Hot Tech Trends: How Will the iPhone 6 Affect Web Design?

Last week, Apple fans around the planet erupted into a frenzy as the technology behemoth released its newest iPhones, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Yes, I’ll admit, a good deal of the OpenPotion staff was glued to the live feed too, and we giddily exchanged messages back and forth about the latest features: a notably larger screen, Apple Pay, new imaging capabilities, and much more. While it was great fun to drool over the new devices and dream about getting our hands on one of the tech world’s hottest new toys, I had to ask myself, “How will the iPhone 6 change the world of web design?”

Sure, it might seem like a bit of a stretch, but remember, Apple was the company that brought smartphones to the masses, made Adobe Flash nearly obsolete, and was one of the loudest champions of HTML5. The impact of one little phone might not seem relevant, but with more than 500 million of these devices sold over the course of the past few years, savvy webmasters should certainly be asking themselves how their online destination could be impacted by the new release.

Responsive, Responsive, Responsive

For website owners who’ve opted to adopt a responsive design for their site, the good news is that the iPhone 6 should have little impact at all. That’s because responsive sites are specifically geared to “respond” to the browser of each unique visitor. How a site appears on an iPhone 6 Plus, iPad, or a desktop computer shouldn’t differ. Instead, responsive design allows the user experience to remain constant.  While this is encouraging news for some site owners, it’s undeniable that the new phones will make their mark in other ways.

Increased Local Searches

The Internet already marked a substantial milestone earlier this year, when mobile web usage officially surpassed traditional desktop browsing. For local business owners, this metric isn’t merely interesting to note—it’s essential. The majority of all local searches take place on smartphones like the iPhone 6, and research has shown that web users rely heavily on the reviews a site has amassed to determine its legitimacy and value. With faster LTE browsing and a longer battery life, Apple’s new phones will likely boost mobile browsing further than ever before.

If you’re still struggling to get over the impact of negative reviews on your Yelp, Google Plus, or Yahoo! Local account, consider investing in a solution like GatherKudos. This innovative tool makes it easy to filter bad reviews before they ever make it to your site—and best of all, you can easily funnel the right kind of reviews to the places that matter.

Developing Fully-Functional Websites

Earlier in this millennium, mobile websites were seen as an afterthought. Many sites didn’t offer the same dynamic features as their desktop counterparts, and some destinations weren’t accessible at all on the small screen. If the insatiable appetite for the new iPhone 6 Plus reveals anything, it’s that modern consumers are eager to purchase large devices that can take the place of their computer in many applications. For web designers and business owners, never has it been more important to create a site that caters to the users of such devices.

While the full impact of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus remains yet to be seen, there’s little question Apple has another winner on its hands. If you’re a site owner wondering if your online destination can keep up with the influx of mobile users, get in touch with us today to learn more about our comprehensive design packages. We’re industry leaders in developing responsive, attractive sites that accomplish real results.

– Adam, Content Wizard