Mobile apps forces paradigm shift

[HunkyLuke]

Another article from Flurry talks about how mobile apps are forcing a paradigm shift on the internet. In 2011, for the first time, smartphone and tablet shipments exceed those of desktop and notebook shipments. This is resulting in a fundamental change of how we use the internet.

The study compares data on overall average daily internet usage, showing web browsing vs mobile apps. Because of the number of smart phones and tablets, surfers are now interacting more through apps than they are thru traditional web means like browsers and search engines. (see first attachment)

They also looked at how people are spending their mobile time on the internet. "The chart clearly shows that Games and Social Networking categories capture the significant majority of consumers’ time. Consumers spend nearly half their time using Games, and a third in Social Networking apps. Combined, these two categories control a whopping 79% of consumers’ total app time. Further, as we drill down into the data, consumers use these two categories more frequently, and for longer average session lengths, compared to other categories. Any way we slice it, Games and Social Networking apps deliver the most engaging experience on mobile today." (see second attachment)

So what does this mean for us? I think its time we all started re-evaluating our mobile offerings and coming up with new innovative ways to get to our market.

So...anyone know a good app programmer?

[zBUCKzDanny]

Hey Luke,

I agree with you and been thinking for a long time the adult industry is way behind on developing mobile apps. I'd also be interested to hear if anyone has started developing anything in this field for the adult industry.

[rawTOP]

The problems is Apple's "family friendly" policy. Look at how little is allowed on Grindr. All I say in my profile is "6' dom masc bear. Tell me what you're into." and half the time I do a profile update I'm told I violated their terms.

IMHO, mobile optimized web pages are the way to go... (On the to-do list for me...)

[zBUCKzDanny]

Hey Rawtop,

That is a good point about the Apple 'Family Friendly' controls, but I think maybe there are some creative ways we could get around that. Like just creating apps with PG rated images from our member site updates, for example. Sort of the same way people are getting away with having facebook pages of porn sites.

[HunkyLuke]

I agree with you Danny, there are creative ways around Apple's controls. One very simple way is to develop an app and offer it to your existing members! Or offer it via email lists.

Also, there is an alternative app shop called Cydia, has anyone used this at all? Here's the wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cydia

[rawTOP]

I agree with you Danny, there are creative ways around Apple's controls. One very simple way is to develop an app and offer it to your existing members! Or offer it via email lists.

But they can't get it on their phones unless it goes through the iTunes store and it can't get into the iTunes store without being reviewed by Apple...

My bf went to a seminar on mobile a month or so ago and people who were in the trenches doing apps said they sorta weren't worth it. They're expensive to develop and have limited return on investment. If you're a major company, maybe, but for most people an app just doesn't make sense. The consensus was that mobile-optimized web did make sense - it's FAR easier to do than an app.

[HunkyLuke]

I did not realise that was the case. I thought iPhone users could get apps from other locations too, but I guess that's only true for jailbroken phones. So how the hell can we get around that?

[zBUCKzDanny]

Yeah going after the 10% with jailbroken phones (when we're not even sure the alternative would allow porn apps) doesn't make sense. But by going around it, what I meant is you could create a mainstream app, something like GrindR. Then once it's approved by Apple, find some clever ways to advertise your sites on it. You could even create some gay 'games' and somehow incorporate your site or site logo into the game. So there are some clever ways I think you could get around it, although I'm not sure what the return on investment would be since I don't think you could directly link to a site from it. It might just be one of those things you could use for branding, doing some subtle advertising, at this stage.