Mobile App vs. Mobile Optimization -- Do you know the difference?

We often hear our clients say, “I want a mobile app for my website.”  When we hear this, we immediately start asking questions.  Why do we ask questions?  More often than not what our client really wants is a mobile optimized website.  So, what’s the difference?

 

Mobile App is a term used for a mobile application that is a downloaded program to your mobile device.  Each application is custom written for a specific type of mobile device; iPhone, Android, Windows, Blackberry, and/or iPad.  Once the App is completed, the user would go to the appropriate “store” for their mobile device and download the App to their mobile device.  Apps may be free or there may be a charge for the App.  Things to consider when determining whether or not you want to develop a Mobile App:

·         What is the purpose of your app?

·         What features will the app provide?

·         How many pages will be in the app program?

·         Will the app be free or will there be a charge for its download?

·         How often do you foresee the app being updated?

·         Do you want updates to be automatically pushed out to the user?

·         What different mobile devices do you want your app available on?

Once you have answered these questions and more, an application is submitted to the appropriate mobile device’s governing body, such as Apple for an iPhone.  The governing body reviews the concept for the Mobile App and either approves it or rejects it.  This process may take up to four (4) weeks.  Upon approval, the Mobile App may be developed, tested, and deployed.  As one may gather from this very brief synopsis, the development of a Mobile App is a rather complex process and costs for a Mobile App can range from $15,000 to $100,000+ depending on the complexity of the app and the number of devices it will be presented on.

Mobile Optimization is a term used when your website is optimized for its presentation on a mobile device.  This is also referred to a Mobile Website.  There are two primary ways in which a website may be optimized for a mobile device.  The first is to take an existing website page and reformat it to display on a smaller screen.  This may be done by eliminating graphics and images or reducing the content displayed on the mobile device.  The second way is to custom create mobile pages for critical information that you want easily displayed to the mobile website user.  Things to consider when developing your mobile optimized pages are:

·         Who is your target audience for the mobile access?

·         What is the critical information that your target audience will be looking for on their mobile device?

·         How many pages do you need to mobile optimize?

For the vast majority Mobile Optimization is answer to what is truly needed.  It takes less time to develop and deploy mobile optimized pages and the cost of Mobile Optimization is significantly less than a Mobile App; typically costing in the $3,000 to $7,000 range depending on the complexity and number of pages to be optimized.

For more information, please contact TCG at 304-755-1324 or tcginfo@tcgwedoweb.com or visit us at http://www.terradoncommunications.com/home/Our-Services/Mobile-Apps-Templates.aspx.

5 Ways to Make Your Website Tablet-Friendly

You're seeing tablets more and more: on subways, in planes and in waiting rooms. To ensure you don't miss out during this cultural switch in reading habits, a number of publications have covered ways to ensure your site is tablet-friendly.

We've decided to highlight the tips provided by CIK Marketing, as they're practical and immediately useful. Here are five:

1. Avoid Flash. Adobe's Flash technology doesn't work on Apple mobile devices— and Flash tends to weigh sites down in any case. Substitute flash with HTML5 or JavaScript, which provide the same cool effects.
   
2. Ditch the drop-down menus. Instead, consider a showcase page for different sections of the site, better enabling tablet users to find all available subpages. If you want to keep your drop-down menus, create visual cues (like arrows) that show users the menu can be opened and expanded.
3. Design for touch interaction. Tablet users aren't clicking or scrolling with a mouse, so design buttons the size of a fingertip instead of a cursor. Links placed too closely together will also frustrate users; remember that touching and swiping are the gestures to design for these days.
4. Choose colors, textures and typography wisely. Bright background colors and patterns reduce the appearance of glare or smudges on an iPad or Blackberry Playbook. Avoid solid blacks that look like un-textured voids. Ensure your font isn't too large or too small for tablet navigation. When in doubt, test on a tablet or two.
5. Design forms to fit. Many company sites require users to fill out a form. Look yours over and ensure all fields are clear and easily accessible to tablet users. Avoid including too many fields, as longer forms on tablets are frustrating.

The Point: Think flat and touchy. The reading-and-browsing world is moving further in the direction of tablets, making it crucial that your site experience be as seamless there as it is anywhere else. A few tweaks could be all you need to ensure compatibility.

Source: MarketingProfs