The mobile Internet: Are we there yet?

(continued from previous page)

Most mobile Internet users in the U.S. access WAP sites, which provide only basic information on the Internet, like news summaries. When WAP first came out, mobile operators pitched it as the Internet for your phone. But the WAP sites often loaded very slowly and they offered only text content with few, if any, graphics. They were also difficult to navigate, requiring users click through several layers of menus.

"People who first surfed WAP sites were disappointed by the experience," said Eskil Sivertsen, a spokesman for Opera Software, a company that has developed a mini-browser that allows users to access traditional Web pages on their mobile handsets. "And they've never really come back."

Advancing toward full Web browsing
But a newer version of the protocol, WAP 2.0, has been introduced, and some people believe WAP has finally come of age, rendering more robust mobile Web pages that offer one-click access. In fact, the number of WAP Web sites has grown exponentially in the last couple of years. And companies such as Bango, which helps mobile Web site owners monetize their mobile content, say they've seen an explosion in new users accessing WAP-based content from their handsets. Bango sees 400,000 new users each month and the company processes more than 9 million transactions every month.

"Twelve or 24 months ago, I would have said that the WAP browsers weren't particularly rich, but that's really changed," said Adam Kerr, vice president of North America for Bango. "And we're seeing the number of WAP sites growing. The great thing about WAP is that it allows users from any carrier, using any handset, to access a site."

Still, some experts say that WAP is only the beginning of where the mobile Internet is headed. As carriers roll out faster wireless networks based on 3G technology and handset makers sell more-sophisticated handsets with more processing power and memory and larger screens, users will expect a mobile Internet experience that is similar to the one they experience at home on their PCs.

"WAP is really the midway solution to getting around having low bandwidth speeds on a 2 and 2.5G network," Yankee Group's Hatton said. "I think what you really need to make it a good user experience is a full HTML browser."

Typically, full mobile Web browsing has been reserved for devices, such as smart phones, that have powerful processing capabilities and operating systems. But some companies have also developed intelligent mini-browsers for less-sophisticated phones. In January, Opera Software introduced Opera Mini, a free downloadable browser client designed for Java-enabled cell phones that strips down the size of regular Web pages to allow them to transfer to mobile phones more quickly and fit on smaller screens. Sites viewed through the Opera Mini browser are compressed about 70 percent to 80 percent.

Since its launch, the company says its little browser has been downloaded onto more than 5 million handsets worldwide. Some carriers, such as T-Mobile, are also preinstalling the browser into phones it sells.

But new applications and browsers are only two of the many elements needed to improve the user experience. Users also need access to fast 3G wireless networks and 3G handsets, experts say. In the U.S., only about 7 million subscribers use 3G services out of a total of about 207.9 million wireless subscribers, according to data from wireless consultant Sharma. Other analysts agree that more penetration in the market is needed.

"The installed base of 3G phones is still limited," Yankee's Barrabee said. "It's building momentum, but until you have the speed of the 3G network and 3G phones in customers' hands, it's not going to be a great experience."

[john55440]

Cell Phone Screeen Too Small

>Despite years of hype, mobile Internet services are not widely used in the U.S....<

More years of hype, and marketplace failure, to follow.:-)

[DiamondBridgeCenterfuge]

absolutely

It is an inevitability but, "yes", the screens are way too small. Whether flip/scroll 'flex screens' or retinal/surface "projections" will be the solution, it will have to wait, which in turn is waiting for the hi-speed superstructures.

This will all probably come together around the time when the h/w differences that make "ultralites"/'smart' handhelds and PC's one in the same - then they wil all be PCD's, (Personal Computing Devices.)

[grumpyz]

No need to purpose content

The reality of purposing content for WAP is that most web sites are unwilling to go through the time and expense to purpose the content for WAP unless there is a quick return on investment. The mobile use of the internet will not necessarily increase as 3G capabilities become closer to reality. Users want relevant content and simple devices. Some of the new 3G phones are getting too complicated to use and support. Carriers are finding out that as soon as they have idiot proofed a phone God gives them a better idiot. The are solutions available today that permit any 2G-3G device to access any content, with proper form-factor rendering, on any web site with out having to go through a lot of expense, time and effort. One of the reasons that there is more use in Asian countries is because the carriers there are willing to use these technologies from 3rd parties. U.S. carriers are too busy trying to invent or control the technology to even give if a try. The consumer in North America is the looser. I wish I could get Korean cell coverage here.

[ratthomas]

Greed

The problem with the mobile internet is greed on the carriers and content providers part. Some carriers only allow you to download content from their's or their partner's site for a price (hint T-Mobile sidekick), and won't allow you to d/l your own apps. Why in the world would I want to keep paying a subscription fee for an application/game?

In the article, they mention ESPN Mobile. While I was at the Sprint store, I saw the phone that they use, and was interested, until I saw the brochure. It contained so many options for the phone, along with $$, next to those options. Hey ESPN, how about a few different plans w/flat rates, insted of hitting the customer up for $$, for extra bells and whistles?

While at the Sprint store, I was intending to pick up an LG, that has the mp3 player. But that changed when I took a test surf of the Samsung A900. WOW!!!!! Now that's what I have been waiting for. 3G is now here. The A900 is a blade style phone (think Razor, but better), with lots of speed and features. The A900 is fast on the Internet, rich with color, sound, and space for apps (11Mb).

It holds about 47Mb worth of Mp3's, which I found kind of small at first. That is until I discovered that you can subscribe to Sirrus feeds (around $7), to receive 20 channels of digital music.

Each day was a new experience with the A900, learning about a new feature. When I ran over opera mini, that was icing on the cake. Now I can access regular sites, in a reformatted manner.

Yesterday, I downloaded and set up a java email client, so I can manage mail a lot better, than through the browser interface. WOW!!!!

You know, before I was upset that Sprint hadn't made a deal with Motorola, to use the Razor on it's network. Now I see why the Koreans are so happy with their handsets/services back home. Now when I see people with the Razor on Cingular's network (hint slow. not CDMA), I say to myself, they are busy trying to look cool talking on their phone, but all they are doing is chatter.

Cheers!!!!!

p.s. Did I mention that it also has a built in 1.3 Megapixel Camera w/flash.

p.s.s. If you think I am pulling your leg, visit your local Sprint store for a demo. This is not a shill.

[nmanesh]

Alternate ways such as Frucall use voice

This low rate of adoption is why users are finding some alternante methods such as Frucall (voice based comparison shopping - getting online prices by making a voice call) more desirable. Voice is a natural and comfortable medium on the phone, and users do not need to pay extra and have a fancier phone to use it. Technologies such as Frucall enable Internet data to be brought to consumer masses in voice format.

[brian.lee]

Wireless progression in North America is a Joke

An absolute JOKE! in the rest of the world where companies can agree on standards things actually work. Asia has a far greater adoption rate when it comes to technology especially wireless devices like cell phones and new concept such as "surfing the web on your phone", "video conferencing on your phone" aren?t new there. North American companies all they care about is how they can screw the next company over by say using a totally different standard, how about locking phones to a carrier or charging absorbent prices for things like wireless bandwidth which hinders growth and adoption. Lets face is wireless Internet isn't a necessity it's a luxury and when that luxury becomes too expensive people aren't going to buy into it. In Canada we don?t even have wireless reception on the subway systems that?s how much it sucks! Were still using tokens on our transit systems when everyone else uses magnetic swipe cards.

[dappelquist]

W3C Mobile Web Initiative

CNET readers should also be aware of the W3C's Mobile Web
Initiative (http://w3.org/mobile) which is supported by a
number of the companies referenced in your article. Among
other things, the Mobile Web Initiative has developed guidelines
(best practices) for content developers to make their content
mobile friendly and is in the process of developing a MobileOK
trustmark for mobile content.

Dan Appelquist
Technology Strategist, Vodafone Group
Chair, Mobile Web Best Practices working group, W3C

[Eugenia_Loli]

The real problem is the web developers

I have replied to this article on my blog:
http://eugenia.blogsome.com/2006/08/29/the-mobile-internet-are-we-there-
yet/

I am a professional mobile web developer and as such I have quite some experience of what is wrong and what works and what doesn't.

[Eugenia_Loli]

RE: The real problem is the web developers

Please use this URL instead to read the blog post:
http://eugenia.blogsome.com/2006/08/29
The previous one got cut-out by the system.

[taffypaffy]

Money

When I can use my cellphone to access the internet for as little money as I use my laptop, then it might be a feasible alternative (assuming those little teeny buttons don't break my fingers), but for the present, the cost of data transfer on my cellphone is ridiculous.

[songzhuang]

The Compelling Services are coming

Phones are getting the capability, networks are getting faster, email was just the beginning, and now hybrid services combining WAP, SMS, and email are becoming widely adopted. If you look at services like www.soonr.com you can see that the power of the PC will be available to phones, even phones that do not have 3G. People carry their phones with them all the time and they don't want to leave behind all the stuff that they care about on their PCs. A new category is forming that will combine the people's worlds of information.

P.S. I am with SoonR. You'll be amazed at what your WAP phone can do. The best is yet to come.

[songzhuang]

The Compelling Services are coming / here

Phones are getting the capability, networks are getting faster, email was just the beginning, and now hybrid services combining WAP, SMS, and email are becoming widely adopted. If you look at services like www.soonr.com you can see that the power of the PC will be available to phones, even phones that do not have 3G. People carry their phones with them all the time and they don't want to leave behind all the stuff that they care about on their PCs. A new category is forming that will combine the people's worlds of information.

