Mobile Browsing

Some Mobile Browsing Thoughts

I have been researching mobile browsing from cellphones, smartphones and pocket PCs. And there doesn’t appear to be a general consensus as to the best approach for mobile web sites. Some experts recommend a separate extension for mobile browsing, others recommend browser detection to direct mobile users to a mobile friendly site. Most agree mobile devices need a site that is specifically designed for these smaller screens.

Amazon appears to have adopted the idea of using browser detection rather than adding a specific mobile extension. Mobile and desktop browsers both go to amazon.com and depending on their device types are directed to the site most appropriate for their device.

This works for them and I suspect most larger sites will use browser detection or at least mobile device or desktop PC detection rather than use separate web addresses. One web address is easier to remember even if only the extension is different. Also, one address suggests to the user there is only one web site instead of two different sites.

If branding is a major issue, one site address may be the best approach especially if you have the money to support a large IT staff. The cost of ensuring that the variety of mobile browsing capable devices can fully access your site can be steep as mobile devices come and go.

As to browser and device detection, I am not sold on the idea. What if a user wants to view your .com site on a mobile device or your mobile friendly site on a PC? Automatic redirection will not allow me to do this because you have made that decision for them.

Mobile browsing is in its infancy but in a year, two at the most, it will explode much like the PC did. The real question is who will dominate? Will Microsoft fall away much like Apple did once PCs with Windows became available? Will another Gates create a better system for mobile users? (The iPhone is a great first step in that direction.)

Mobile browsing is here to stay but it its present state, it takes more patience than knowledge, especially with cellphones. Mobile browsing is not yet ready for serious users. Who will make mobile browsing less expensive and a better user experience? Air time and device costs will drop as demand increases just as Windows pushed Apple and the Macintosh aside, the mobile world needs a cheaper carrier and better mobile devices.

Smartphones and pocket PCs like the Palm Treo, the Blackberry, and other like units are steps in that direction but faster connections speeds and larger display screens are needed for serious browsing. These phones work well for small files like emails but try filling out a form or an application on a mobile device.

History shows us that the more proprietary a system the less likely it will become the standard. Open source devices usually win out over closed system as Microsoft proved with Mac.

The point is that most of the smartphones and pocket PCs use proprietary systems, and while Windows Mobile is not exactly open, it is generally more user friendly than most of the others. (Yes, Windows Mobile does have its problems but the learning curve development cycle are shorter for mobile devices that they were for PCs.)