Q&A with Jules Allen, CIO

Q: So why are these mobile devices getting so much business mindshare?

A: Look at sales figures from Apple or the domestic cell phone carriers, and you’ll see that these devices are still flying off the shelves. Regular old “dumbphones” are still selling, but the future belongs to the smartphone.

Q: Isn’t developing an app a lot of extra effort?

A: It’s another channel that’s been added to a business toolkit and a revolutionary one at that. Most businesses said the same thing in the early 90’s about the web, and by ’97 any serious business had been on the web for a couple of years or so. I can’t think of a single business I’ve seen launch in the past five years that hasn’t had a web strategy.

Today we’re seeing the same shift as we saw in the 90’s. It’s not a question of will you get ready for mobile, it’s a question of how soon you can integrate it.

Q: iPhone or Android?

A: Short answer is ‘yes.’ Maybe Blackberry, too. Android devices have just started to outsell iPhones, but iPhones have been around a bit longer. They’re the top two for consumer focus. If you develop for the iPhone, you can also use much of that investment in an iPad app.