With the plethora of devices and platforms, the mobile channel adds another dimension to the already complicated world of cross platform compatibility. Does it have to be that way though? Not necessarily, especially when you have budget limitations and versioning isn't an option.
When embarking on web endeavors, always consider your primary target audience and the access points they are most likely going to use to access your site - reference research please, not your gut feeling. Once you establish a standard for user access, you can intelligently evaluate the options available to you when being presented with features and the varying costs of making them compatible across browsers as well as mobile ready.
A little preliminary research goes a long way in managing your budget.
