beginning to use new technology to provide better services to consumers interested in mobile commerce

With changes being introduced in the mobile commerce sector, companies involved in this space are likely to see significant reorganization in the coming months. Companies are feeling the need to better adapt to the changing interests of consumers and this may come in the form of using new technology and better marketing strategies to connect with mobile-centric consumers.