OK, maybe I’ve got the Declaration of Independence a bit wrong, but it’s been a confusing week. WMMR has dubbed it a “9 Day Weekend,” and businesses all over America are trying to figure out what happened with productivity this week.
In the meantime, comScore is trying to make some sense of it all. Its latest U.S. mobile content numbers show two very important things:
- Android leads Apple in handset sales
- App use has overtaken browser use on mobile devices
As it concerns the horse race between Apple and Android, we believe that Apple will end the year on top. Techsurvey8 clearly shows the momentum arrows are on Cupertino’s side, and we’ll have a post tomorrow that shows it.
But the second point – advantage apps – is interesting because of the ongoing debate – especially overseas – about apps vs. browsers.
Many believe that apps are a short-lived fad, perhaps with a shelf life of just a few more years. And that eventually, everyone will simply be web browsing on their mobile devices.
comScore’s data suggests that it’s not that simple. And in fact, it is simplicity and the American way that lead us to believe that apps totally fit into the convenience mentality of most of us in the U.S. of A. Apps are fun, apps are easy, apps help us get to where we most want to be. And given our fast-paced lifestyles, they make it easy for us to multi-task from one screen to another.
Here’s the comScore data with a pretty blue box around the app and browser data:
App usage continues to grow. Our Techsurvey8 data show that more than 90% of smartphone owners download apps. And of those, seven in ten have downloaded a radio app of one kind or another.
Oh, and check out that green box on the chart. It shows that music consumption on mobile devices is heading upward, too. And that continues to signal an important opportunity for most of us in radio. Our stations can be in the starting lineup of the greatest tech game of all time.
Whether it’s those icons on your desktop or those pretty apps on your Android, iPhone, iPad, or other tablet, we love the convenience of getting the content we desire at the push of a button.
That’s the way it’s worked here in America for decades – think car radio pushbuttons. The app format totally fits that tech lifestyle. When we want to experience something new and different, we push a button.
Steve Jobs and the Apple team instinctively knew that when they designed the iPhone. This is the way we operate in America.
All of this spells opportunity for big radio brands and smart broadcasters, most of whom have plans and strategies in place for mobile presence.
Our jacAPPS business – now more than 720 apps strong – contradicts what a VC investor told us back in 2009: “Apps are just a fad business.”
Next stop: apps for festivals, events, ski reports, and other content subsets that can provide consumer convenience and the chance to further monetize this space.
Don’t worry. Be appy.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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As always, not an either/or situation. That’s the beauty (and terror) of the new media world – no one solution works for every purpose. Its all about fitting peoples’ lifestyles – once they have decided that your product (i.e radio station and its offerings)is for them, a person wants the most direct way to access. But there are many situations where mobile browsing works, especially for discovery – looking within a general category (i.e. blues music), wanting to find additional sources, deeper experiences, etc.
The key is to maximize the user experience on all platforms.
Correct, Arthur. For discovery, browsing is a native activity on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. But when you know what you want and you want it effortlessly, the app experience is simple, direct, and provides that instant gratification people crave. Your comment about maxing the UX is spot on. Thanks for commenting.