Do we really need mobile format sites?

robobobo · 24th Sep 2011, 03:15 PM

I spend a good bit of my time browsing online from my smartphone and to be honest I love getting the full website experience, and not toned down mobile version of it.

Do we really need mobile formatted websites? I mean most of today's smartphones have got full browsers and pretty much all but apple support flash and everything. Even the most fancy websites work perfectly fine on my HTC Desire.

I personally never use mobile sites, and I'll always try switch back to the full site if I get pointed towards it. However sometimes I've no option but to use the mobile site which is quite annoying.

What do you guys think?

I.M.Retired · 24th Sep 2011, 03:20 PM

I am wondering the same thing myself. To me, mobile websites are more of a billboard than a website - great for ordering pizza, calling a tow-truck or any website where a quick reference to business location and click-to-call numbers are the primary purpose for checking the site.

And as smart-phone mature to genius phones - who knows what additional bells and whistles for your Internet viewing pleasure will be added?

I'm interested to hear what others have to say about this.

davechan · 24th Sep 2011, 05:55 PM

I have a number of clients that post updated information re: swim meets and other sporting events. The full website is graphically beautiful, but if every visitor had to look at the full site just to get the targeted meet info no one would use it.

The mobile version of the site will provide the information at the users fingertips without spending a whole lot of time searching for it.

TWalker · 24th Sep 2011, 06:43 PM

Huh? Not sure what your phone is like but I use an Android with 3.2" screen and most every site I look at is very difficult to read and many do not function well at all. Just yesterday I was showing a friend business owner what his site looked like the navigation was all bunched up so you couldnt click his contact link.

Your screen is only .5" larger than mine so I cannot imagine it is that much better but it may be.

So yes of course we need sites to look good on phones.

ltplenus · 24th Sep 2011, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by robobobo

I spend a good bit of my time browsing online from my smartphone and to be honest I love getting the full website experience, and not toned down mobile version of it.

Do we really need mobile formatted websites? I mean most of today's smartphones have got full browsers and pretty much all but apple support flash and everything. Even the most fancy websites work perfectly fine on my HTC Desire.

I personally never use mobile sites, and I'll always try switch back to the full site if I get pointed towards it. However sometimes I've no option but to use the mobile site which is quite annoying.

What do you guys think?

I make yours, my own words robobobo...
I want my phone to be as close as possible to a portable computer. I want the full browsing experience, not to mention other things that are not related to web browsing and my HTC Inspire is a blast however.... When it comes to effectiveness in terms of business a straight to the point approach is definitely the way to go. I'll keep looking at the full site myself but i'm all happy making mobile sites to my clients and using it as a foot in the door for other mobile services ;-)

WillR · 24th Sep 2011, 08:36 PM

There is a BIG difference between the mobile web surfer lying on their couch at home browsing websites through their WIFI network and the mobile web surfer whose on the move and needs access to a particular piece of information right away.

What would you find more annoying?

1. You are driving home and you decide to order a couple of pizzas for the family dinner. You are stopped up at the traffic lights so you search Google for your local pizza joint and click on their website. The website takes forever to load and once it does, you can't read a damn thing so you need to zoom in. The moment you do this majority of the website leaves the screen so you have to scroll left, right, up and down just to read anything. You then go to click on the link for the menu however because the site is not optimized for mobile phones your fat finger clicks the wrong page and you sit their waiting and waiting for the wrong page to load. You finally get to the menu and decide what to order. You have to go to their contact page and find their phone number. Once you have found the number you need to copy it or remember it off by heart so you can enter it into your phone and call through your order.

OR

2. You are driving home and you decide to order a couple of pizzas for the family dinner. You are stopped up at the traffic lights so you search Google for your local pizza joint and click on their website. The website detects you are a mobile user and throws you straight over to the mobile optimized version of their website - which literally jumps up on the screen because of it's simple design and layout. You can immediately see all the content on the website without having to zoom in or scroll left and right. You can browse and navigate through the entire site using just one hand - something that is not possible with most regular websites.

The homepage buttons have been designed with mobile users in mind so you have no trouble clicking on the correct button to view their food menu. Once again the menu jumps up on the screen and you can read it without any need to zoom in. You find exactly what it is you want to order and you can then tap on the 'Click to Call' button they have provided which automatically dials the number on your phone.

If you think the only advantage to having a mobile website is removing the need to zoom in then you are mistaken. There are loads of advantages to having a mobile optimized version of your website. So long as you provide an easy way for mobile users to go to your regular website if they would prefer, then how one earth could having a mobile version of your website not be a great investment for a local business?

Joe Motion · 25th Sep 2011, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by robobobo

Do we really need mobile formatted websites? I mean most of today's smartphones have got full browsers and pretty much all but apple support flash and everything. Even the most fancy websites work perfectly fine on my HTC Desire.

Can you see these standard websites without zooming in and out?

