Usable Mobile Web Design- Getting It Right

As the Internet ages, both the frequency and types of interaction we have with it continue to grow and develop.

One area in which the Internet is currently growing rapidly is mobile computing. This is being fuelled by a raft of low cost and high powered mobile technologies. Laptops, iPhones and other smartphones are allowing us to stay connected whenever and wherever. But coming up with a winning formula for mobile web sites requires a new approach. So how can businesses design usable and accessible mobile web sites?

The Environment

Consider the environment of a mobile web user. When people use the Internet on a computer or laptop, they are likely to be using a large screen, and generally experience few interruptions. It fills their world, they get sucked in. But mobile web is a different story. People use their mobile phones in environments that are filled with distractions: walking down the street, or waiting for a bus, for example. In these environments, services that require complex interactions fail. They need to finish using the site before they walk into the next lamp post. One user I spoke to summed it up perfectly: 'it has to fit in the cracks in my life'.

Do less, get more

Mobile web gives the promise of immediate access to information and entertainment, so users will be looking to accomplish specific, time sensitive goals. So, when creating a site for mobile, focus only on offering the features that will enable users to accomplish these goals; they don't want to be bothered with lots of insignificant or irrelevant information, questions or images. Design bite-sized, focused experiences; take a risk and focus only on the most important elements of the site.

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Usable Mobile Web Design- Getting It Right

As the Internet ages, the frequency and types of interaction we have with it continue to develop. One rapid growth area is mobile computing, driven by an increase in low-cost and high-powered mobile technologies. Developing a winning formula for mobile web sites requires a new approach. So how can businesses design usable and accessible mobile web sites?

The Environment

When people use the Internet on a computer or laptop, the outside world tends to disappear - as they get sucked into the large screen. But mobile web is a different story People use their mobile phones in environments that are filled with distractions: walking down the street, or waiting for a bus, for example. In busy environments, complex web sites fail. People need to finish using the site before they walk into the next lamp post. Short, tightly focussed interactions win.

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Five Steps To Effective Mobile Web Design

As consumers turn to their mobile devices for Web access, smart Web developers will keep key features in mind as they develop their sites

Almost every report on mobile usage statistics and forecasts says the same thing—more and more people are turning to their mobiles for access to the Internet. In the U.S. and Western Europe, people are increasingly using their BlackBerries, iPhones, and other smart phones to access information on the move.

In many countries, the mobile handset is the primary means to get online. For example, there are more than 60 million mobile users in Turkey, but only around 6 million PC broadband subscribers. Similarly in emerging markets, the high price of PCs and lack of broadband networks make the mobile the single point of contact with the Internet world.

Recent reports by Nielsen indicate that in Britain, mobile Internet traffic grew 25% in the second half of 2008, whilst PC traffic grew only 3%. In the U.S., mobile Internet traffic jumped 30% in the second quarter of 2008 alone. Much of this growth is undoubtedly driven by the Apple iPhone, yet this is just one of many thousands of devices available today, and it only represents a relatively small percentage of the total device landscape.

According to Nielsen, the iPhone represents about 1.5% of devices in use, and even the top 10 only represents around 20% of the subscriber population (see the table below). The remaining 80% represents a significant majority of potential customers using devices ranging from smart phones to more basic devices. Looking further afield to Europe, the top device mix is completely different, with the iPhone and Nokia devices dominating the market.

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