Choosing a solution: Mobile Apps vs Mobile Browser

1.7 Choosing a solution: Mobile Apps vs Mobile Browser

There are two different ways content can be made available to mobile users. Content can be made available via a mobile application (App) or content can be available 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 Site
Creating a SmartPhone accessible web site	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 your mobile web site is supported by the different mobile browsers. For example iPhone does not support Flash. Need to make sure that when you are developing your mobile accessible web site that it is slim so that your content will download and run fast on a mobile device.	ReadyGo Mobile has done all the work behind the screens. Just use our interface to create your smartphone accessible web site, forms, and surveys.
Accessing a SmartPhone accessible web site	It's a web site - nothing to download.	Need to make navigating to a mobile web site simple
Running a SmartPhone accessible web site	It's a website. If designed properly it works on all smartphone.
Cost for a SmartPhone accessible web site	It's a web site, typically no cost unless the web site charges for access.
Mobile Apps
Creating an App	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 develop 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 Mobile develops smartphone web site's, not Apps
Downloading an App	Apps are 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	Stay Tuned! ReadyGo is coming out with "ReadyGo App Connect". Quickly build an App that launches your mobile web site. The best of both worlds. Sell your App in popular smartphone stores, build only one web site.
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 on the fly so they will need to think a head of time what applications they will need.
Cost for an App	Vendors can make money selling Apps, whereas many web utilities are free.	Consumers need to pay to access many popular Apps

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