Negosentro.com | What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Mobile Cloud Computing? | With companies adapting to new technology, cloud computing is evolving like never before. Mmobile cloud computing allowing business as well as personal users to access their documents, files, images, and other types of data remotely over the Internet using their smartphones.
Mobile app companies including top mobile app developers have real advantages from mobile cloud computing. The biggest benefit of cloud computing for developers is that it allows them to have access to a larger market. Gmail, GPRS, and Google Maps are examples of mobile cloud computing and being used worldwide. In a few years’ time, we will witness a major shift from mobile application technology to mobile cloud computing.
Mobile devices have different operating systems, screen sizes, attributes, such as GPS. Developing a mobile app that runs on different devices needs the cross-platform capability to make more mobile apps available to users using different devices. One solution for the top app developers, facing this problem during developing a mobile app is to move the app data stored on the mobile device, to servers running in a mobile cloud.
Before adopting this new technology, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of mobile cloud computing.
Advantages of Mobile Cloud Computing
Flexibility
Mobile cloud computing allows accessing data from anywhere in the world. As long as you are connected to the internet, you can access the application and mobile data from any mobile device.
Multiple Platform Support
Mobile cloud computing offers multiple platform support. You can easily access and applications stored in the cloud, regardless of the platform.
Cost-Efficient
Cloud computing is one of the most cost-efficient methods to be used and maintained. Mobile cloud computing has a minimal upfront cost depending on the usage. Also, there are no hefty fees charged for licensing and upgrades.
Real-Time Data Availability
You can go real-time with the mobile cloud computing. Since all your data is managed externally, you can access and update your data in real-time on your mobile device. Documents can also be simultaneouslymanaged by multiple persons.
Backup and Recovery
Data backup and restoring is much easier when all your data is stored in the cloud. Cloud disaster recovery is a strategy that involves storing and maintaining copies of digital records in a cloud computing environment as a security measure.
Disadvantages of Mobile Cloud Computing
Data Security
Data security is one of the major concerns of cloud computing. Most of the time mobile users provide sensitive information through the network, and if it is not protected can cause major damages. You need to choose the most reliable service provider, who can keep your data totally safe and secure.
Connectivity and Performance Issues
As mobile cloud computing depends on internet, this can affect your access and use. Sometimes you may feel that performance is not up to the mark. Hence, it is better to check the track record of your service provider before undertaking the service. In spite of keeping up high standards of maintenance, cloud service providers may face some serious dysfunction.
Dependency and Vendor Lock-In
Sometimes it becomes difficult to migrate from a service provider and this is what it is called as ‘Vendor lock-in’. It is very important to check the terms & conditions and other options before picking a vendor as later it can become difficult to switch to some other provider.
With the emergence of cloud resources all the data processing and storage, the mobile users do not need high data processing and storage capabilities on their mobile devices. For top mobile app developers, developing apps for mobile cloud is different than developing apps for native platforms like iPhone or Android. Moreover, mobile app solution providers have started offering mobile browsers, that allow users to access apps from the website, eliminating the need to go to the App Store to download the app.
Here are some things you should consider before choosing the cloud computing service provider
Make sure you choose a cloud service provider that has an experience in the industry and familiar with most of the software that your company or you personally are using
- Go for the cloud service provider who can handle robust bandwidth and data exchange in real-time
- Before selecting a cloud service provider, look at the security and data policies, and terms of service
- Select the cloud service provider who provides easy integration of current network resources into servers and cloud apps
- Cloud service should be easy to manage, control and maintain with efficiency
- Check the pricing plans before selecting the cloud service provider
- The cloud service provider should offer reliable and flexible recovery option
- You should also look for device diversity and location independence in cloud service
Despite its disadvantages, cloud computing still has some great potential for future. Mobile applications are becoming increasingly smart, people are using mobile to access documents, delivering presentations. Moreover, with the adoption of HTML5 standards by top app developers, it has now become easy to design apps that rely on the mobile cloud. With technology advancement, we can only hope that advantages may take over disadvantages and make our work much easier.
via Ritesh Patil
Ritesh Patil is the co-founder of Mobisoft Infotech that helps startups and enterprises in mobile technology. He loves technology, especially mobile technology. He’s an avid blogger and writes on mobile application. He works in a leading android development company with skilled android app developers that has developed innovative mobile applications across various fields such as Finance, Insurance, Health, Entertainment, Productivity, Social Causes, Education and many more and has bagged numerous awards for the same.
