Our companies, at least OrangeSlyce (far from it), are definitely not at the scale of 37signals, so I would argue its a different set of circumstances.

You're definitely right that its not rational to declare every no-mobile-app company obsolete. My main point is that a company who resolves to a certain technology (web apps in this case) just because they don't know another technology (iOS, Android) isn't adapting to market changes.

I see no reason why anything in the post would apply to OrangeSlyce, based on the OrangeSlyce website. You're comparing a graphic design company to a product company. Graphic design does not go on the App Store — products do.

Relatedly he's not declaring every tech company without a native mobile app to be "obsolete" — he's declaring non-native mobile apps to be obsolete.

I can give you at least one reason:

Paragraph four, in bold: "In order to stay competitive, web companies now must provide for all devices."

An expanded quote from that paragraph: "If I’m walking down a hallway, I’ll be swyping on my Nexus S. When I get to my desk, I’ll switch to my MacBook Pro, and when I jump on a long flight, I’ll be typing on my iPad. I expect demand the absolute best user experience on each of these devices, and vote with my wallet for the company that will provide this."

The goal of OrangeSlyce appears to be connecting designers and customers. It's inherently social. Why wouldn't I want to have ready access to browse projects (as a student) or monitor my listing (as a project stakeholder)? I'm not trying to be a prick here, I'm just encouraging everyone to step outside this situation and get objective for a moment. We didn't go with Basecamp for our project management needs, so I'm not in this to stick up for 37 Signals or even my own opinions on their product.

I'm prepared to cede the fact that the author's intention was to address 37 Signals and similar companies, but I really don't understand why I'm being drilled for taking away what I thought was a pretty clear point.

His title is clearly calling out 37 Signals, not every company. Are you a bit defensive? 37 Signals has thousands of users, maybe even more. It's my understanding that there is constant demand for a native mobile app.

If your business doesn't need a native app, then don't create one. It's really that simple.

So assuming we're talking about 37 Signals only, I'd still offer the rebuttal that claiming obsolescence because of a lack of native app is a stretch. It's hyperbole. Yes, there is a vocal community of users who want a native app, but what are the costs associated with building the native app? Would 37 Signals see any substantial benefit by releasing a native app? What percentage of their user base are dissatisfied with the mobile web app?

There are a vocal community of users that want Flash on their iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch. There are a vocal community of users who want a Facebook iPad app. Apple and Facebook aren't on the path to obsolescence because they don't bend to the whim of their users.

In order for something to be obsolete, it must be operable, but unused. To be on the path to obsolescence, one would expect a decline in use. That's pretty hard to prove in the case of 37 Signals, because they don't publish user-base numbers. Or maybe they do. Does anyone have a source for this information?

You've presented a very good rebuttal that's hard to disagree with.

I could see why you'd think I'm being defensive, given all the 37Signals fanboys out there, but I am not among them. I respect their work, but I disagree with a lot of their ideas about running a company.

I am just struggling to find the point of the article. If he's simply calling out 37Signals, then more power to him. Here I was trying to find something to take away from the article.

His main point is that 37signals doesn't have a native app for Android/iOS but should because of the increasing number of users that own these devices. His secondary point is that a mobile phone web app simply isn't enough. Without rereading the article, he backs this up with an example of low internet signal in the bathroom and how a native app could remedy such a matter. He also mentions an airplane.

That was my simple summary. My takeaway is that software entrepreneurs should consider such issues. As he is right. Mobile web apps aren't enough. The UI paradigm between iOS and Android alone is enough to demonstrate this. I'm going to write a blog post about this tomorrow. Interesting topic that coincidentally I was discussing last night.