what mobile development approach makes sense

Dipesh Mukerji

Multi-channel App Development

What Approach Makes Sense For Your Business

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Possible Methods

NATIVE

MOBILE WEB

PLATFORM

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Native vs Mobile Web vs PlatformIt’s Complicated


Native Development

Coded with a specific programming language (Objective-C for iOS, Java for Android, etc…). These applications are fast, reliable, and powerful but are tied to a mobile platform.

Best performanceAccess to device specific features exposed by native APIsCan be downloaded via the app store or direct distributionNo limits


Native Apps


Native Approach - Challenges & Advantages

Challenges

• Must know device specific development language skill set

• Can’t port over to other devices

• Costly• Have to go through app store

or direct distribution• Potential for large device

footprint• High maintenance

Advantages

• Leverage full device capabilities

• Full offline device storage• Best performance• Richest UI• Must go through app store or

direct distribution• Gaming capabilities• Plethora of app developers• No limits


Native Apps

Build When

Complicated & Strenuous Data Processing

High Performance

Gaming & Video based apps

Significant offline storage

1 or 2 Devices

Don’t Build When

Content driven and not UI driven

Low Budget

Reusable Components

Inefficient maintenance structure

Many Devices


Mobile Web Development

Mobile web site living on the mobile browser of a device and tailored to a specific device or form factor

No approval processEasy to update app and new featuresSave time and moneySupports multiple platforms


Mobile Web


Mobile Web - Challenges & Advantages

Challenges

• Less stable than native• Pulls in data much more slowly than

native• Browser fragmentation• No app store discoverability• May take longer to generate

revenue• Scarcity of mobile web developers• Less offline capabilities• Poor gaming capabilities• Not as UI rich as native• Less device access capabilities

Advantages

• Leverage effective web search technology for discoverability

• Native mobile developers are getting more expensive

• More capable than HTML4• Multimedia support• Cost efficient• Cross-platform• Less maintenance• Multivariate testing• Faster time-to-market• Smaller device footprint• Can be wrapped in hybrid format


Mobile Web

Build When

Supporting all devices

Low to moderate budget

Content over UI

Low to moderate offline storage

Easy maintenance

Don’t Build When

High performance is needed

Low Budget

UI over Content

Inefficient maintenance structure

Leverage custom widgets or device specific features


What is Platform Development

Rely on cross-channel development frameworks like JavaScript that ensure cross-platform compatibility and also access the devices specific features to build native, mobile and hybrid apps

Write once build any where (i.e. supports multiple devices) Saves time and possibly significant money Good performance Caters to all methods of deployment Could potentially have other areas of SDLC (i.e. Design,

Management, Testing, etc…)


Platform Apps


Platform Approach - Challenges & Advantages

Challenges

• Unsupported features• Restricted use of personal tools• Possibility of slow performance• Vendor lock / restrictions• May not be as UI rich• Not every feature is cross-channel

Advantages

• Ease of use• Re-usability of code• Easy availability of plugins• Fastest to market• Lower total cost of ownership• Support for cloud services• Single code base across all devices• Security / Authentication• May support other elements of

SDLC• Build native, mobile web, hybrid

and mixed mode apps• Future proofing


Platform

Build When

Port across all devices

Many apps

Singular development language skill set

Reusable components

Low TCO

Don’t Build When

1 or 2 devices

1 or 2 apps

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Comparison

Native

Platform

Mobile Web

Device Access

Full

Full

Partial

Speed

Best

Better

Good

DevCost

Expensive

Reasonable

Approval process

Mandatory

Mandatory

None

Code Base

Different

1*

1

Comparison

Reasonable


What To Consider

How large is your user base and how tech savvy are they?What do your users want? What devices are your users on?What are your operational and maintenance cost

requirements?What UX and/or UI experience do your users require?Are you looking to be in the app store?Is vendor lock a concern?


What To Consider

How much does content matter to your users?Industry like publishing put content at a premium

How do your users access and consume content?Mobile, Desktop, Other

How does mobile satisfy your business needs?Revenue driven?

Does your business need to evolve as fast as technology?Gaming vs Publishing


Kony – A Complete Platform

Tools Leverage single code-base (JavaScript) to build cross-channel applications Build beautiful effective user experience with tools / widgets Handles and simplifies any form of deployment App, device & content security and management

Built for Enterprise and Consumer Commercial channels BYOD

what mobile development approach makes sense

Documents

app store

ui rich

mobile web

challenges

mobile

devices

cross

users