#apps vs web

Visita codiwans.com

There is a lot of buzz around "Appification" - how everything has an app/will have an app and hence "App Experiences" are so important. Trying to figure out how things will pan out in e-commerce/travel and similar categories.  The broad ways in which we engage with content/services on the internet can be broadly categorized as : A. Transactional These are typically search-led. Lets say you want find the meaning of a word, read about how christmas is celebrated in another country, research what phone you want to purchase. You first search for what you need, judge which link is more likely to sever your need (often many of them), and consume the content. You are then done with the site, unless you find its content as something you are deeply interested in and would want to keep visiting regularly (in which case you might actually bookmark the site / subscribe to its feed / follow on twitter / install a companion app of sorts that site provides). B. Relationship based Relationship with a service/content provider is when you know where you want to go already, and it is a habit or ritual for you. Check Twitter, Flipboard, look at funny pics on Imgur, browse HN, facebook, check email, Google Reader, new apps on AppStore, etc. Its when either its a daily habit, or you already know that a particular activity will be done only at place X (you use a kindle, so buy books on amazon only...not going to search for the best place to buy it). So these are typically NOT search led. These could be lasting relationships or have limited shelf life. Games, for instance would be a relationship with perhaps a shorter timeline of expiry (sick of Draw Something in 1 weeks). Whereas, Facebook is something that is more lasting. Its obvious that category B is better suited to be apps - apps that one installs and keeps for a period of time.  What about those that are partly search-led and partly relationship led? Categories where you have multiple relationships? Like say E-Commerce or Travel, where you trust a limited set of services, and know you can get a better experience in each of them individually through an app experience. Problem: You can't wholly commit to someone for these categories, despite better app experiences. Before I book a ticket from Chennai to Mumbai, I do check on multiple travel portals to see if I am getting the best price or offers for my flight tickets. I don't like the idea of installing apps of multiple travel portals and checking each of them one after the other. Its just not convenient. Neither am I comfortable enough to think "Oh! Let me just go with X. I hope they have the best offers!".  Which is why I end up  doing this on a laptop with multiple tabs open. How can this be solved better on a mobile? Answers? Maybe the answer lies in how our interaction with the devices are changing. Imagine if, instead of touch screens and looking at sites/apps one by one, we had the option of telling your phone (Siri like) "tell me the best prices and offers for flights from Chennai to Mumbai on 25th December. Check on Expedia, Yatra, Makemytrip.". And of course, complete the transaction through continuing in voice or through their app. 1. Do you face a similar problem? Do you shop/book tickets on mobile or PC web? 2. Does our future for these transactions lie in better designed app experiences or "getting the app out of the way" where we can?