Zooming in and out is hard work. Especially when you're in a rush. Imagine you've just finished work and you quickly want to find out the contact details for a local restaurant.

This is what a the restaurants standard website looks like on a fairly new Nokia smartphone..

You can't say that's easy to use?

robobobo · 25th Sep 2011, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by WillR

There is a BIG difference between the mobile web surfer lying on their couch at home browsing websites through their WIFI network and the mobile web surfer whose on the move and needs access to a particular piece of information right away.

What would you find more annoying?

1. You are driving home and you decide to order a couple of pizzas for the family dinner. You are stopped up at the traffic lights so you search Google for your local pizza joint and click on their website. The website takes forever to load and once it does, you can't read a damn thing so you need to zoom in. The moment you do this majority of the website leaves the screen so you have to scroll left, right, up and down just to read anything. You then go to click on the link for the menu however because the site is not optimized for mobile phones your fat finger clicks the wrong page and you sit their waiting and waiting for the wrong page to load. You finally get to the menu and decide what to order. You have to go to their contact page and find their phone number. Once you have found the number you need to copy it or remember it off by heart so you can enter it into your phone and call through your order.

OR

2. You are driving home and you decide to order a couple of pizzas for the family dinner. You are stopped up at the traffic lights so you search Google for your local pizza joint and click on their website. The website detects you are a mobile user and throws you straight over to the mobile optimized version of their website - which literally jumps up on the screen because of it's simple design and layout. You can immediately see all the content on the website without having to zoom in or scroll left and right. You can browse and navigate through the entire site using just one hand - something that is not possible with most regular websites.

The homepage buttons have been designed with mobile users in mind so you have no trouble clicking on the correct button to view their food menu. Once again the menu jumps up on the screen and you can read it without any need to zoom in. You find exactly what it is you want to order and you can then tap on the 'Click to Call' button they have provided which automatically dials the number on your phone.

If you think the only advantage to having a mobile website is removing the need to zoom in then you are mistaken. There are loads of advantages to having a mobile optimized version of your website. So long as you provide an easy way for mobile users to go to your regular website if they would prefer, then how one earth could having a mobile version of your website not be a great investment for a local business?

Ok I'll agree with you there, for things like ordering Pizza it is very handy, I guess there's a time and place for mobile websites..

However I'm fairly sure you shouldn't be using your phone to order pizza online while stopped at traffic lights

pixelionart · 26th Sep 2011, 10:34 AM

I personally believe that websites with a mobile version is more customer/visitor friendly and I'm sure a lot of people here would agree with me.

Mobile website versions make it easier for users to navigate around the site and find what they are looking for.

Mary Wilhite · 26th Sep 2011, 12:30 PM

The reason why mobile websites are created
is because there is a demand for it.

Do you think people will keep on offering mobile
websites if businesses don't need/require it?

At the core of the need is to increase usability.
So if you are saying that it's not needed then I
think that a lot of people are not sharing the same
opinion.

monicad · 26th Sep 2011, 06:36 PM

I agree with everyone who has shared that there is a definitive need. Perhaps there is a disconnect, but you need only spend some time in Apple's app store to realize that consumers are driving the market demand and will actually stop! patronizing a business if they feel like their needs are not being thought of.

For the first time this year, mobile/smart phone shipments outnumbered desktop computers. You just can' have a sufficient user experience if you can't easily read the content of a business' website if it's not mobile optimized, period.

PPCampaigns · 26th Sep 2011, 07:28 PM

There are a ton of factors that play into this. I'm like you, I enjoy the "full website experience". Sometimes it is a problem, though. If someone is on 3G instead of wifi, those pages can take a while to load. This is where a mobile version of the site would come in. It's concise and straight to the point. Most people I've seen browse on their phones when they want a piece of information quick. In this case, the faster the better. Therefore, the mobile version would be ideal for this. I think it's best to have both and let the user choose for themselves.

24th Sep 2011, 03:15 PM	#1
robobobo Active Warrior Join Date: 2010 Posts: 33 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: I spend a good bit of my time browsing online from my smartphone and to be honest I love getting the full website experience, and not toned down mobile version of it. Do we really need mobile formatted websites? I mean most of today's smartphones have got full browsers and pretty much all but apple support flash and everything. Even the most fancy websites work perfectly fine on my HTC Desire. I personally never use mobile sites, and I'll always try switch back to the full site if I get pointed towards it. However sometimes I've no option but to use the mobile site which is quite annoying. What do you guys think?
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24th Sep 2011, 03:20 PM	#2
I.M.Retired Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2005 Posts: 664 Thanks: 840 Thanked 331 Times in 208 Posts	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: I am wondering the same thing myself. To me, mobile websites are more of a billboard than a website - great for ordering pizza, calling a tow-truck or any website where a quick reference to business location and click-to-call numbers are the primary purpose for checking the site. And as smart-phone mature to genius phones - who knows what additional bells and whistles for your Internet viewing pleasure will be added? I'm interested to hear what others have to say about this.

