Mobile Phone Apps - new approaches?
Thursday, February 11th, 2010Netbooks, tablets, book readers, all these new devices have their place, but the big news in the digital arena is the exponential growth of smart phones.
Not since the huge growth in home broadband, when we saw a migration from workplace to domestic internet use, have we seen such a widespread shift in usage.
Internet on the move, via smart phones, is the current and next big thing.
Obviously website owners need to consider whether their current website is positioned to deliver to this new platform, mobile web browsers, whilst at the same time the use of apps, whether integrated into their existing online presence or standalone, is now a huge opportunity.
We’ve seen a gold rush in the apps arena, with many apps launched on a paid-for or advertising funded revenue model.
Other apps are being offered which serve a specific business purpose, such as utility companies giving customers an app from which they can submit meter readings.
But I think there is another way to use apps for brand building benefits.
Instead of paying to appear on an existing app via advertising, brand owners should consider funding the development of apps to a precise spec of their own, then offer the app for free via an app store.
This way they get their brand in front of a growing audience for the fixed price they pay for its development.
A good app will always get downloaded, particularly if it is for free, so this concept presents a huge opportunity for brand owners in my view.