Mobile App Roadmap

[frankie]

Many of here are contimplating paying for a mobile app for our site and many are currently paying for this service now. I would like to know if you can shed some light on the upcomming mobile capabilities ning will be offering. 

Will you charge us?

Will you need to have API access?

What features can we expect to have?

I understand this is something that is being worked on but having some information will help us all either continue looking for an alternative or continue paying for said service. Between the $600 a year for our site and $400 some odd dollars for a mobile app this is starting to get very expensive. 

Any information you can give us would be great.

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi Frankie,

If you're asking about the capabilities of the new upcoming mobile web project for networks, 1) we will not be charging for this, it will be a built in feature of your network; 2) you will not need to have API access; 3) the mobile version will start off with a very limited number of features, and we will expand it's capabilities moving forward. We will provide more details as we get closer to an alpha release; we know that many NCs are eager to learn more.

Whether or not the new mobile web version replaces the need for a mobile app depends on your network and your mobile strategy. For the foreseeable future, a native app is going to provide a nicer experience for mobile users than a mobile web version; things like photo uploading that are simple in an app are difficult for users via the mobile web. Apps can be charged for and may have better ad performance than mobile web sites. But, as you mention, apps also mean additional cost and management, and require members to download them, which might hinder usage.

Thanks,
Phil 

[frankie]

Thank you Phil,

If apps offered a one time build charge of lets say $500.00 I would not mind it as much, but paying $30-$50.00 a month is ridiculous. Having a built in platform will help a lot. Wordpress has some very nice add ons that are free and work very well without the need for a mobile app. I do agree that there is a very good reason for going the native app route but the cost out weighs the pros. At least for me. 

We all look forward to hearing some more about this new feature. 

[Aanu Bello]

This will be the best thing Ning has ever down in a couple of time.

 i will not mind if the new mobile version comes up with something like chat api or any other thing

[Chris Herzig]

Will the new mobile site have the ability to upload a profile picture?

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi Chris,

This will depend on the device. iOS devices like the iPhone don't currently have access to the phone's camera library, and so can't upload an image directly. Newer Android devices should have this capability.

Thanks,
Phil 

[Chris Herzig]

Thanks for the reply!

[frankie]

I know u guys are busy doing some awesome things but this would the perfect time to allow non member comments or likes. Having to register and answer profile questions on your mobile phone would kill potential members. I know this is on the roadmap but do you have an idea how close you are?