Mobile is for business. Every firm with a web app must now consider the visibility and sales they are losing by not having a mobile version. Every new business or software product is faced with this same concern. Responsive design only gets us so far before it’s time to build a native app for several platforms. How do we build business apps for Android, iOS, and Windows phones and tablets? Learn about the key considerations when scaling up your company’s mobile presence.
1. Building Mobile AppsBuilding Mobile Apps
for Businessfor Business
Dan Hermes
Mobile Consultant
Lexicon Systems
Website: www.lexiconsystemsinc.com
Email: dan@lexiconsystemsinc.com
Phone: 781-526-0738
Twitter: @lexiconsystems
Blog: www.itshopkeeping.com
2. TakeawaysTakeaways
Responsive Design is fast and cheap
◦ Good for websites
◦ OK for some lightweight apps
Most serious mobile apps are native
Cross-platform is often necessary
Choose your toolset carefully
4. Why mobile?Why mobile?
Americans used smartphone and tablet apps
more than PCs to access the Internet.
Source: CNN, January 2014 / corroborated by Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo
(Google isn’t telling.)
80-90% of U.S. adults now own a mobile
phone. 50-60% of those are smartphones.
Sources: various (Pew)
¼ to ½ of online searches take place on a
mobile device
Sources: various
5. And what about tablets?And what about tablets?
When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were
trucks. But as people moved more towards urban
centers, people started to get into cars. I think
PCs are going to be like trucks. Fewer people will
need them. And this transformation is going to
make some people uneasy... because the PC has
taken us a long way.
Steve Jobs, 2010
6. Post-PC Era: 2015
Mobile Phones > first world population
◦ 1.9B devices
Tablets > PC sales
◦ 320M tablets vs. 316M PCs worldwide
Android devices > 3x Windows
◦ 1.3B Android devices vs. 373M Windows
Ultramobile > 20% of PC sales
◦ MacBook Air, Surface Pro, etc.
◦ 62M in 2015
Source: Gartner 2015 Device Shipment Projections (June 2014)
7. The UpshotThe Upshot
Data Consumers (Conclusive)
◦ Mobile phones and tablets
Data Producers (Jury is still out)
◦ PCs and Ultrabooks
◦ Some tablets and phones
◦ The future of business machines
Android vs. Windows
◦ Many unknowns here
8. What Do Data Consumers Need?What Do Data Consumers Need?
15. Responsive Design isResponsive Design is
recommended whenrecommended when
the app is SIMPLE and
user expectation is LOW
What is a website?
a simple app
16. Mobile Web Toolset OptionsMobile Web Toolset Options
HTML5, CSS, JavaScript
and
C#/ASP.NET
Java
PHP
17. Limitations of Responsive WebLimitations of Responsive Web
AppsApps
Reduced Functionality
Unfamiliar Interface
Poor Performance
Decreased User Experience
THE REAL RISK?
18.
19. Responsive Web App #FAILResponsive Web App #FAIL
Older Facebook app written in HTML5
20. Solution#1Solution#1
1. Escape Hatch / Full Screen Button
◦ Goes to full-screen web app
◦ May or may not be useable
◦ Doesn’t address experience
or performance
21. Solution#2: Native Mobile AppSolution#2: Native Mobile App
Go Where the People Are
◦ App Store Stats
Better Performance
Optimal User Experience
32. Mobile App TypesMobile App Types
Mobile Web /Responsive
◦ Browser-based
Native
◦ iOS, Android, OR Windows
Hybrid
◦ Web app wrapped in a native app
Cross-platform
◦ iOS, Android, AND Windows
34. Smartphone OS Market ShareSmartphone OS Market Share
(Q1 2014)(Q1 2014)
Android – 81%
iOS – 15%
Windows Phone – 3%
What does this mean?
Source: International Data Corporation (IDC)
Single platform apps are risky
35. Hybrid AppsHybrid Apps
Web app wrapped in a native app
◦ PhoneGap
◦ Appcelerator Titanium
Yes, it’s in the app stores
No, it’s not really a native app
39. Gartner Strongly RecommendsGartner Strongly Recommends
XamarinXamarin
“Xamarin's architectural approach provides
completely native UIs with better performance than
other cross-platform techniques... Xamarin uses
multifaceted technology built by a cohesive team
with a solid long-term track record.”
-Gartner, August 2013
Recognized as Mobile “Visionary” in
2013 Magic Quadrant for MADP
44. TakeawaysTakeaways
Responsive Design is fast and cheap
◦ Good for websites
◦ OK for some lightweight apps
Most serious mobile apps are native
Cross-platform is often necessary
Choose your toolset carefully
Need high-performance cross-platform
business apps?
45. Building Mobile AppsBuilding Mobile Apps
for Businessfor Business
Do you want to know more?
Do you need an app built?
Dan Hermes
Mobile Consultant
Lexicon Systems
www.lexiconsystemsinc.com
dan@lexiconsystemsinc.com
(781)526-0738
Twitter: @lexiconsystems
Blog: www.itshopkeeping.com
Jonathan LaMaster
Director of Sales
Lexicon Systems
jonathan@lexiconsystemsinc.com
(617)833-5816