Why mobile apps could be the next killer technology

A few weeks ago, Sky revealed a new iPhone app that will allow users to set Sky+ recordings remotely. Its a great example of how mobile applications can be used to make life that little bit easier. (And yes, I’m jealous that Virgin Media haven’t done the same)

With Android, Blackberry and Nokia all either launching or set to launch their own versions of the Apple App store, mobile applications have really come of age.

The Guardian wrote a big piece on iPhone apps recently, covering the fact that Nine Inch Nails are set to launch their own app allowing their fans and followers better access to music, downloads and everything else they could possibly want. App-mania is upon us.

For those that haven’t experienced apps so far, the obsession may seem odd. After all, aren’t we supposed to moving away from ‘software’ towards cloud computing and web-based applications like Gmail and Salesforce? Well, it seems that mobile apps offer a good comprise between the two, especially on mobiles where, despite improvements, browsers still lack the ease-of-use experienced elsewhere.

Many apps are still dependent on internet access and the best (other than games for obvious reasons) do still embody key ‘cloud’ features. But, as Salesforce demonstrates, creating an app rather than merely an optimised mobile site, does make sense. And when the iPhone 3.0 software launches this summer, iPhone apps will go to the next level.

Having said all of this, there is a flipside. Google has been quite resolute in failing to really support a push into mobile apps, on the iPhone at least. Here, the Google app is nothing more than a portal, linking to the various web pages of Google services – search, Reader, Mail etc. – and whilst you can understand their focus on the ‘web’ it does render the application itself rather useless. Having said that, the new mobile version of Gmail is fantastic and possibly demonstrates that application functionality through mobile browsers is perhaps not as far away as we might imagine.

But until this happens, I hope that more big businesses take the plunge and join fantastic apps like National Rail (despite the price/downtime), Tube Deluxe, Shazam, the New York Times, WSJ etc.

Imagine a BBC or Guardian iPhone app for example. I’m surprised more haven’t followed suit. And yet, you do fear that as more and more app stores open on more and more platforms, the ‘bigger players’ may be forced to focus more on platform-neutral websites (despite handset and browser quirks) and leave app development to independent specialists armed with APIs to create some really exciting and productive tools.

Danny Whatmough