24th Sep 2011, 05:55 PM	#3
davechan HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: I have a number of clients that post updated information re: swim meets and other sporting events. The full website is graphically beautiful, but if every visitor had to look at the full site just to get the targeted meet info no one would use it. The mobile version of the site will provide the information at the users fingertips without spending a whole lot of time searching for it.
	A successful virtual company starts with the best phone service.

24th Sep 2011, 06:43 PM	#4
TWalker HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Posts: 316 Thanks: 39 Thanked 48 Times in 31 Posts	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: Huh? Not sure what your phone is like but I use an Android with 3.2" screen and most every site I look at is very difficult to read and many do not function well at all. Just yesterday I was showing a friend business owner what his site looked like the navigation was all bunched up so you couldnt click his contact link. Your screen is only .5" larger than mine so I cannot imagine it is that much better but it may be. So yes of course we need sites to look good on phones.

24th Sep 2011, 08:36 PM	#6
WillR Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 12,475 Thanks: 1,984 Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: There is a BIG difference between the mobile web surfer lying on their couch at home browsing websites through their WIFI network and the mobile web surfer whose on the move and needs access to a particular piece of information right away. What would you find more annoying? 1. You are driving home and you decide to order a couple of pizzas for the family dinner. You are stopped up at the traffic lights so you search Google for your local pizza joint and click on their website. The website takes forever to load and once it does, you can't read a damn thing so you need to zoom in. The moment you do this majority of the website leaves the screen so you have to scroll left, right, up and down just to read anything. You then go to click on the link for the menu however because the site is not optimized for mobile phones your fat finger clicks the wrong page and you sit their waiting and waiting for the wrong page to load. You finally get to the menu and decide what to order. You have to go to their contact page and find their phone number. Once you have found the number you need to copy it or remember it off by heart so you can enter it into your phone and call through your order. OR 2. You are driving home and you decide to order a couple of pizzas for the family dinner. You are stopped up at the traffic lights so you search Google for your local pizza joint and click on their website. The website detects you are a mobile user and throws you straight over to the mobile optimized version of their website - which literally jumps up on the screen because of it's simple design and layout. You can immediately see all the content on the website without having to zoom in or scroll left and right. You can browse and navigate through the entire site using just one hand - something that is not possible with most regular websites. The homepage buttons have been designed with mobile users in mind so you have no trouble clicking on the correct button to view their food menu. Once again the menu jumps up on the screen and you can read it without any need to zoom in. You find exactly what it is you want to order and you can then tap on the 'Click to Call' button they have provided which automatically dials the number on your phone. If you think the only advantage to having a mobile website is removing the need to zoom in then you are mistaken. There are loads of advantages to having a mobile optimized version of your website. So long as you provide an easy way for mobile users to go to your regular website if they would prefer, then how one earth could having a mobile version of your website not be a great investment for a local business?
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26th Sep 2011, 10:34 AM	#9
pixelionart Designer and Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 27 Thanks: 11 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: I personally believe that websites with a mobile version is more customer/visitor friendly and I'm sure a lot of people here would agree with me. Mobile website versions make it easier for users to navigate around the site and find what they are looking for.
	Fresh, creative, and affordable with all the top-notch features that a website should have (SEO friendly, optimized for speed, visually appealing, etc.) - Pixelion Art

26th Sep 2011, 12:30 PM	#10
Mary Wilhite Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: Canton, Georgia Posts: 748 Thanks: 27 Thanked 143 Times in 122 Posts Blog Entries: 13	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: The reason why mobile websites are created is because there is a demand for it. Do you think people will keep on offering mobile websites if businesses don't need/require it? At the core of the need is to increase usability. So if you are saying that it's not needed then I think that a lot of people are not sharing the same opinion.
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26th Sep 2011, 06:36 PM	#11
monicad Problem Solver War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 11 Thanks: 2 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: I agree with everyone who has shared that there is a definitive need. Perhaps there is a disconnect, but you need only spend some time in Apple's app store to realize that consumers are driving the market demand and will actually stop! patronizing a business if they feel like their needs are not being thought of. For the first time this year, mobile/smart phone shipments outnumbered desktop computers. You just can' have a sufficient user experience if you can't easily read the content of a business' website if it's not mobile optimized, period.
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26th Sep 2011, 07:28 PM	#12
PPCampaigns Active Warrior Join Date: 2011 Posts: 39 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Do we really need mobile format sites? Share on: There are a ton of factors that play into this. I'm like you, I enjoy the "full website experience". Sometimes it is a problem, though. If someone is on 3G instead of wifi, those pages can take a while to load. This is where a mobile version of the site would come in. It's concise and straight to the point. Most people I've seen browse on their phones when they want a piece of information quick. In this case, the faster the better. Therefore, the mobile version would be ideal for this. I think it's best to have both and let the user choose for themselves.
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