Do Wireless Web Browsers Matter?

There’s lot of excitement about the wireless Web, particularly since the emergence of 4G technology is making the “pipes” bigger and faster. This has, naturally, generated a lot of excitement about wireless browsers.

But the question that needs to be asked whether the wireless browser matters or, for that matter, is that necessary. The reason wireless browsers don’t matter is simple: apps – be it for iPhone, Android or Blackberry devices.

Rather than fire up a Web browser to use an online service, it’s much easier and usually faster to use an app, particularly for services that are frequently used. The use of apps rather than a browser means wireless users can personalize their devices to meet their needs rather than having to a use-size-fits-all browser.

The availability and user-friendliness of apps means that my iPhone features apps that run GMail, WordPress, DropBox, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Yelp and Tungle. The only reason I would fire up Safari or Opera is to use something like Google Maps, searching for a telephone number or doing a Google search.

It means the wireless Web browser has become irrelevant. In fact, I could probably delete the browsers from my iPhone, and never really miss them.

Do you use a wireless Web browser? If so, why?

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http://www.benwise.ca Ben Wise

Good post Mark. Apps are making browsers more and more redundant on mobile phones. But with the emergence of tablets, I think you will see a resurgence of mobile browsers.
People still use browsers on their laptops even though developers could easily make apps. This is because (I think) people still prefer the natural flow of a web browsing experience. Following links, moving from site to site, opening multiple tabs, etc.
With the larger screens on tablets and the improved web browsing experience I would expect less emphasis on apps (at least ones that just replace a website) and more use of the browser.

What do you think?
http://fitc.ca Rick Mason

I’m the exact opposite. I only keep apps on my phone that enable me to do things I can’t do in the browser. I use Safari on my iPhone more than any other app. I prefer the web interface for my gmail and for many other things. For web apps I use frequently I bookmark them and treat them like any other native app in terms of the way I organize my apps in folders.

Most of my native apps are games or camera apps or services that don’t offer good mobile web versions.

As I developer I do have a bias here as I much prefer browser based apps for the sheer ease of cross platform development as opposed to developing native apps for every device out there.

Also long term, I very much like the idea that the majority of things I depend on will work exactly the same when I ditch my iPhone for an Android phone or maybe even the shiny new Palm Pre 2.
http://www.andymci.com Andy M.

Benefits of mobile browsers:
1. Apps are isolated. The web is not. You can jump from one site to the next with ease.
2. The web is more accessible for developers. Stronger standards across the board.
3. The age-old “information at your fingertips” thing. My local cafe doesn’t have an app, but they do have a website. Excellent for when I’m on the move and thinking of popping in.

I completely agree with your point about apps providing a more complete experience for certain services, but apps can’t replace the entirety of the web.
http://www.fieldid.com Somen Mondal

What about the cost of development? If you need to make an app for every platform, it is much more expensive and not as scalable for the software company. I don’t think the browser is irrelevant at all. If anything, the browser experience will continue to get better.

http://www.markevanstech.com Mark Evans

Good point about the cost of having to develop applications. I guess my take is it’s a good investment for companies that want to provide users with a better, more focused experience.

Mark

http://chrisdick.com Chris Dick

I am an app convert. I was of the browser mindset a few months ago and the iPad changed all that (I’ve had an iPhone, thanks to Leo Laporte, since before they were in Canada but it didn’t stick till the “pad” ) I use browsers as a research tool with lots of tabs open to jump back and forth but on my mobile device I like to think and use it strategically.

“I want to fire up the thing that will do what I want it to do”
I understand that is a very technical explanation but necessary

Take for example the North Face app… it is just a snow phone report… and they have a trail finder as well. Simple focused – non clothing – tools that extend their brand to someone who doesn’t care about clothes. Apps do that, not e commerce sites or blogs with this, that or the other interesting thing written on them.

I teach journalism and always encourage my students to think like an APP.
What is the core focus of the story?
If the story were North Face, what would the app be… Meaning, is there a question you may have missed for your original story that is applicable? Is there a follow up story here? What if any other stories can you think of that are realizable?

Apps are here to stay, the browser has its place but the APP is how I interact with what you are offering, and the browser is not anymore.

The interesting question here is what happens to Google when we are all APP-dicted … I believe they are not searchable by Google.

What will happen to our answer machine with the rise of Apps

All the best,

ME

http://www.markevanstech.com Mark Evans

Chris,

I think search will remain a key part of how we use the Web but apps will become a bigger part of the mobile experience until the performance of mobile browsers can match what people can do with laptop or desktop computers.

Thanks for the comment!

Mark