RISMEDIA, November 23, 2010—Within the next few years, more than 50% of searches will take place on a mobile device. There is enough talk out there about mobile technology to make your head spin. Smarter Agent has been working in mobile for a decade and will clear up the most common mobile myths.
1. You don’t need a mobile solution and you didn’t need a website back in 1999 either, right? In less than three years, research firm Gartner predicts more people will access content from their cell phones than from a desktop or laptop computer. Consumers between the ages of 28-45 now buy six out of 10 homes on the market. These Generation X and Generation Y buyers expect access to information anytime, anywhere; and mobile technology provides the on-demand content for their on-the-go lifestyle.
2. It’s all about the iPhone. The iPhone has certainly opened our eyes up to the world of apps, but you can’t bet on one horse. iPhone users make up only 12% of cell phone users in United States. The NPD Group reported in September that Android outsold iPhone. Meanwhile, BlackBerry maintains the highest market share of any smartphone. The point: don’t limit yourself by focusing on only one platform. You need a solution that will reach all cell phone users.
3. You have to choose between mobile Web and mobile apps. It’s not one or the other—you need to reach all platforms! While analysts debate whether apps or mobile Web will be the platform of choice in the future, have a solution that covers it all. It’s important to be able to offer a mobile Web search and downloadable apps so you don’t have to limit who you can market to.
4. Mobile search is for smartphones only. Just because smartphones are all the rage doesn’t make standard feature phones dumb! About 65% of cell phone users in the U.S. have a standard feature phone. Apps can be built for feature phones, too, so don’t ignore the opportunity to market to “non-smartphones.”
Phil Hobson, H Group, Prudential Texas Properties
www.hgroupdallas.com
(214) 659-3624