Web Applications v/s SmartPhone Applications (Iphone, Windows Mobile, Android/Nexus Application)

Question

Q: How does Web Applications differ from SmartPhone Applications (Iphone, Windows Mobile, Android/Nexus Application) and in what specific aspects do they differ and in what degree ?

Also for example,

Q: Why we need mobile version of Web Application like gmail.com or bankofamerica.com specifically for smartphone devices where we can access same web applications on smartphone using internet connections ? In what aspect do they differ and why do we have those differences ?

Answer 1

A native application has access to the phone's environment, and as such can integrate better to improve usability (an iPhone app can make use of multi-touch capabilities, the accelerometers, the camera, etc.).

A web application is, well, a web application. You have to open your browser first, interactivity is limited things like javascript or flash.

Answer 2

The most important thing is that, the page should be as minimal as possible for the mobile devices. Not much details and plugins are not yet available for the smarphones. Moreover the network bandwidth for the mobile users rely that the data transfer is as minimal as possible. The service providers may also put some limitations to the data transfer over the internet using smartphones. For example, just have a look at these links(google web and google mobile) from the mobile and pc and see the differences in their view for both the devices.

Due to the limitations in the contents that can be accessed by the browsers, there is still many limitations for web applications for mobile

Answer 3

native app pros

1. save internet bandwidth
2. app response is faster
3. have a richer feature (camera integration)

web app pros

1. no need to develop for every platform, more choice of development language, platform
2. no approve is needed from apple, faster deployment of new features

Answer 4

For your second question: Web application is designed and built for computers with more CPU power, memory and larger screen. Take the MacBook i am using 2GB memroy, 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo,13" screen VS IPhone 3G. that has 128MB Memory. 620 MHz (underclocked to 412 MHz) . Gmail on IPhone is optimized, eg, screen size might be tailored; some background task performed on computers might be disable on iphone,