Consumers and media shift from Web to mobile applications

November 7, 2008

The last few years were a flurry of Web 2.0, Web video, Web casual gaming and other Web application topics. At the same time, there was much industry discussion about mobile devices moving beyond voice (and email for businesses) and becoming true portable entertainment and Web devices. While the iPhone made people realize a cell phone was now a mobile entertainment device, it was the iPhone 2.0 App store that spurred broader discussion, and demand, for mobile applications.

Looking at the trend lines of of search volume and news references, it seems that the mobile application industry is now ready to overtake web applications in both consumer interest, as indicated by Google search volume, and at least tie media interest, as indicated by news volume. However, I expect the media to focus more on mobile applications over the next two years as the Web application industry matures (maturity generally equals less media attention as much of the excitement and breaking developments are covered.

The following chart compares searches and news volume for web applications (in red) with mobile applications (in blue).