Hiring an Android app developer is necessary for anyone who wants to have an app - either as a source of profit or as a business tool - but do not have the proper skills and the knowledge to actually build one. However, hiring a developer is also expensive. In a recent report, developer fees currently range from $100 to $120 per hour; it may not seem much, but keep in mind that an app project rarely finishes in less than 50 development hours and you'll realize how much money is involved.
Because hiring an Android app developer can be expensive, many try to cut costs by hiring developers offshore. In fact, if you look up "offshore Android app development" on any search engine, you are bound to millions hits. However, though there are certainly many highly skilled and experienced app developers in all corners of the planning, choosing to go offshore in the development of your app may not be a good idea especially if you're just starting out in the industry. This is due to the following reasons.
• You won't be protected by legal documents. Making a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a standard procedure when hiring an Android app developer as it secures your intellectual properties - such as your app idea and the technology it uses - from theft and infringement. However, NDAs and similar agreements are often not recognized by other countries and their legal agreements, in turn, may not be recognized by the US. And if you do run into some problems with your foreign developer, it's very unlikely that American law enforcement agencies will go out in a limb to track down your developer in a foreign country.
• Vetting them would prove difficult. Performing background checks of app developers helps ensure that you will have good - if not the best - people working on your app. However, outsourcing app development offshore usually means dealing with middlemen instead of directly with the android app developer. And because middlemen do not normally discuss details about the developers they represent, it will be difficult to verify whether the developer who is working on your app is actually good or not.
• Issues in communication. Outsourcing development offshore brings up the challenge of dealing with different languages and time zones. True, most foreign developers are capable of understanding and speaking in English, but only a few can do so at a conversational level. So there's the likelihood of something getting lost in translation unless you also hire a translator (which means more expenses). And since a large portion of offshore developers live on the other side of the planet, it won't be easy for you to make contact them in case you have questions or problems for them to address.
When looking for an Android app developer, there are several things that you need to know about him/her. The most important of which of course is work experience. You can find out whether a programmer is experienced, particularly on the Android platform and the mobile device you want your app to be used in.