A Brief Look at the Rise of Mobile Applications

The evolution of the mobile phone is a fascinating one. In its early stages in the 1990s, mobile phones were as heavy as a phone book whereas these days, they are almost as light as a notepad. While mobile phones were primarily invented as handy gadgets to provide a way for people to communicate with each other regardless of where they are (phone signals permitting, of course), many mobile phones today are virtually on-the-go computers. Smart phones don't just allow you to call and send text messages; they also allow you to check your e-mails, log on to your social networking accounts, and play games.

Today, mobile applications that allow those aforementioned tasks are the name of the game. Users usually don't mind paying extra to get the mobile apps they desire if it means a lot of benefits for them. It helps that they have a variety of mobile apps to choose from, ranging from maps to instant messaging. It's thus no wonder that mobile apps are a big business, especially when some apps are available for download at no cost.

Mobile apps are designed to run under two platforms: Android and iOS. This means that one can't download an iOS mobile app that is meant an Android phone, and vice versa. Businesses that want to keep the pace with their customers can create mobile apps with help from mobile app developers that allow easy product search and product order.

A Quick Look at Responsive Web Design

With the growing use of smartphones and other mobile devices everywhere, companies are scrambling to take advantage of this medium in expanding their business. Indeed, it has been found that smartphones can create an almost instantaneous response from customers who come across an advertisement for a product or service they are interested in.

While a business can make use of various mobile apps, company websites are still considered to be one of the most effective tools in marketing a business; it's often the site people go to for an online transaction. For this reason, IT specialists are trying to find the best way to make websites accessible for mobile devices. One of the techniques advocated by many IT practitioners, including Google, is responsive web design (RWD).

The objective behind RWD is to use the same website design, HTML, and URL for any platform, whether a PC, smartphone, or tablet. This requires adjusting a web page lay-out to fit the viewing area of the device. Due to the consistency in the content and design, it helps to promote branding and customer loyalty. It also makes sharing to the site easier, as it will not require redirection to a mobile-dedicated site.

However, one known disadvantage of the RWD technique is a slower performance, as the web page size is not sufficiently adjusted to allow for a faster processing time using mobile Internet access. Some experts also say mobile users may find navigation of RWD sites more difficult than mobile dedicated sites.