So you’re going mobile, but which way? Think about the following when deciding which mobile solution best fits your needs:
- How will your customer benefit from a mobile solution?
- Does your customer have a need for your service when on the go via a mobile app?
- Will the cost of developing the app be justified with sales, revenue or just extend the reach of your brand?
- Will you charge for your mobile app?
- Do you need a mobile app or just a website that’s optimized for mobile?
A recent article on Mashable goes over in detail the many differences in mobile apps and mobile optimized websites. Aaron Maxwell gives an in depth study of things to consider when asked the question, “Is Developing a Mobile App Worth the Cost?”
Some key points that he brings up are the two types of apps, the type that generate income and the type that are for branding or customer service. Aaron also speaks to what kind of reach each platform will give you. The ratios in the U.S. for mobile users on each smartphone platform for the last quarter of 2010:
iPhone: 6.75%
Android: 7.75%
Blackberry: 8.53%
From this he concludes that if you had considered making only an app for the iPhone your reach would be less than 7% of all mobile phone users. Of course if then you decide you want to reach all 23% of smartphone users and invest in developing for all three platforms, your cost triples.
There are many things to consider when deciding which way to go with your mobile strategy. It all comes down to how much you can afford to invest and what will give you most return. What’s clear though is that you will benefit from some mobile solution. As Google CEO Eric Schmidt said at the IAB event, “This is the future and everyone will adapt.”
