29 Aug 08 iPhone App Trap

One of the many internal strifes that I have these days is with iPhone apps in the real estate space. There is a ton of buzz around the idea of iPhone apps (see Joel Burslem’s recent deep dive/round up here). However, there are two reasons why my gut is telling me to steer WellcomeMat entirely clear of the app trap.

1) Although the iPhone clearly set the bar for true, web-enabled handsets, there are many, many competitors that are right on Apple’s heels. This means that developing an app for the iPhone is quite literally a one-trick pony, meaning apps built on their platform will only be applicable on APPLE’S platform. I therefore wonder if real estate iPhone app creators are trigger happy (anyone for the “old bull young bull” tale?). If handsets are simply site visitors with a different display mechanism, then what is the future of proprietary mobile development platforms?

2) Other than real estate pros, technologists and vendors, who really wants a real estate app installed on their phone long-term? Web companies all like to think that we are doing something that the world will appreciate. And, many times, we are right. However, why would someone want a real estate application in poll position on their hand-held computer? I’m from a software background, so please excuse me toting along my “baggage.” But, people don’t like downloading anything anymore. Why would we think handsets are any different?