Problems with the mobile web

by Nick Cowie

Slides http://nickcowie.com/presentation/barcamp_mobileweb.pdf (1.8Mb)

Selling 4 internet enabled mobiles to each laptop. Didn't have a mobile phone until 2 years ago, now has a DoPod.

Many different screen res - small, 320x240, 480x320 (iPhone)

Get used to scrolling, you only have a small screen, so different to desktop experience. Only have 12-keys on most phones. Forms are slow to enter data. No mouse, slows you down a lot.

There are LOTS of mobile web browsers, you think you have a problem with desktop browsers!!! Many different view too (Think reader vs Print layout on Word).

Not all sites will work - you need to make a decision when developing.

XHTML-MP (Mobile profile). It's like 1999 again, except with 20 times more browsers.

Stylesheets or build for mobile specifically? In the future, it should just work - but for now, build another. Think about what a client wants to do. They want simplicity - so having a different version might be the best idea. They want information quickly - they don't need images. It's all about user experience.