Is your business planning to establish a mobile presence? If so, one of the first considerations that will likely come to mind is whether to create a mobile application for users to download (app), a mobile website, or both.
According to Google, 30 percent of all online searches are performed from a handheld device, and this number is only expected to grow.
Before evaluating the benefits of a mobile website vs. an app, it's important to understand the key differences between the two. Both apps and mobile websites provide an optimized user experience when accessed on mobile devices. Mobile websites differ from standard websites in that they are designed for smaller handheld displays and touch-screen interfaces.
Apps are computer programs which are downloaded and installed on your mobile device. Users are required to download them for a given operating system.
Which is better, an app or a mobile website?
When it comes to deciding whether to build an app or a mobile website, the most appropriate choice really depends on identifying who your users are and what your want them to do. If you are developing an interactive client inventory management system for your customers, an app is probably going to be your best option. But if your goal is to offer mobile-friendly content to the widest possible audience, then a mobile website is the call. In some cases you may even opt for both as many organizations choose a mobile website as a means to deploy a mobile app.
Mobile website advantages:
Generally speaking, when discussing a mobile website, think consumer response, lead generation, lead capture and customer acquisition.
• No download required, One harsh realization many businesses face after deploying an app is that is it surprisingly difficult to get customers to download it. Nothing is more disappointing than spending a considerable amount of time and money on the latest app technology only to have no one use it.
• Compatibility, Mobile websites are compatible on all mobile devices, unlike an app that must be designed with a specific mobile device in mind (i.e. iPhone, Droid, or Galaxy).
• Upgrades, Apps require constant upgrades. This can get expensive not to mention updating an app requires updates to be pushed to users, which then must be downloaded in order to update the app on each type of device.
•Shelf Life, Mobile websites can't be deleted. The average shelf-life of an app is pretty short, less than 30 days according to some research, so unless your app is the next Words with Friends or useful like Dropbox, it's questionable how long it will last on a user's device.
• Social, Mobile website URLs are easily shared between users via a simple link (e.g. within an email or text message, Facebook or Twitter post). Businesses can easily point users to a mobile website from a blog or website, print advertisement, or even a text message. An app simply cannot be shared in this fashion.
When Does an App Make Sense?
Apps are still very popular, and there are a number of specific use scenarios where an app will be your best choice.
• Games, for interactive games (think Angry Birds) an app is almost always going to be your best choice
• Regular Usage/Personalization, If your target users are going to be using your app in a personalized fashion on a regular basis (think scheduling appointments or appointment reminders).
• Reporting, If you need something that will execute complex calculations, charts or reports (think banking or investment) an app will help you do that very effectively.
• Native Functionality – If you need to access a user's camera or processing power an app will still do that much more effectively.
• No Internet Connection, If you need to provide offline access to content or perform functions without a network/wireless connection then an app makes sense.
When developing an app you want to avoid at all costs is the needless and expensive exercise of building something that can be achieved with a mobile website.
Toth can be reached at [email protected]
According to Google, 30 percent of all online searches are performed from a handheld device, and this number is only expected to grow.
Before evaluating the benefits of a mobile website vs. an app, it's important to understand the key differences between the two. Both apps and mobile websites provide an optimized user experience when accessed on mobile devices. Mobile websites differ from standard websites in that they are designed for smaller handheld displays and touch-screen interfaces.
Apps are computer programs which are downloaded and installed on your mobile device. Users are required to download them for a given operating system.
Which is better, an app or a mobile website?
When it comes to deciding whether to build an app or a mobile website, the most appropriate choice really depends on identifying who your users are and what your want them to do. If you are developing an interactive client inventory management system for your customers, an app is probably going to be your best option. But if your goal is to offer mobile-friendly content to the widest possible audience, then a mobile website is the call. In some cases you may even opt for both as many organizations choose a mobile website as a means to deploy a mobile app.
Mobile website advantages:
Generally speaking, when discussing a mobile website, think consumer response, lead generation, lead capture and customer acquisition.
• No download required, One harsh realization many businesses face after deploying an app is that is it surprisingly difficult to get customers to download it. Nothing is more disappointing than spending a considerable amount of time and money on the latest app technology only to have no one use it.
• Compatibility, Mobile websites are compatible on all mobile devices, unlike an app that must be designed with a specific mobile device in mind (i.e. iPhone, Droid, or Galaxy).
• Upgrades, Apps require constant upgrades. This can get expensive not to mention updating an app requires updates to be pushed to users, which then must be downloaded in order to update the app on each type of device.
•Shelf Life, Mobile websites can't be deleted. The average shelf-life of an app is pretty short, less than 30 days according to some research, so unless your app is the next Words with Friends or useful like Dropbox, it's questionable how long it will last on a user's device.
• Social, Mobile website URLs are easily shared between users via a simple link (e.g. within an email or text message, Facebook or Twitter post). Businesses can easily point users to a mobile website from a blog or website, print advertisement, or even a text message. An app simply cannot be shared in this fashion.
When Does an App Make Sense?
Apps are still very popular, and there are a number of specific use scenarios where an app will be your best choice.
• Games, for interactive games (think Angry Birds) an app is almost always going to be your best choice
• Regular Usage/Personalization, If your target users are going to be using your app in a personalized fashion on a regular basis (think scheduling appointments or appointment reminders).
• Reporting, If you need something that will execute complex calculations, charts or reports (think banking or investment) an app will help you do that very effectively.
• Native Functionality – If you need to access a user's camera or processing power an app will still do that much more effectively.
• No Internet Connection, If you need to provide offline access to content or perform functions without a network/wireless connection then an app makes sense.
When developing an app you want to avoid at all costs is the needless and expensive exercise of building something that can be achieved with a mobile website.
Toth can be reached at [email protected]