Choosing a solution: Mobile Apps vs Mobile Browser

2.4 Choosing a solution: Mobile Apps vs Mobile Browser

There are two different ways to build mLearning. Courses can be made available via a mobile application (App) or from a mobile browser. A mobile App is a software program that works on a specific mobile device, whereas browser content can be accessed by all mobile devices. The pro's and con's of each approach is detailed below:

Feature	Pro	Con	ReadyGo's Solution
Mobile Web Course
Creating mLearning - a SmartPhone accessible web course	One development cycle works on all the different mobile devices that have a browser.	Need to test out and make sure the technology you are using to create mLearning is supported by the different mobile browsers. For example iPhone does not support Flash. Need to make sure that when you are developing your mLearning it is slim so that your course will download and run fast on a mobile device.	ReadyGo WCB has done all the work behind the screens. Just use our interface to create mLearning including tests and surveys.
Accessing mLearning	It uses web technology - nothing to download.	Need to make navigating to a mobile web course simple
Running mLearning	It uses web technology. If designed properly it works on all smartphones.
Cost mLearning	Cost to serve: It uses web technology. typically no cost unless you charge for access.		Cost to create: ReadyGo WCB costs $499. No programming skills necessary to create courses and tests.
Mobile Apps	Pro	Con	ReadyGo
Creating an App as a course	When developing for a specific platform, App creators can be assured that their feature works. An App can be developed so that it is optimized to run effectively on a specific mobile devices.	An App developer needs to create specifically for each platform e.g. Android, Blackberry, iPhone, ... Each player uses a different operating system and supports different technology. Porting to different players is not trivial.	ReadyGo WCB creates smartphone web courses, not Apps
Downloading an App	Apps are found in smartphone vendor stores. Making it easy for smartphone users to find, buy, and install an App	App makers only get 70% of the purchase price of the Apps they sell	.
Running an App	Apps are bought from an App store. They download quickly and run on your SmartPhone	Many times end users will not have access to the necessary network speeds to download and install the Apps they want on the fly. Learners will need to download a course ahead of time. Can your learners access your training from their web site or will you need to register your mLearning courses with a smartphone vendor
Cost for an App	Cost to serve: App stores make it simple to sell courses. Cost to create: It costs anywhere between $10,000 to $150,000 to create one app that works with one type of smartphone.	Consumers need to pay to access many popular Apps

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