Debunking Common Myths of Mobile Application Development

Debunking Common Myths
Of Mobile App Development

February 20, 2013

Welcome & Introductions

Your Host: Our Agenda:

Introductions
Steve O’Brien
VP, Product Marketing
• Antenna Software
Antenna Software
• Apps built for business, consumers

Panelists: Mobile App Development
• The Myths
• Corrections & clarifications
Sterling Hamilton
Lead Developer • Avoiding common pitfalls
Noble Studios

Q&A

Jon Duncan Have a question?
Sr. Director, Product Management Tweet us @AntennaSoftware or #MythsWebinar
Antenna Software
+201-239-7980

2 © Copyright 2013 Antenna Software, Inc. All rights reserved.

About Antenna

Antenna helps enterprises build, run and manage
mobile applications and content.

Enabling enterprises to eliminate risk, lower
costs, and stay future-proofed from the constant
changes happening in our increasingly mobile society.

Cutting Edge Enterprise & Consumer Apps


THE 9 MYTHS

Step #1: Native If BYOD, then HTML5 Mobile, web, no diff
or Web?

PhoneGap is just fine Give it to the agency Faster is better – just
for the enterprise – they’re the experts get it out & fix it later

SSL is plenty secure Mobile means less There’s an app for
that


THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


Native or Web?
(hybrid is for people who can’t commit)


The Important Tradeoffs Affect
More Than Just the Developers

Web App Hybrid Native

Mobile Browser

Native
Container Native
Web Code Code
Web Code

Device APIs Device APIs

Functionality

Time to market, cost


So, Don’t Oversimplify The Decision

Our team is pretty
good with HTML5,
CSS, and JavaScript…
so I guess web apps
are the way to go.

We’ve got really talented Java
jockeys, some Objective-C hackers,
and solid Eclipse experience. I’ll
get us some SDKs and we’re off to
the races with native apps.

I’m not sure either of
these bozos has thought

Dilbert.com © 2013
this through…

There’s More Than Just
Web or Native or Hybrid

Managed Native
Web Hybrid Hybrid “Mixed Mode” Native

Web Web
Mobile Browser Web Code Code Code Native Code
Native Code

Web Code

Web Code Native Native
Container Container

Device APIs Device APIs Device APIs Device APIs

- Web code running - Web code running in - B2E app management - Web & native code - Access to all native
in a mobile browser native shell run in native shell device capabilities
- Multiple web apps in a
- Developed in - Leverages some native shell - Provides capabilities - Robust backend services
HTML5, JS, CSS device capabilities unavailable in pure for secure, transaction-
- Centrally managed & web apps like app & data integrity
controlled


Required USER Functionality
Should Drive the Decision
Managed Mixed Mode
Web Hybrid Hybrid Native Native
Development HTML5, JavaScript, HTML5, JavaScript, HTML5, JavaScript, Java, Objective-C Java,
Languages CSS CSS CSS + HTML5 Objective-C

Development JQuery, Dojo, JQuery, Dojo, JQuery, Dojo, Native SDK +
Native SDK
Tools Sencha… Sencha… Sencha… HTML5 Tools

Learning Curve Best Better Better Good Good

App
Good Better Better Best Best
Performance
UI/UX Control Good Better Better Best Best

Offline
Limited Better Better Better Best
Capabilities
Security Limited Better Best Best Best

Device
Integration Very Limited Good Good Best Best
(GPS, camera,
calendar, etc.)

Real-time small
Typical apps / B2C & Very
apps & B2C mobile Productivity B2E B2E & B2C
uses websites
robust B2E


THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


We embrace BYOD
(so HTML5 is the way to go)


HTML5 May Be the Future,
But Maybe Not the Present

―I think the biggest mistake we made as a
company is betting too much on HTML5 as
opposed to native, because it just wasn’t there.‖
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO


THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


Mobile, web, no diff
Mobile, Web, no diff
Making mobile apps requires the same
(Making mobile apps requires the same
skillsets as web development
skillsets as web development)


Couldn’t be farther from the truth!

Mobile development can be
done in a myriad of languages.
Many different platforms can
be supported.
The user interaction is completely
different in contrast to desktop.
Tracking conversions is a
different ball game.
Performance tactics are night
and day.
Underlying data architecture is
multifaceted in comparison.

