Going Mobile

One of the most important changes that “Web 2.0” has brought to the online space is RIAs (Rich Internet Applications). Such websites are basically applications, with some popular examples being Hotmail, Yahoo Chat, Google Docs, or Sharepoint. The best part about these “Web apps” is that there's no installation process involved. A key to the Internet’s success lies in the fact that information is available “up there in the clouds”, meaning that you can access the same content, regardless of the device you use, and of course, there's no need to back up your data.

With the advent of RIAs and multi-device accessibility, your company may want to take the next step with its website and go mobile. But, when should a website go mobile, and should it go mobile at all?

From Desktop to Device

There are two important differences to consider when you jump from a desktop computer to a mobile device:

• Size matters. Yes, you can access any site on your iPhone, Android, or newer Blackberry devices, but try to interact with larger websites via zooming, and it becomes more difficult and less friendly. Besides, they take quite some time to load.
• Interaction is completely different. Most mobile devices are now touch-based. We’re even starting to use new terms when we interact with them, like tap instead of click and pinch to zoom.

When you begin the process of building a mobile version of your current website, keep in mind the following points:

• Know who your users are. (Who’ll be visiting your site and how’re they going to access it?)
• Keep it clean and simple. Mobile bandwidth is limited compared to desktop computers. Remember those days of the 56K modem?
• Write short text. If we already scan pages on a desktop computer, imagine how quickly we’ll go through content on a mobile phone.
• Always offer a link to the full site. Sometimes you just want to have the full website experience.
• Consider why people access your site “on the go.” On a mobile device, it’s likely that people are looking for an address first and not the company profile.
• Factor in orientation changes. You can switch from landscape to portrait mode in almost any mobile device now.

Mobile Apps or Mobile Sites?

The problem with mobile applications is that they are built for one specific device type. Creating different apps for the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry can get really expensive because you need three different development projects. Each platform has its own interface rules, programming language, and so on. So, a mobile website makes more sense in those cases where you don’t require apps, as it is a cost-effective way to connect with those audience members who are always on the go. If the content requires some additional functionality like a camera phone, GPS location, or other hardware-specific feature, then you may want to consider building an application.

Are Mobile Websites Better?

It depends. Mobile apps can use some specific things that websites can't (e.g., your phone can notify you when new content is up, your phone features specific hardware like a camera or a GPS). Since there's more than one way to access and enter the mobile space, you have to decide which platform works better for your end-users’ needs and the project at hand.