The mobile web has been quietly on the rise for some time now, but it’s always seemed to play a secondary role to trendy native apps, which have been in high-demand since the debut of mobile devices. Well, according to new research, that is no longer the case. A recent report by Wireless Developer Network indicates that basic mobile websites are becoming more and more prevalent, having grown by as much as 35% in the last quarter alone. And, should this pace remain steady, the growth rate of mobile sites in 2010 will be 232%. That, in comparison with the 144% growth rate of native apps for the iPhone, is an eye-opening figure.

As Steve Ives, the CEO of Taptu, a company committed to mobile web development, suggested in a discussion about the growth of the mobile web, it is also critical to distinguish how consumers are utilizing mobile sites as compared to apps. Ives pointed out that the most popular apps for the iPhone are games, and observed that “On the Mobile Touch Web, mobile commerce is the focus.” This contrast, he argues, makes “social and shopping services/experiences…a better fit with the mobile Web.” Also, because the mobile-web is open, it doesn’t require developers to submit to Apple’s strict app criteria. Instead, they can generate a mobile profile that is accessible across multiple platforms and from any mobile device or carrier.

The distinction between the innovative freedoms allowed by the open-source mobile web, and the regulated apps native to only one platform, is not wholly unlike the dispute that has arisen between Apple’s Steve Jobs, and the founders of Adobe, Chuch Gesche and John Warnock. In a response to Jobs’ criticism, which they have posted on the Adobe site, they argue that “consumers should be able to freely access their favorite content and applications, regardless of what computer they have, what browser they like, or what device suits their needs.” In a sense, this is exactly what the mobile web provides for users whereas apps have their respective limits and quid pro quos. The bottom line is that an app can be a very useful tool, usually for accomplishing small, fairly straightforward tasks or as a form of entertainment. But if you’re ultimately looking to tap into the world of commerce through mobile users, the unfettered realm of mobile web development is undoubtedly your best bet.