Source: Smartcompany.com.au
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Reasons for having a mobile website
In 2009, $1.6 billion was obtained from purchases in mobile devices
93% of Americans own their mobile phones.
5% of the top 500 online retailers possess a mobile site/ iPhone app
Budgets for mobile marketing is expected to cross $6.5 billion in 2012
Internet users are using it on an average of 13 hours a week, which was just 7 in 2002
There are more than 2 billion mobile phones estimated worldwide
Google owns a separate mobile site index
Nearly 1/5 of Americans access mobile web daily
Mobile web is expected to surpass desktop web in just five years
93% of Americans own their mobile phones.
5% of the top 500 online retailers possess a mobile site/ iPhone app
Budgets for mobile marketing is expected to cross $6.5 billion in 2012
Internet users are using it on an average of 13 hours a week, which was just 7 in 2002
There are more than 2 billion mobile phones estimated worldwide
Google owns a separate mobile site index
Nearly 1/5 of Americans access mobile web daily
Mobile web is expected to surpass desktop web in just five years
Mobile Web Browsers
Opera Mobile
Opera Mini
Skyfire
Safari
Google Android
Microsoft IE for Mobile
Firefox Mobile
Bolt
Teashark
Blazer
Mozilla's Minimo
Bitstream's Thunderhawk
S60 Web Browser.
Opera Mini
Skyfire
Safari
Google Android
Microsoft IE for Mobile
Firefox Mobile
Bolt
Teashark
Blazer
Mozilla's Minimo
Bitstream's Thunderhawk
S60 Web Browser.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Ten Best Intranets of 2010
•Enbridge, Inc., a leader in energy transportation and distribution in North America (Canada)
•GE, a diversified technology, media, and financial services company (US)
•Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), a nonprofit medical research organization (US)
•Huron Consulting Group, a consulting company (US)
•Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA Center that manages robotic spacecraft exploration of Earth, the solar system, and the universe (US)
•The MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization managing four federally funded research and development centers (US)
•SCANA Corp., a Fortune 500 energy-based holding company (US)
•Trend Micro, Inc., a leader in Internet content security (Japan)
•URS Corporation, a leading provider of engineering, construction, and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies (US)
•Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Walmart), a retailer with more than 8,000 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries (US).
Source: Useit.com
•GE, a diversified technology, media, and financial services company (US)
•Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), a nonprofit medical research organization (US)
•Huron Consulting Group, a consulting company (US)
•Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA Center that manages robotic spacecraft exploration of Earth, the solar system, and the universe (US)
•The MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization managing four federally funded research and development centers (US)
•SCANA Corp., a Fortune 500 energy-based holding company (US)
•Trend Micro, Inc., a leader in Internet content security (Japan)
•URS Corporation, a leading provider of engineering, construction, and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies (US)
•Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Walmart), a retailer with more than 8,000 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries (US).
Source: Useit.com
Ten Best Intranets of 2009
. ltran, a large engineering and innovation consultancy (France)
. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a developer of computer and graphics processors (USA)
. BASF SE, the world's leading chemical manufacturing company (Germany)
. COWI Group A/S, a consulting group focusing on engineering, environmental science, and economics (Denmark)
. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT), a global professional services network providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services (a Global member organization)
. Environmental Resources Management (ERM), one of the world's leading providers of environmental consulting services (Global)
. HSBC Bank Brazil (Brazil)
. Kaupthing Bank (Iceland)
. L.L.Bean, a vendor of apparel and outdoor equipment (USA)
. McKesson Corporation, a large provider of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and health care information technologies (USA).
Source: Useit.com
. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a developer of computer and graphics processors (USA)
. BASF SE, the world's leading chemical manufacturing company (Germany)
. COWI Group A/S, a consulting group focusing on engineering, environmental science, and economics (Denmark)
. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT), a global professional services network providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services (a Global member organization)
. Environmental Resources Management (ERM), one of the world's leading providers of environmental consulting services (Global)
. HSBC Bank Brazil (Brazil)
. Kaupthing Bank (Iceland)
. L.L.Bean, a vendor of apparel and outdoor equipment (USA)
. McKesson Corporation, a large provider of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and health care information technologies (USA).
