Mobile: Browser or Native Applications?

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Tags : adobe, limo, luca filigheddu, microsoft, mobilize, qualcomm, symbian

Mobile: Browser or Native Applications?

Posted on 18 September 2008

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A discussion is going on at Mobilize about the opportunity to move applications to browsers.

and most of the audience agree that web is going to be the platform for next generation applications for mobile.

Microsoft’s John O’Rourke states that for some applications, the native approach is still the best and most effective one. I have to agree on this, since mobile browsers, maybe with the exception of iPhone’s Safari, are in my opinion not ready yet to host feature-rich applications as those we are used to on our Mac or PC browser.

The other point is about how difficult is to install an application for a “normal” user. Bundled applications certainly help so that consumers don’t have to struggle finding the right app to perform certain activities. Moreover, it is not easy these days for a developer to market an app, so the “centralized” approach provided by Apple for iPhone/Touch apps could be the right way to go both for users and developers.

My prediction is that thanks to technologies like Flash and the huge innovation coming to mobile browsers from all the players in this market, the web based approach is certainly the way to go, but we are not ready yet and it will take 2-3 years at least. Besides, according to the audience, the consumer market will be the driver for innovation in this field so it’s definitely something everyone must take into account.

Technorati Tags: adobe, limo, luca filigheddu, microsoft, mobilize, qualcomm, symbian

This post was written by:

Luca Filigheddu - who has written 1957 posts on LucaFiligheddu.com.

Luca is currently CEO at Abbeynet, a company specialized in VoIP and Web 2.0.

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Mauro Pili 2 months ago 1 point
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se in questo momento l'iphone e' l'eccezione il cui browser consente l'esecuzione di applicazioni, allora e' una ulteriore spinta che fara' in modo che sempre piu' in fretta diventera' la regola.
i device che non hanno un browser all'altezza non hanno futuro, e sviluppare per questi device, oltre che molto costoso, significa correre guardandosi indietro

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Owen 1 month ago 1 point
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also when you consider that the vast majority of mobile users in Europe have only a prepay plan (no data plan) makes them v.reluctant to use a browser. 90% Italians Prepay, 70% British, for eample have a prepay account. I think sometimes we carried away with the possibilties as opposed to the realities of a normal mobile user. also browser apps are prone to misconnection and no offline use.

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