The future is mobile

This much is clear to even the most casual observer of the innumerable 2011 preview blog posts which appeared at the start of the year.

 

One way of illustrating this point is through statistics. Spot the false fact:

            1. 70% of the world's population own a mobile phone

            2. More children in America own a phone than a book

            3. In the next 5 years, more people will go online via a mobile than a PC

 

Trick question (sorry); they are all true. The following stats are perhaps more interesting:

            1. 19% of all mobile phones are smartphones

            2. Android is growing 886% year on year

 

 

 

Either way, you get the idea. Mobile will not remain a sideshow for long. Very soon it will be an (the?) essential platform for organisations to communicate with their audience.

 

Having said this, there are dangers associated with mobile. Everyone wants an app - but we strongly discourage our clients from diving into the app market without thinking first about the important factors which should inform any business decision:

            1. What are your objectives?

            2. What return on investment do you want to see?

            3. Who are your audience and will this help you reach them?

 

Strategy plays a huge part in the process, and we can help with this as well as with the design, build and delivery of your app.

 

With the range of mobile operating systems, it is also important to consider compatibility.

 

Whether by building browser-based apps which look and feel like native apps, or by developing for a number of different OSs, we advise against limiting your ideas to Apple only.

 

There is no need to be intimidated by the growth of mobile.

 

The same rules apply here as they do elsewhere: make the design appealing, and keep things simple, clear and intuitive - put users first, monitor how they interact with the product, and react accordingly.