Mobile web is becoming more and more popular. Apps and mobile sites are increasingly being downloaded and accessed; both can make our lives easier on a daily basis.
Today, almost everyone has a smartphone; the need for the web to be mobile has significantly increased over recent years. Smartphones are outselling PCs for the first time since the end of 2010.
People aren’t even using their laptops that much at home, favouring their tablet to browse the internet. Tablets now account for approximately 25% share of the worldwide PCs market – this number is still increasing with the emergence of other tablets not just from Apple but the Google Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire from Amazon. With the launch of the iPad mini on the 23rd October a tablet can become even more affordable for the consumer. The iPad mini is predicted to sell more that 5 million units before Christmas 2012; meaning mobile devices are readily available to a wider consumer base.
With the launch of 4G at the end of October by EE, mobile web will also become even faster. Although not available on all smartphones and other networks yet, mobile data consumption looks set to increase dramatically over the next coming years.
This makes mobile web an even more important option for businesses. Without a mobile presence they’re missing out on a vast market and as it continues to grow advances are sure to follow, making it more accessible and user friendly. Businesses have the choice of either developing a mobile site or mobile app. It’s particularly frustrating when things are not easy to use on mobile; therefore apps and sites both need to be quick and available on the go.
So which are better, mobile apps or mobile sites?
- A mobile app has a very specific purpose, rather than a mobile site which is basically a smaller version of an existing website.
- Mobile apps are faster, more interactive and integrate with other phone features.
- Mobile sites are cheaper and you don’t have to install anything to start using it.
- Mobile apps don’t need an internet connection to work whereas mobile sites do.
- One version of a mobile site should work for all platforms but a new version of an app must be created for the various platforms available.
Which are more useful?
Mobile apps generally try to make life easier, from lists to event planning, they allow us to organise ourselves a bit better. Mobile sites are there to give us the same experience we’d get whatever the device we’re using. It’s all about what the consumer wants/needs and how the app or site offers it up to us; both differ but will try to improve your experience of mobile web.
Even though a relative newcomer, the web on mobile devices is set to be behind the behaviour patterns for consumers in the future, leaving the life of the PC uncertain. Mobile technology is always improving and in turn, usage is increasing dramatically. It’s important to recognise that the future of web is mobile, if not, you risk being left behind.
About the Author:
Rachel Stidworthy is a marketing executive at MSM Software, a software and mobile application development company based in the UK.
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