Mobile web is an ideal beginning for larger promotion benefit.
On the beginning of the development of your mobile presence, the first and most obvious question which comes is where to start, a mobile application or a mobile website? Or should we go for both? Both mobile application and website look very similar in the beginning. But the real choice depends upon various issues like which is our target audience, what is the available budget, what is the purpose and what are the features required.
The real difference between Mobile App and Mobile Web
It is very important to understand the basic difference between mobile app and mobile web before making any selection. Mobile phones and tablets can access both mobile application as well as mobile website.
Like desktop website, a mobile website has HTML pages all linked together which are browser based and can be accessed by internet. The mobile websites are made for small screens and touch-screen display.
Following are the features of a mobile website:
- To demonstrate text, data, images, content, video
- Aspects specific to mobile web like call-by-a-click or mapping based on location
In case of mobile application, they are firstly downloaded and then installed in the mobile phone instead of browsing the website.
Following are the market places users visit to download an application based on the mobile operating system they use:
- App Store from Apple
- Play Store from Android
- App World from Blackberry
Like website, an app can get data from internet or it can download the entire data at first so that the app can be used offline.
What is a better choice, a mobile application or else a mobile friendly website?
The real answer can be given based on the end expectations. For games, mobile application is the ideal choice. But to offer the content which is mobile friendly to large group of audience, then perhaps mobile website can be an ideal choice. In general, mobile website is the choice in the beginning and mobile application can be used to fulfill the need of showcasing some specific content which cannot be done with the mobile website.
Following are the key advantages when mobile website is selected instead of mobile application:
- Proximity
It is easy access a mobile-web whereas a mobile application takes time for downloading and installing in the mobile. Thus the time of first time interaction is less for mobile website.
- Affinity
The real benefit of a mobile based website is that it can be accessed with any mobile instrument. But in case of mobile application, for all operating system, one needs to develop a separate application.
- Enhance-ability
For a mobile based website it is easy to modify and publish the content. It simply needs to be done once. Whereas, in case of mobile application, it should be informed to all users about the new update and if the user upgrade then only it can be changed and not otherwise.
- Searchability
The mobile web can be easily accessed with compared to mobile applications. Because the distribution of mobile application is largely depend on the mobile platform.
- Cost and Time
The cost and time to develop a mobile app is comparatively more than a mobile website.
Following are the reasons for selecting mobile app against mobile web:
- Interactive Apps and/or Games
- Regular Use/Needs to Personalize the App
- Regular Reporting or Multifarious Calculation
- To Use Functionality of the Mobile or Tablet
- Offline Use
Wrapping Up
For marketing oriented mobile development web is the best choice and for interactive mobile development app is the best choice.
