Why You Want a Native App

DragonRAD produces Native Apps, which are applications that run directly on the mobile device and interact with your database over the internet. An alternative approach is to deploy Web Apps, which are accessed through the browser on your mobile device.

Native apps have big advantages, including:

Offline Access

Native apps can be used when a user has no network connectivity, such as on an airplane, in the subway or in an underground parking garage. If users are sometimes in areas where network access is unavailable or unreliable, a native app is your only real option.

Device Integration

Native apps are more effective at integrating the unique capabilities of the mobile device into the application, such as the GPS, Contact List, Camera and Voice Recorder. In a native app, images, GPS coordinates, voice memos can be directly piped into the database without the user having to search and attach them.

User Experience

The user interface of a native app can be designed to be consistent with what the users expects and is accustomed to on their particular device. For instance, BlackBerry users are accustomed to selecting through menus, while Android users expect buttons and other user interface conventions.

Flexible Synchronization

Native apps can be configured to periodically synchronize with various backend data sources, which can reduce data costs, particularly while roaming. If users do not need to synchronize their data until the end of the day, why go to the trouble and expense of having them establish an internet connection each time they do an update?

Push Capabilities

Native apps can use "Push Technology" available on many mobile devices to automatically update the application data rather than relying on the user to log into the web application. You can get important information out to your users without having to train them to constantly check the database over the web.

If you have an application that is currently accessed by users through the browser on their PC, it may be possible to use the existing application from the browser on their mobile devices. However, most companies find that they need to develop a mobile version of their web app to be effective for mobile users, so additional web development must be done. With DragonRAD a native app can be developed easily, and usually with less time and expense than an equivalent web app. Learn More