I’ve done an article on this subject before for the desktop, but the ability to make PWAs in the smartphone environment is turning out to be a positive boon! Here’s a good example.
The Windup.
If you live in the Tucson vicinity, your electric power company is most likely Tucson Electric Power. These folks have had web apps for both Android and iPhone for a number of years. With them, you can monitor your usage, pay your bill, report outages, etc. I have it on my Android phone and use it at least monthly to pay my electric bill.
The Pitch…
So, it’s the early part of the month and time to pay the bill. Out comes my smartphone to launch the TEP app. App launches fine, but instead of a Home screen, I get this terse little message telling me the latest version of the app is no longer compatible with my phone.
Strikeout!
Indeed, the App insists on Android 13 or later, my phone is running Android 12 and no further updates are available because the phone is too old; all the carriers want you to keep buying new phones (did someone out there somewhere say Windows 11??). Checking the App’s ratings in the Play Store show the “One Star” column to be by far the longest accompanied buy a ton of complaints on this very issue. The absolute kicker for me is my younger sister’s career was with TEP and she’s now in the same boat, her phone is too old.
The Homerun!
Here is where the PWA comes to the rescue. Both Chrome and Edge for Android and iPhone support and will make PWAs of most websites for you. In this case, I used Edge and opened TEP’s web site. On Edge for Android, you click the “hamburger” icon in the lower right of the screen and select “Add to Phone. This gives you a clickable “App” you can use to go about your business.
Picture time
I’ve made screenshots of both Edge and Chrome on my Android phone showing what to click and where:
EDGE
CHROME
For Chrome, click the ellipsis (three vertical dots) it the upper right of the screen, then select Add to Home Screen from the menu:
Conclusion
PWAs and a truly handy feature. I’ve used it for several other websites that do not have Android apps including a local supermarket, a well-known Texas BBQ restaurant chain, and a specialty website that lets me look at a number of parameters at the LPTV installation I take service. They are handy, easy to set up, and will work with most websites. Give it a try!
