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Mobile Applications: Dead or Dying?
February 24, 2008

Steve Muller notes, “I just read a very provocative article at Michael Mace’s Mobile Opportunity blog. His contention, backed by some mobile application software developers, is that developing native mobile applications is a dead or dying business.

This is happening because the business model for developing mobile applications is so bad due to the fracturing mobile OS scene, OS companies and carriers trying to control the mobile space via certification and resellers taking big bites of the sales.

He feels that most mobile development will be moving to the Web, where all your device needs is a good browser and you don’t have to kiss the behind of the OS company, the carrier and the resellers. He admits that the mobile Web isn’t the best technology to develop for, but feels better business models and not-ideal technology will trump great technology with poor business models.

And this isn’t just some sky-is-falling, no-nothing yahoo here. Michael Mace was a VP at Palm and is a principal consultant at Rubicon Consulting.”

Practice: