I'm part of an organization that is planning to host a conference in a couple of months. We want to use either a website or mobile app to show schedules, lecture locations, etc. What are some reasons to take one over the other?
Definitely do a website first. If you want to promote your conference, it will be easier for people to share a link to your website, rather than to your mobile app. Also, everyone who can run a mobile app can visit your website, but not everyone who can visit your site (eg desktop users) can run your app.<p>A mobile app is a great idea, but it should be a bonus feature for attendees, after you've got the website fixed.<p>[Side note: I run a tiny website promoting a certain niche of conferences - I'm less likely to promote a mobile app in my email newsletter, because I'd feel an obligation to test your app first before linking to it & recommending it. A website is easy for me to check & verify & monitor for updates.]
Mobile app pros and opportunities:<p>- Integration into phone calendar, contacts, etc.<p>- Integration into share/intent features offered by platform<p>- Offline capability<p>- Homescreen presence<p>Website pros and opportunities:<p>- Public linkability, shareability of events, schedules, homepage (... in all likelihood you have a conference website anyway)<p>- No need to develop for different platforms<p>- No need for user to download an app<p>The drawbacks are implies by contrasting with the other.