Will Progressive Web Apps Displace Native Mobile Apps?

Exploring the potential of this technology

An interview with:
Maximiliano Firtman
Mobile Web Developer and Founder
ITMaster Academy

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are a relatively new technology that offer clear advantages over native mobile apps. But will it redefine what mobile users know today as the "app," or will PWAs and native apps coexist? Maximiliano Firtman, a mobile web developer and founder of ITMaster Academy, spoke with eMarketer's Rahul Chadha about the advantages, use cases and challenges associated with PWAs, and if they'll oust native apps. Firtman was interviewed as part of eMarketer’s June report, "Mobile Optimization: How Mobile-First Indexing and New Technologies Like Instant Apps Are Changing the Game."

eMarketer:

What exactly is a Progressive Web App?

Maximiliano Firtman:

There's no hard definition for a Progressive Web App. It’s a website with the capability to be installed in different operating systems and act as any other app in the system.

A PWA is always immediately accessible. You just access the URL and you're there. Installation is optional—the user can decide to use it as a website inside the browser or install it as an app.

But from a technical point of view, it only uses web technologies. It has the ability to work offline, so if you have a bad internet connection, you can still have a good experience, similar to a native app. It even has push notifications.

eMarketer:

What are the advantages of PWAs over native apps?

Interview conducted on May 18, 2018

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