Editing Communications in Iran (section)

==Software development==
{{See also|Science and technology in Iran|Foreign Direct Investment in Iran|Intellectual property in Iran}}

According to the ''Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries'' (EJISDC), the [[information and communications technology]] (ICT) sector had a 1.1–1.3% share of GDP in 2002. About 150,000 people are employed in the ICT sector, including around 20,000 in the software industry.<ref name="ebusinessforum.com"/> There were 1,200 registered information technology (IT) companies in 2002, 200 of which were involved in software development. Software exports stood around $50 million in 2008<ref name="iran-daily.com"/> and $400 million in 2014.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Iran imports a large part of its software. According to the EJISDC, around 95% of the output of the domestic industry is [[bespoke]] development (including translation/adaptation from foreign source) —as opposed to product work—meaning export possibilities are low.<ref name="EIU"/>
Domestic firms involved in software production include Sena Soft, Dadeh-Pardazi, Iran Argham, Kafa System Information Network, Iran System and Puya.<ref name="EIU"/> [[Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran|IDRO]]'s subsidiaries "Magfa" (Information Technology Development Center) and Iran Info-Tech Development Co. are also leading players in this sector. The largest private computer software producer in Iran is [[System Group|Hamkaran Systems]] with 7000 customers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turquoisepartners.com/iraninvestment/IIM-Oct11.pdf |title=Iran Investment Monthly Oct 2011.pdf |access-date=2012-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320012036/http://www.turquoisepartners.com/iraninvestment/IIM-Oct11.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Iran Computer and Video Games Foundation|Iran's National Foundation for Computer Games]] unveiled the country's first [[online video game]] in 2010, capable of supporting up to 5,000 users at the same time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran online game tops German contest {{!}} {{!}} Iran Computer and Video Games Foundation |url=http://en.ircg.ir/press/16/Iran-online-game-tops-German-contest |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=en.ircg.ir |language=fa}}</ref>

Although there are no established clusters in Tehran, a major facility, the Tehran Software and Information Technology Park, is planned. ''International Development Ireland'' was selected as the consultant for the project in mid-2004. There are also plans for a technology park in the free-trade zone on [[Kish Island]] in the Persian Gulf, which already contains the necessary technological infrastructure.<ref name="EIU"/>

The government's drive to automate manual processes is expected to account for about 70% of demand for [[software development]], but there are also some 15,000 private-sector factories that have software needs.<ref name="EIU"/> Foreign investment in the sector is minimal, although some links are being developed with the [[Information technology in India|Indian software industry]]. Poor [[Intellectual property in Iran|intellectual property protection in Iran]] has also hindered the development of Iranian software companies causing a lack of [[Foreign Direct Investment in Iran|foreign direct investment]] in this sector.<ref>[http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3104/html/economy.htm Iran Daily – Domestic Economy – 04/19/08] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411122057/http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3104/html/economy.htm |date=April 11, 2009 }}</ref>

===Popular apps===
As of 2019, main categories are tools with 12,024 apps published in this group, followed by health and sports (4,368), travel and transportation (2,578), social media (2,227) and shopping (2,072). The most popular Android apps as measured by [[Cafe Bazaar]] downloads are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.en.eghtesadonline.com/Section-technology-13/29059-iran-most-popular-android-apps|title=Iran's Most Popular Android Apps|access-date=2020-11-19|archive-date=2021-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525074031/https://www.en.eghtesadonline.com/Section-technology-13/29059-iran-most-popular-android-apps|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Financial services:
:[[Asan Pardakht]] with 9 million downloads.
:[[Mofid Securities]]
:Nobitex

Shopping: 
:[[Divar (website)|Divar]] has some 17 million people downloaded. 
:[[Sheypoor]] has been downloaded over 5 million times.
:[[Digikala]] had 3 million hits.

Transportation:
:[[Snapp]] (taxi riding app) has been downloaded 7 million times.
:[[Tap30]] with 2 million downloads.

Social Media Platforms, Messengers:
:[[Instagram]] with 23 million downloads.
:[[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] (fork) with 13 million users.