Mobile Applications

There are two main types of app that can be run on mobile phones:

Native Apps

Native Apps, such as an iPhone or Android app that you download from the App Store, are installed on the phone. They are written specifically for the platform or operating system that the phone runs. This means that if you want to reach the majority of phone users you have to write the app for each different platform type, including a different version for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Symbian.

Web Apps

Web Apps (or Mobile Internet Apps) are essentially Web sites that are specially designed and optimised to run on mobile devices. The application can run on any device that has a browser (including a PC) and is accessed across the Internet through the browser. The application can detect the handset on which it is running and offer the best experience suited to that phone, in terms of features and presentation.

Web versus Native Apps

Due to the always online nature of mobile devices nowadays, and in particular, because most apps require online access anyway, it's getting more difficult to draw a line between the two approaches. It's even possible to make Web apps run offline if necessary.

Of course, each app has its own requirements and sometimes apps are better suited as Web apps than Native apps, and vice-versa. By understanding the pros and cons of each approach, you can decide which one is best for your particular case.

Web App Pros and Cons

Pros

• A single app can be developed to run on any device that has a browser - i.e. cross-platform across iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, etc.
• Development time is much faster and deployment easier
• Much easier to change the app in the future

Cons

• You cannot access all of the hardware features on the phone (some features are accessible through the browser, however)
• The user interface may not be as sophisticated
• If you want to charge for the app then you'll need a custom payment system

Native App Pros and Cons

Pros

• You can access and use all of the hardware features on the phone, such as the camera or accelerometer
• There is a big market place to sell your app on the iPhone AppStore, Android Market Place or Nokia's Ovi Store
• Applications will work when offline

Cons

• A separate app needs to be developed for each platform, significantly increasing costs
• Approval would be needed by iPhone's AppStore
• Development and testing time can be slow, even more so with the AppStore approval matter
• Rolling out new features and bug fixes can take time