This discussion happens a lot – both inside and outside of work – but what should be taken into account when deciding?
For my money, for a normal corporate scenario, I’d advise optimising your website for mobile clients first and then adding mobile apps second. That way, you get the benefit of being available to all mobile clients fairly quickly and then you can target specific mobile devices once you know which clients are actually using your site (E.g. Android or iPhone) and what features they’re using (e.g. store finder, stock lookup, product search etc.). It pays to tightly focus any mobile app development as much as possible – it’s (relatively) expensive and often device specific.
The decision between building a mobile website or a mobile application is ultimately a decision unique to your business. If possible, companies should develop both in order to leverage these two powerful platforms. If only one can be chosen, business must first assess their goals and resources, then closely consider the differences detailed in the infographic and the audience they want to reach. Only then can a business truly tell which mobile method will provide more value, advantages, and opportunities with the massive mobile market. MDG Advertising
This infographic nicely sums up the pros and cons of each.