“A number of developers have been experimenting with web applications over 2011 and into 2012. These applications serve three primary purposes: to provide a unified user experience across platforms; to retain control of customer information and the customer journey; and to avoid paying a service charge to the owner of the smartphone or tablet ecosystem on which a native application might be hosted. Mobile-optimised websites will not be appropriate for every offering, but they are likely to increase dramatically in number over 2012 and 2013 as web technologies become more powerful.”

“A number of developers have been experimenting with web applications over 2011 and into 2012. These applications serve three primary purposes: to provide a unified user experience across platforms; to retain control of customer information and the customer journey; and to avoid paying a service charge to the owner of the smartphone or tablet ecosystem on which a native application might be hosted. Mobile-optimised websites will not be appropriate for every offering, but they are likely to increase dramatically in number over 2012 and 2013 as web technologies become more powerful.”

– Samuel Gee, technology analyst

Some questions answered in this report include:

How can developers approach consumers who will only download free apps?

How will the predicted growth of Windows Phone 7 devices change the market?

Will tablets change how developers interact with smartphone applications?

Are web applications likely to supplant dedicated device applications?