ENTERPRISE MOBILE APPLICATIONS

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1 ENTERPRISE MOBILE APPLICATIONS Native vs. Browser-Based Mobile applications are driving use of smartphones and tablets in the enterprise, and developers are experimenting with browser-based apps in place of native mobile apps. We explore the strategies enterprises can pursue to mobilize key business processes, and discuss the advantages of each development approach. MOBILITY 4 FINDINGS Native app deployment shows no signs of slowing down, and will accelerate further with the growth of hybrid apps before it eventually peaks. PAGE 10 Cross-platform development is finding new life thanks to HTML5, but there is a general lack of awareness and availability of standards and tools. PAGE 17 Browser makers and OEMs have enabled strong native device features in browsers, even rivaling native SDKs. PAGE 26 Enterprises have begun mobile Web deployments, but they continue to emphasize native apps when it comes to key business processes or important consumerfacing brands. Mobile Web is still viewed as a simple extension of an Internet portal. PAGE 33 5 IMPLICATIONS While there s no sign of a slowdown in native app publishing, app stores that use HTML5 and are based on mobile Web could prove disruptive as they provide an alternative ecosystem. PAGE 17 Increased user expectations and deployment of high-performance apps in mobile browsers will drive deeper integration with the underlying hardware. PAGE 26 Consumer and enterprise app development is converging, led by public APIs and social media. Enterprise apps are no longer just about data behind the firewall. PAGE 27 Careful selection of the hybrid app deployment approach is required, as it could limit the enterprise s ability to introduce new features and keep up with devices. PAGE 40 Mobile Web app development vendors need to provide a full set of management features to meet enterprise needs. PAGE 42 1 BOTTOM LINE Enterprises are locked into expensive development and deployment methods, and should actively explore alternative approaches that maximize productivity and reach. Hybrid apps provide a path to gradually migrate to HTML5, while not fully abandoning the native app deployment and management ecosystem. Thus, hybrid apps should be viewed as a steppingstone to the mobile Web. The potential of the mobile Web will be realized when those hybrid apps, which already run in a browserlike container, finally move to the mobile browser itself. DECEMBER 2011

2 REPORT SNAPSHOT TITLE Enterprise Mobile Applications ANALYST Vishal Jain, Analyst, Mobile Services RELEASE DATE December 2011 LENGTH 59 pages ABOUT THIS REPORT Mobile applications are driving increased use of smartphones and tablets in the enterprise, and developers are experimenting with browser-based apps in place of native mobile apps. Many enterprises are locked into expensive development and deployment methods, and should actively explore alternative approaches that maximize productivity and reach. Hybrid apps provide a path to gradually migrate to HTML5, while not fully abandoning the native app deployment and management ecosystem. Thus, hybrid apps should be viewed as a stepping-stone to the mobile Web. This report explores the strategies that enterprises can employ to mobilize key business processes. It examines the advantages of each development approach, and provides our perspective on where the overall market is going. The report includes detailed deployment case studies, as well as assessments of more than 20 vendors across various market segments.

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW KEY FINDINGS METHODOLOGY SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF THE MULTIPLATFORM WORLD AND NATIVE APPS RISE OF THE APP ECONOMY Figure 1: Typical App Classification Within an App Store Figure 2: Rise of Native Apps in Numbers MOBILE WEB IS THE GLUE SECTION 3: MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION NATIVE APP DEVELOPMENT Application Development Lifecycle Figure 3: Simplified View of Development Method for a Typical Native App Project Figure 4: Market Share by Mobile OS for Smartphones Developing for a Single Platform Figure 5: Comparison of Native App Development Tools From OEMs Figure 6: App Deployment: Employee, Consumer and Enterprise Figure 7: Breakdown of Application Deployment Plans Developing for One Platform and Porting to Others Figure 8: Build Once and Then Redistribute Figure 9: Develop Once and Reuse Code Base ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES Mobile Web Figure 10: Development and Distribution Through Browser Figure 11: Approach 1 Using a Typical Web App To Be Published Either as a Mobile Web App or a Native App Figure 12: Approach 2 Simplistic View of a Mobile Web Page Being Repurposed and Translated Into a Mobile-Optimized Site ENTERPRISE MOBILE APPLICATIONS

4 Figure 13: Approach 3 Simplistic View of a Proxy Browser Widgets Mobile Virtualization SECTION 4: MOBILE WEB ENABLERS AND COMPARISON WITH NATIVE APPS ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE MOBILE WEB HTML5 and Associated Technologies Figure 14: Evolution and Adoption of HTML5 Standards for Mobile Browsers Figure 15: Adoption of HTML5 Specifications by Popular Mobile Browsers Figure 16: Distribution Options Using HTML Common Browser Engine: WebKit Applications in the Cloud and Mobile Mashups Figure 17: Availability of APIs for Applications Enterprise Adoption of Cloud Computing and Smartphones Figure 18: Cloud Application Adoption Trends Figure 19: Corporate Tablet Usage Trends Network Infrastructure Upgrades COMPARISON OF NATIVE APPS WITH MOBILE WEB APPS Figure 20: Comparison of Native Apps and Mobile Web Apps SECTION 5: DEPLOYMENT CASE STUDIES APPLICATION DEPLOYMENT IN THE ENTERPRISE Figure 21: Type of Mobile Applications Deployed NATIVE APPS Coca-Cola NBC Entertainment MIXED APPROACH ebay

5 5.3.2 US Federal Government Figure 22: US Government App Catalog GRADUALLY MOVING TO MOBILE WEB APPS Financial Times salesforce.com SECTION 6: CROSS-PLATFORM APP DEVELOPMENT VENDORS PLATFORM VENDOR CLASSIFICATION Figure 23: Cross-Platform Development Vendor Landscape CONSUMER/ENTERPRISE APP DEVELOPMENT PLATFORMS Antenna Software IBM WebSphere Mobile Portal Accelerator Oracle ADF mobile Modo Labs Moofwd Pyxis Mobile Sybase Syclo ENTERPRISE APP DEVELOPMENT PLATFORMS Canvas Metismo (Software AG) Webalo CONSUMER APP DEVELOPMENT PLATFORMS Adobe AIR appmobi Digby InfoGin July Systems Kony Netbiscuits Trilibis ENTERPRISE MOBILE APPLICATIONS

6 6.4.9 Unity Mobile DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS Appcelerator PhoneGap (Adobe) Rhomobile (Motorola) RIM WebWorks SECTION 7: CONCLUSIONS CONVERGENCE OF ENTERPRISE AND CONSUMER APP DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTIZATION OF MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT MOBILE WEB NOT THERE YET PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY OF MOBILE WEB CONTENT REDESIGN AND MIGRATION BUILD-VS.-BUY DECISIONS Figure 24: Mobile App Development Sourcing (Average Rating) INDEX OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS 60

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