Native apps will likely remain the best method to deliver specific things – like services (think Instagram) or games – but it’s content that will likely give mobile web the edge in the end. That’s the prediction an article from Read Write Mobile made about the future of the “Post-App Economy.” Here’s why they think mobile web might pull ahead eventually:

For a variety of reasons, this ecosystem is starting to fragment. Content publishers, retail businesses and restaurants are slowly realizing that they do not need to have a presence in the App Store to build a successful mobile presence. For many, it is much more important to show up in search on a smartphone or tablet through the browser rather than an app. Sure, there are native apps designed specifically for local discovery and content consumption, but search remains king in both of those realms. Even Apple’s Siri delivers search results through the browser by accessing online databases like Yelp. Siri results are browser-driven, not delivered from native apps. …

While processor-heavy apps reliant on device APIs will be better written with native code, content-driven apps can be created more easily and “good enough” on the mobile Web. …

The simple fact is that HTML5 and browser-based websites and services make much more sense for many content providers. For instance, look at the HTML5-driven websites for The Financial Times and BostonGlobe.com. These kinds of apps are cheaper and more convenient to develop, deploy and deliver all the essentials of a mobile content app. The same goes for sites and apps aimed at local businesses.

While there’s hope for the proponents of mobile web, Read Write Mobile cautions that it won’t dominate any time soon.

The mobile browser is just not ready for a true Post-App Economy. When we talk about mobile Web apps, HTML5, CSS and the like, we are talking about the quality and capabilities of the mobile browser. Currently, none of the major mobile browser providers have the capability to serve top-notch, app-like experiences that serve all user expectations. … Direct access to the full capabilities of mobile devices is the primary issue, but not the only one. Others include rendering, graphics and load time (all basically in the same category), along with HTML5 audio and video quality. …

Users don’t care whether they’re using the mobile Web or native apps, they just head toward the best content and utilities. So the only way to fully disrupt the App Economy is to improve the capabilities of the mobile browser so it is more competitive with native apps. That’s not likely to happen for at least two to four years. And even then it will take users several more years to fully change their conditioned behavior (downloading applications from app stores). And the native platforms aren’t going to be stagnant during that time.

The true “Post-App Economy” won’t debut until 2020, if ever.