Source: Useit.com
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Mobile web usage
Bango – the mobile payments and analytics specialist – reports a 600% growth in traffic to mobile websites. The company analyzed traffic to a range of mobile sites over the last 12 months. Data was gathered by sampling across 50 million phone users worldwide who have accessed third party mobile sites through its platform.
The key findings from Bango’s annual mobile usage study record 6 times the number of visits to mobile websites, comparing December 2009 with the same month a year earlier. The average time on site is measured as 3 minutes, 21 seconds, averaged across user visits to all sites, compared with just over one and half minutes the previous year. The analysis also measured the average number of pages viewed per visit at 5 pages, up from just over 2 pages per visit twelve months before.
Over the last twelve months, these site-level figures have increased by an average of 230% compared to a year ago, with consumers visiting sites more frequently from their phones and browsing more pages over longer periods of time. The key categories for mobile browsing are news, sports and general media sites (including newspapers), mobile content downloads, social networking and retail sites.
Another key finding is that smartphones are driving the highest usage of the mobile web, with BlackBerry accounting for over 17% of the mobile devices recorded across sites.The number of visits by BlackBerry users also exceeds any other device.
According to Gartner, the top three devices for worldwide smartphone sales in 2009, in order, were Nokia, BlackBerry then the iPhone. Factoring in the relative sales growth across the different smartphone brands the data suggests that iPhone browsing has, if anything, slightly declined per user measured, which could be a result of consumers being directed towards apps instead of websites.
Bango’s analysis also reveals significant usage of Wi-Fi connections by phone users. Wi-Fi connections average at 23% of all connections measured by Bango, with some rich media sites averaging one-third of all connections through Wi-Fi. This suggests that consumers are increasingly aware of Wi-Fi on mobile handsets and will connect via Wi-Fi where available, motivated by speed and perceived cost benefits. Sites that attract high percentages of Wi-Fi connected users include those that broadcast video, music and other streamed content.
The key findings from Bango’s annual mobile usage study record 6 times the number of visits to mobile websites, comparing December 2009 with the same month a year earlier. The average time on site is measured as 3 minutes, 21 seconds, averaged across user visits to all sites, compared with just over one and half minutes the previous year. The analysis also measured the average number of pages viewed per visit at 5 pages, up from just over 2 pages per visit twelve months before.
Over the last twelve months, these site-level figures have increased by an average of 230% compared to a year ago, with consumers visiting sites more frequently from their phones and browsing more pages over longer periods of time. The key categories for mobile browsing are news, sports and general media sites (including newspapers), mobile content downloads, social networking and retail sites.
Another key finding is that smartphones are driving the highest usage of the mobile web, with BlackBerry accounting for over 17% of the mobile devices recorded across sites.The number of visits by BlackBerry users also exceeds any other device.
According to Gartner, the top three devices for worldwide smartphone sales in 2009, in order, were Nokia, BlackBerry then the iPhone. Factoring in the relative sales growth across the different smartphone brands the data suggests that iPhone browsing has, if anything, slightly declined per user measured, which could be a result of consumers being directed towards apps instead of websites.
Bango’s analysis also reveals significant usage of Wi-Fi connections by phone users. Wi-Fi connections average at 23% of all connections measured by Bango, with some rich media sites averaging one-third of all connections through Wi-Fi. This suggests that consumers are increasingly aware of Wi-Fi on mobile handsets and will connect via Wi-Fi where available, motivated by speed and perceived cost benefits. Sites that attract high percentages of Wi-Fi connected users include those that broadcast video, music and other streamed content.
Handcase Search engine for Mobile - Gune
Handcase has launched its mobile search engine, named Gune. The Gune solution is a system of meta-search. Handcase is a Brazilian software company.
Gune searches other websites and generates a single page of results. Search results are optimized for small screen phones and smartphones. Gune consults other search engines such as Google (News - Alert) and Bing to deliver the search results. Unlike traditional meta-search websites on the Internet that use the same principle, Gune displays 10 results each from Google and Bing simultaneously on the same page. Moreover, