Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I just read on a french magazine and they say that tablet will oversell mobile phones and more people will use tablet to browse web rather than their phone or PC.

Mobile sites we see here is for mobile, try to look on a tablet, it's awful, also better browse the desktop like website. The problem with desktop website on an ipad or tablet is that sometime you have to zoom to read text or click a button.

So I think a tablet web design is what will work.

Some interesting news: iPad has 88% of global tablet web traffic, but Kindle Fire could start eating it | VentureBeat

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/amazon-...gn-05-09-2011/


iPad snags 95.7% of all U.S. tablet web traffic - The Next Web

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

This is just one persons opinion at the end of the day.

People are not going to be trouncing around with tablets in their pockets so mobile phones will always make up a very large percentage of mobile web browsing. When I am on the road looking for local restaurants or local services I am using a mobile device... not a tablet.

There is a reason mobile phones are called mobile phones -- because they are nice and mobile. A tablet not so much.

Wouldn't be the first time the french have been wrong ;)

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Have to agree with WillR

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I like the new ultra thin notebooks shown at CES that have touch screen that converts to tablet. Full function, super thin light notebook that has tablet function as well. I bought a tablet (of course had to buy a wireless keyboard too) but end up using my laptop. Much easier w/ finger pad to move mouse around, instead of more work w/ touch screen, and keyboard is 10x faster than typing on screen. For traveling, lightweight browsing a tablet is fine, more media consumption.

The ultra books will be best of both worlds. why have a laptop and a tablet? kind of a waste and pain to sync etc....

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

And if you use the legit mobile design systems, like a certain person's who responded three posts above mine, its a moot point because your mobile website automatically redirects to said mobile version on a tablet, looks GREAT on an iPad (believe me, I've seen my own sites on an iPad), AND gives the tablet user the option to go to the desktop version.

But thank you though, you have just given me yet another selling point when presenting to prospects. :)

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Yeah french are wrong again, it common sense to think that mobile technology is getting better every month and getting quicker every month. People will always use there mobile's for searching whilst out and about. Tablets will take over laptops and pc in the future and that wont really be a niche because many sites already look okay on a tablet if they do on a pc.

Mobile is the next big thing. Just try it instead of trying to find negatives

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

There is a huge opportunity for businesses to use tablets as a selling device and upselling to captive clients in their businesses. There will be huge opportunities to make money in this area.

Tablets are now cheap enough, (no not $500 ipads! LOL) for businesses to deploy several.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

As far as I know, there is no "switcher" for tablets. Just desktop or mobile site. I suppose if you built your desktop site with tablets in mind you would use a "fluid theme" so it stretches and manipulated images, buttons, and makes it to look good on either application. BUT, still use a separate mobile website that you can control how everything looks.

Lot of new WP templates now that are made specific for desktop to tablet (fluid) and mobile (but there mobile versions are still squished versions of the desktop)

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

A properly designed Mobile site will show up just fine on a Tablet's or IPad's 7" or 9" screen.

While tablet's are selling very well, there will ALWAYS be more cellphones out there and obviously that is the intended audience for mobile websites.

Giving a user the option to view a site in either Mobile or Desktop version is important and should always be included.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

This pretty much sums it up!!! Thanks Will, you always have a stellar response and could not have said it better myself....lol! :D

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

It's really hard to agree with this mainly because of what Will is saying -- Tablets are a means of browsing. Sure, you can do the same from a phone but people are usually looking for specific information from their phone. Especially when it comes to where people are selling these sites.

I too think the French are wrong about this one ;)

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

To me I think that there is probably more ecommerce done on tablets so the direction maybe tablet optimized e commerce sites.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I've visited hundreds of site on the IPad 2 with no problems in viewing. True, sometimes you do have to zoom to read smaller text, but I find that when sites are designed well, there are no problems. I find more issues in viewing websites on my small LG phone, but when sites are optimized for mobile, it's ok.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Personally I don't like browsing the internet with a mobile. So no loss there.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I still say HTML 5 "Responsive" (as someone was so kind to point out to me it was called) web design will be the way to go, then it is not a matter of what type of device you are using, it can be seen on all. no sub domain required.

