SiteVista offering mobile testing - your thoughts? 17 December
We're thinking of offering mobile testing as part of SiteVista, so you'd be able to test your sites on mobile phones, smartphones and PDAs. We'd like to get some feedback on the idea - is this something you'd be interested in, and find useful?
Personally, I've started getting requests from my web design clients about making their sites compatible with mobile devices, and I wonder if this is a trend that'll grow.
In terms of what's currently available, there seem to be a selection of emulators made available by some manufacturers, but no simple, automated way of testing your sites in the same fashion as SiteVista currently does with web browsers.
Comments
I don't personally use SiteVista, I haven't a need for it recently since I stopped designing for a while, but I lvoe the idea and it's got some great feedback.
A mobile testing option would be an awesome addition I believe, setting you high above the rest of your competitors. Mobile websites are just starting to appear important, especially after Cameron Molls series on designing for the mobile web. Acknowledgement of the need for mobile sites is growing, and I think this feature would be a simply awesome addition to your service!
Posted by Matt Dempsey on December 17, 2005 4:15 PM
I was glad to see this upcoming feature. My company has a new client where mobile devices will be a target market, and I've been counting on this feature.
I don't know how often we'll need it aside from this client, so if it's a heavy cost feature, make sure there is enough demand from others as well.
Best wishes!
Posted by Chad Lawson on December 17, 2005 5:46 PM
Thanks Chad and Matt for your input. However, if I'm honest I had expected more people to be excited about this. We're going to keep exploring it, but I'd really like to hear other people's thoughts as well.
Posted by Paul on December 20, 2005 10:05 AM
>>>I had expected more people to be excited about this.
Paul - the Mobile Web is WAY behind. Very few companies are working to have their sites be mobile friendly.
The reasons why?
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1. they aren't aware, or have not seen how a mobile Website will fit into their business
2. they don't know if it will be used, or if the ROI will be positive
3. the mobile carriers are ripping everyone off with their rates in a way that keeps people OFF the mobile Web
4. most developers and/or IT managers have not even considered developing a mobile site for their company
5. There hasn't been much news about any mobile site doing well - once a few services/sites become big, the mobile Web population will trigger the idea to build a mobile site.
6. There's a different mindset in the development of mobile sites - something that people are just starting to get into - it's not a matter of making your site fit in a 120px wide screen :)
7. Development like Adobe's (prev. Macromedia) are just recently started focusing on mobile development
8. Mobile search is horrible still.
9. Typing in mobile urls is a pain - seems the Mobile Web will have a better chance once everyone's phones have TTS.
And number 10... to illustrate that the some of the people who are trying to grow the mobile Web are clueless...
10. There's an effort to create a new top level domian for mobile - so mobile sites could have the folloing URL: www.MySite.mobi
I have a feeling that the people who put forward the "mobi' TLD do not use the Mobile Web, and they do not use SMS. If they did, they would know that less characters is better, and that 'mobi' is WORSE than simply using .com
BTW - the trend for people to place their mobile site at: mobile.MySite.com isn't a good idea for users. If people want a successful Mobile site - then build in the ability to sniff mobile browsers and redirect them to the mobile site. That way the whole world only needs to know one domain. Be nice to users - you are one too!
I dove into mobile development in 1st quarter 2005 for my music hosting service: http://www.ArtistServer.com - the mobile site is still in beta, but she seems to be running just fine. In fact, ArtistServer may be the first independent music service to have a mobile site.
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In conclusion, I do think what you are suggesting is a good idea - and I think you have some time to get it out, as the Mobile Web won't take off until maybe 2nd quarter next year. If some mobile carriers work out some decent pricing - we'll probably see it happen faster.
Hasta,
Gideon
Posted by Gideon Marken on December 20, 2005 5:07 PM
I think without a doubt you should have this on the radar at least. I think as has been said in previous comments already, that mobile surfing is likely to become even more popular in the coming 12 months.
Now I don't know if any of your competitors offer this yet, but it's always nice to be first to market. :)
Posted by Nathan Pitman on December 20, 2005 7:39 PM
Definitely. This would be great
Posted by Guido on December 22, 2005 1:54 AM
That would be amazing.
Posted by Ingvi on January 10, 2006 11:37 AM
I'm currently a monthly subscriber, and a mobile feature would be wonderful.
Posted by AhmedF on January 23, 2006 5:14 PM
Extreme sports mobile TV company Yamgo (www.yamgo.com) has signed a deal with Tom Horn to launch a WAP-based mobile video sharing service. Yamgo customers can create their own mobile video page and upload videos directly from their mobile phone(http://yamgo.mobi) or over the web (www.yamgo.tv). Videos can be shared with friends on any mobile network (with WAP access).
Posted by Anonymous on June 8, 2007 7:48 AM