According to mobile industry reports, 11.78% of all website traffic worldwide came from handheld devices in 2012. According to eMarketer (a leading digital media market research firm), more than 58% of American adults will be regular mobile web users by the end of 2016. Tablets and smartphones are becoming the default choice for connecting to the internet.
The web has become an essential part of our lives, and users are connected to their Internet devices from anywhere and all the time. This revolution is influencing many companies to shift towards a “Mobile First, Desktop Second” strategy for their business. However, the shift from desktop to mobile requires web designers to refocus – not completely away from desktop design, but certainly with an inclination towards mobile. There are several ways to approach a mobile web presence, such as implementing a separate mobile site or a mobile web app. The most recent and popular approach seems to be Responsive Web Design.
Quick Comparison Summary
Due to differences in underlying technology, each approach has inherent advantages and drawbacks, development frameworks, and appropriate use cases. Careful analysis is required to ensure that your mobile solution is built using the right approach to meet your requirements. The following table summarizes the strengths and weakness of each approach.
There is a lot of important decisions to to consider when choosing between Responsive Web Design and Mobile Web App, and what type of industry Responsive Web Design is most suitable for.
Please contact Team Discovery Ltd to help clarify key issues when choosing between Responsive Web Design and Mobile Website Application.