Suzanne

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

This might change your opinion! Visit the second post link:http://www.warriorforum.com/mobile-m...imization.html

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Yeah, smart phones aren't going anywhere. You can't carry a tablet in your pocket. Tablets will take over laptops for sure. Eventually HTML5 Responsive Websites will be the way to go. Then it shouldn't matter what you are using.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Thank you for the link, will definitely look more into it. I wonder if a responsive website can be optimized with css or javascript to no-load?

Suzanne

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I do disagree with the French with one. :)

Tablets are just another means of browsing. Tablets can not replace mobile phones and most importantly, it can not take mobile phones out of its niche. Mobile marketing will continue to grow and programs that can integrate mobile marketing and social media will help this growth of digital marketing as well!

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I completely agree with WillR.
Mobiles are mobiles And tablets cant replace mobiles.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

i dont think tablet replaces mobile....atleast in the near future....mobile is mobile , it will just become more smart...........

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Mobile is only going to get bigger. The whole pie is growing. Pretty soon babies will have cell phones to order baby food. Hmmm. That sounds like a good niche.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche....HOGWASH!
 

HOGWASH 2!

I work with 2 types of "small" businesses.....

1) Pizzerias
2) Small MOTEL Owners

Now....picture this; There's a few "small".... LOW-CLASS Motels in YOUR area! (Just pick up your local YP and look under "Motels") Look for those Motels that do NOT spend ANY money on "Advertising".

THESE are your "Prime Prospects" for what I'm about to tell you.

Put your body into the Body of people checking into "CLASS Z" Motels, in YOUR area.....this afternoon!

Do these folks carry FOOD....with them? (No!)
Are these folks HUNGRY? (You bet!)
Do these folks carry a "Mobile Phone" with them? (This is one of the unique things about Americans. They may be the "poorest of the poor"... BUT...they have a Mobile Phone with them)
Would the local SMALL Pizza Shops be interested in getting Pizza Orders from these "Hungry Travelers?"

What if....when these "Lower Class Travelers" enter their MOTEL room in the "Scurviest of the Scurviest Motels....they see a "Sign" that says...."HAVE A DELICIOUS PIZZA DELIVERED TO YOUR ROOM!"

Would THAT sign get their attention! You Betcha!

So....forget about trying to appeal to the "BIG Bux Affluent Class"!

There IS A WAY to make BIG BUX....I'm talkin' HUGE BUX.........by simply working with small pizza joints and "Down an 'Dirty...Lo Class Motels"!

Forget about trying to appeal to the "High Class" with their Fancy-Schmancy Mobile Devices. There will ALWAYS be a "newer one"...next month! I'm talkin' about working with the "Lower Class" who can afford to order a Pizza delivered to their room....by simply seeing a "Sign" in their room...telling them they can "Have a Mouth-Watering PIZZA delivered to their room....just by ....entering a URL or Clicking a "Tap To Call" button on the Cell Phone!

Whala! I'm talkin' BIG BUX from the local, SMALL business pizza shops!

So.......there's a WHOLE BIG WORLD out there....combining..."Mobile Phones with Motel Guests with Small Pizza Joints"!

Don Alm...."realist" and...."Marketing and Promotion guy from waay baack"

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

hello,

I don't like to use and browse net on mobile...! i only like to use on my PC...!

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Another one, eh?!

Let me start by saying here again, I'm not in the mobile market, so I'm indifferent.

But, people seem to be lacking the understanding of the driving force behind the mobile movement.

This is about convenience and an on-the-go lifestyle, that a tablet or laptop just don't allow for (not very easily anyway)

When mobiles started to catch on, everyone didn't say, "Oh, that's it, this laptop is now just a paperweight!"

All of these things are supplementing each other with their own pros and cons list.

The reason that phone sales have destroyed the laptop/desktop market is simply due to the price tag, you can lock yourself into a 3 year term and get an iphone for next to nothing, and with android and others in the market, you CAN get smart phones for zero down.

Tablets are a nice medium, but they don't replace either or. Because quite frankly, the functionality doesn't touch a computer, and it's mobility doesn't touch a mobile phone.. it's more a luxury then anything else.

Thanks,

James

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Hey Will, I totally agree with you, and you know that I'm french

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Why not just write your code to scale to from all phones screen sizes up to tablet screen sizes?