P.S. I am with SoonR. You'll be amazed at what your WAP phone can do. The best is yet to come.

[rubik5x5x5]

I'm already mobile

Get a Nokia 770 tablet, EVDO plan on bluetooth phone, and you are mobile. The 770 definitely has its problems, but it does work. No one is going to use a 2" screen, Your eyes will go bad.

[cadillacj]

Bring the Current Web to BlackBerry/PDA's

To solve this problem the company I work for had a mini-project to develop a server-side script that would strip complex web pages down to text-based pages for viewing on BlackBerry's and PDAs. Not perfect, but works great for our small group.

Saves a ton on data transfer, as most plans here start at only 15MB/month including email which runs out fast with full-on web browsing from BlackBerry devices. The idea is that waiting for current web sites to 'mobilize' will take too long, easier to find a dynamic solution to the problem, at least in the interim. Site can be seen at bbsearch.info.

[Facelessone1]

Mobile Internet

Technology is available for mobile internet for everyday users. Currently most people access the internet via there mobile phone. The concern with mobile phone usage as discussed in this article is that it is very elementary and limited to functionality. However, you can use your cell phone along with a usb connector to connect to the internet in your vehicle (www.customcarputers.com). The connection speed is slower because of satellite connection, but it does provide the user with a broader internet experience when they are outside there work or home area.

[swansat_kaching]

600 million broadband connections - $1 per month?

SWANsat to Turn Earth into Wi-Fi Hotspot

IOSTAR, SANDIA LABS, ORBITAL. The pioneers of GPS & Teledesic ? together with directors such as 4 Star General Tony McPeak & former secretary of US Air Force (Roche) and former Branch Chief of guided missiles & CEO of Western Digital ? are coming together for intriguing development called SWANsat.


Imagine a series of at least three geosynchronous orbital satellites providing wireless Internet access to the entire world. That?s exactly what a project called SWANsat or Super-Wide Area Network Satellite plans to do by the year 2011. They intend to be a global broadband Internet service provider that can facilitate up to 600 million connections per satellite. All you need is a handheld mobile device to connect to the system.

Read more: http://www.gizmocafe.com/blogs/gizmo_waydes_blog/archive/2006/08/21/96546.aspx

The Teledesic Chief Architect (now President of IOSTAR) recently made this presentation:

http://csmarts.colorado.edu/presentationpages/34_future_of_space/page_01.htm
(intro-nav page) http://csmarts.colorado.edu/presentationpages/34_future_of_space/Slide45.JPG


www.iostarcorp.com
www.swansat.com

[twilightwap]

More Wap Services Needed

There are several reasons why mobile Internet couldn't reach to masses and fulfill their needs.

One of the most important reason is the network charges over wireless data transfer. It's too expensive compared to broadband Internet access. All operators must reduce their GPRS - EDGE - UMTS charges.. If it can't be done due to costs then I guess there will be alternate ways like Super Wide Area Network in the future. (http://www.swansat.com/)

The second reason is the small screen on most mobile handsets. It's not ergonomic to browse a web site from a small screen phone, it's not healthy for eyes. You have to use a trans-coder and browser like Opera but this time real web experience is gone, most web sites are not designed for mobile use so it's very hard to navigate through hundreds of links and pages of txt to find what you are looking for..

It seems Wap and specifically designed mobile web sites is only solution for next 5-10 years maybe more so in order to fulfil customer experience more Wap sites and more quality services are needed. Recently there was a growth in new Wap services with .mobi domains and Wap 2.0 (xHTML) being more popular and available on more handsets, but it's still not enough. Most of those Wap sites are not interactive, you can only read forums, news, blogs but you can't participate in them, this is not a Wap user looking for!

Some other reasons are slow connection speed, slow Wap browsers etc..

-------------------------
http://twilightwap.com
http://prodigits.co.uk

[shooshman]

Easy way to build WebSites for Mobile Devices

I think peole are using the mobile web more as more and more cell phone companies are selling internet enabled phones. Speeds are becoming faster. I have a T Mobile Dash which is not a phone that many people have heard of in the US but is very popular in Europe. I use it a lot to surf the web for things like checking Fedex tracking, restaurants menu, location of stores, prices on other sites.I am thrilled that
Network Solutions launched BuildMyMobi which is a tool that makes it easy for anyone to build a website that is accessible on cell phones. www.BuildMyMobi.com

[gaasen]

Tribes from Alatto

Tribes http://gb.tribes.cc/globalen from Alatto give each user a tailored portal for the mobile phone. I simply navigate by clicking the next button, or through the directory under the home button. Highly recommended