Responsive Websites - Is it necessary to make an app?

My friend has an idea and wants both a website and a phone app. If I use a responsive Wordpress theme which adjusts itself for mobile phones, is it even necessary to make a separate phone app? Can you add the website itself to an app store and have it function as an app (just basically opens up the website which will look exactly like a phone app). Hopefully I'm making sense. Is a separate app necessary?

 

I'm currently looking into this as well, as my app will just be the website optimized for mobile. On apple, you can just make bookmarking your site function like an app, with startup screen and no browser gui. For it to be in the app store, there'll need to be a wrapper app. I think there are some sites what will build this for you from your site url.

The biggest problem for me is redesigning my site for the phone, I have a lot going on on the wesite, and a lot of old code. I'm wondering if anyone has done any big responsive design conversions.

 

I never worked on apps, just created a design that would 'morph' properly to accommodate smaller displays. Many designs (that are still not responsive), can be tweaked to be like this, though it can be a bit of a hassle. Anyway .. some good CSS knowledge and time on your hands and you can make it work.

 

My question would be is it actually an app, or is it a website; the two usually do NOT mix well; but to be fair as a rule I HATE web crApplets. They're bloated, slow, inefficient and when combined with websites piss all over the accessibility of the site. NO amount of responsive design can compensate for endless pointless scripttardery.

... and I don't even want to THINK about the disaster of letting websites into the various app stores would be. Of course, you'd also have to figure in which app stores you are targeting since they actually require applications, and xCode based apps for iStore isn't gonna fly on 'Droid stores -- and don't forget the Windows Store with it's metro-tard HTML 5 crap. (that helps explain why the number of windows phone users can be counted on one hand)

 

Responsive design is definitely the easiest way to go because of re-use. But if you want true native functionality like touching the contacts, memory card and the core systems then you'll need to make a native app. This generally means better user experience and integration with their hardware. Of course this requires a larger amount of investment.

A responsive app also assumes constant connection to the internet as well. The app can function regardless of internet connectivity and so this could go to a wider audience/lead to more use. You can always sync the data later when there is internet connectivity.

 

Yes, you can add an app which simply opens mobile website to the store (YouTube app for Windows Phone for example).