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

=========================
Hi,

I am not sure why there will be a difference between Mobile Phones and Tablets...For me these two categories are just but the same.

Any "mobile" devices like Samsung Tab....will have the capacity to use phone's SIM to receive/send text.

Android Market -- will always have ways to present a website according to their required specs.

Cheers!

Mary

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

the french? as if one guy's opinion represents the entire race.

optimize your site for both and there's no problem

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Bottom line, tablet doesn't fit in your pocket.
Tablets will probably be more competitive against the desktop or laptop for convenience as memory and solid state hard drives advance.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Why develop sites built for tablets? They view regular sites perfectly.
Once 4G is launched, data will be smaller to transport over the network, therefore using up less bandwidth.

In the end, yes phones will still be used more than tablets. The reason I don't buy a tablet?? Why do I need a bigger version of my phone that doesn't fit in my pocket? I have a laptop I lug around with all day to work from, and it has a keyboard.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Mobile phones are the best niche to market and advertise your business. It would be changing the use of tablets in near future. That is the reason everyone is having or going for a mobile website.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

WillR hit it on the head, can't simply fit a tablet in my pocket.

Yes I could get a case for my tablet, well then I might as well just bring my laptop. I do an extreme amount of browsing from my phone, I'm sure others here have done so as well.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche....HOGWASH!
 

Good point midasman09! I understand that Ipads and tablets are getting cheaper and more accessible, but smartphone traffic brings more targeted traffic. There are some statistics that show people browsing Internet for local hotels or restaurants via phones are in 'buying mood'. Phone traffic is possibly very specific one, but it brings people who are near the location and ready to BUY.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

my wife is on her iphone all day... (mostly facebook) staring at it... and scrolling with her little finger...

the iPad only used at bed time...

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I use an Android phone when running around. I look for restaurants or businesses with the yelp app, Poynt or Google places app.

I have a Motorola Xoom tablet that I use while watching TV or in bed.

I only use my desktop or laptop for work nowadays.

I use my smartphone the most.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I don't know about "wrong". Some of the statistics are actually pretty scary for conventional internet marketing. People are going to be searching less and get to the content much easier, or use very generic phrases (who wants to type on a small mobile device). There is huge opportunity in mobile. Local is where you should do some testing and grab some clients before huge corporations contact them for their services.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Mobile space has been growing so fast. Not sure how it is the wrong niche. Definitely the place to be on right now!

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Why would anyone think mobile is the wrong niche? How many of us have mobile phones and not tablets? Even posting on WP can easily be done on a phone. And it doesn't even have to be an expensive smartphone, at least not as costly as a tablet.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

I totally agree with Matthew #38 above.

American Express now has a SEO division which is a sign of the intense local business marketing competition to come.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

At the end of the day i make products and services that serve both niches and stay happy... make customers happy... :)

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Both Google & Microsoft Tag have said that 50% of local search is done on a mobile device. Now I'm not too sure what they classify as a mobile device but I would assume smartphones as I have not seen people whipping out their tablets to do a search while they are on the go.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Hey 4webmaster
Mobile phone and tablets are totally different devices, mobile phone provides option to operate work that can be done from tablets but it is not the same with tablets. When you are roaming somewhere and have to search some store they prefer to have it done from mobile phone as it is in their pockets.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

Love this, simple but very effective. Also saw one where you get a butcher (or some other business) and a Jeweler and team them up. The butcher sends his clients a Christmas card to say he wants to give them a good present for being such a good customer to him. He gives them a 20% off voucher for the Jewelers. Not the mark up on jewelery is massive, so they can give a 20% discount easily. Think of all the extra customers that are going to go into the jewelers to use their 20% voucher. All extra sales he wouldn't have had except from the butcher. The butcher gets 20% of all extra profit and you get 10% for doing very little. This can be done with many different businesses. Just don't tell them what you are planning to do UNLESS they sign a NDA..

Totally agree.

100%. Get on a ride the wave....

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

The trick is to provide desktop + mobile + tablet themes.

Re: Mobile is the wrong niche.
 

In few hear most development software will provide a way to get an adapted version of your Website for each screen size. I don't think that tablets will ever over pass smart phone for many reasons.