Apps or Browsers – Mobile or Both

Is there a demographic difference in app versus browser users? How about mobile browsers vs laptop browsers?

Consumers Under 35 Ditching Browser for Apps, Study Shows

“Consumers under 35 – that is, those in Generations X and Y, the latter also referred to as “millennials” – tend to prefer using mobile applications over Web browsers on smartphones, as compared with older mobile users, a new study shows. Data collected by market research and consulting firm Parks Associates, found that this young demographic is starting to ditch the Web browser in favor of apps, and are especially put off by mobile websites not designed for the small screen.”

It appears that the only rational advice for libraries is that you must support the traditional web as well as the mobile web as well as have a great app (Android and iOS at the minimum).

With Google Editions and others supporting browser-based e-books we’ll see what affect that as on the trends.

Stephen