Source: skytechgeek.com


THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


PhoneGap developer
PhoneGap
makes everyone a mobile app
(is just fine for the enterprise)


PhoneGap Is Great, But …

Perception Reality
Turns HTML5, CSS, and True.
JavaScript code into native apps
Just load my code into Well … different platforms and versions have ―quirks.‖ May need to
PhoneGap Build, and head to use PhoneGap Generate for Xcode 4 compatibility and Cordova
the app store for command-line testing.
PhoneGap is all you need to build Hmmm, no … still need Xcode 4 and SDK for iOS, Eclipse and SDK
native apps for Android, JDK and WebWorks SDK for BlackBerry …
PhoneGap apps use device Uhh … mostly. May need to write custom code or use specialized
features just like a native app plugins for advanced features like SMS, NFC, or Bluetooth.
PhoneGap apps look and feel just Not really. UI rendering and performance issues often reveal that
like native PhoneGap apps aren’t quite native.
PhoneGap is free. Yes, but… PhoneGap is free & open source, but Corporate
PhoneGap Support starts at $24k/year; Enterprise Support is more.
PhoneGap works equally well for Enterprise mobile apps typically require backend integration with
B2C and enterprise apps (B2E) enterprise systems & advanced security, not standard w/PhoneGap.
PhoneGap is a great solution for True.
developing one-off apps that
won’t need to evolve.


Two Different Types of Apps

B2C B2E
• Attractive, responsive
• Attractive, responsive • Cross-platform (required)
• Cross-platform (optional) • Highly customized
• Management
• Inexpensive • apps, devices, data, users
• Deeply integrated
• Findable
• Workflow
• Brand consistent • Security, compliance
• Collaborative • Stateless, store & forward
• Monitoring
• Commerce, advertising
• Performance, scalability
• Over-the-air

THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


Give it to the agency
(do it right the first time)


Mobility Requires Rapid Iteration

Enterprise Applications Model Does Not Apply
• Enterprise developers often design and build applications with 3-year lifecycle goal
Mobile Apps Should Be Nimble
• Devices evolve rapidly, 1-2 year lifetime
• New platform/OS features introduced regularly, 2-3 times/year or more
• User feedback is critical to mobile app adoption and success

Design
& build

Publish

―The perfect is the
enemy of the good.‖ Analyze:
Voltaire, 1772 •User feedback
•Usage metrics
•Performance metrics

THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


Faster is better
(Just get it out and we’ll fix it later)


Enterprise Mobility is
Not “One and Done”
(n)
App 1 App
―Almost all the CIOs said they expect to deploy
more than 25 mobility apps in next 2 years.‖*

How to secure the app?

How to manage the app?

How to run the app?
X
How to deploy the app?

How to build the app?

Source: ―Mobility Disruption: A CIO Perspective,‖ McKinsey & Company, Sept. 2012


THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


SSL is secure enough


Enterprise Security
Often Demands More Than Just SSL

2

4

1 3
Enterprise Backends Middleware Server Users, Devices

Retrieve & Submit
1 enterprise systems must securely communicate with mobility servers

Queuing & Handling
2 enterprise security demands zero exposure and minimal replication within mobility servers

Transmission
3 secure communication with devices via wireless networks (SSL works here!)

Data – encrypt and properly control device-resident data
4 Users – authentication and authorization to enforce access control
Apps – ensure proper apps permissions and controlled data access

Enterprise Integration & Security

Often The Most Difficult Challenge For Mobile App Developers

―Existing enterprise back-end applications are commonly built around
technologies such as SOAP, XML-RPC, and SQL and are associated with
strong authentication protocols.
These technologies don’t easily interface with mobile architectures and
technologies such as REST, JSON, and OAuth — and this infrastructure
mismatch often requires implementing a new tier on which to perform
data transformation.‖

Forrester Research, January 2013
Michael Facemire
Mobile Feast Or Beggar’s Banquet?
Landscape: The Mobile App Development Playbook


THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


Mobile apps are always connected,
so designing for state or connection speed
Mobile means less
is a waste of time


False. Mobile is Driven by User Context.


THE 9 MYTHS

or Web?


that


Mobile apps are always connected,
so designing for state or connection speed
There’s an app for that
is a waste of time


1,000,000 Apps


Businesses Still Need New Apps

Other B2E Apps:
Field Service
Distribution
Work assignment
Trouble ticket escalation


The 9 Myths

or Web?

PhoneGap is just fine Give it to the agency – Faster is better – just
for the enterprise they’re the experts get it out & fix it later

that


Enterprises Need A Mobility Platform

Future Proof Enterprise Centralized
Integration Management
Write once
Proven Devices, data
Any tool, any IDE
Apps, users
Every device Standardized
Content
Native device features Unified integration point
Performance
Easy maintenance Pre-built adapters Usage

Mobile Scalability & Carrier Grade
Optimization Performance Security
Network sensing Millions of daily
Built in, automated
App tuning transactions
Enterprise caliber
Latency avoidance Message monitoring
Certified (FIPS, PCI)
Detect most efficient path Certified, multi-tenant
Configurable per app
OTA install, updates Cloud or on-premise


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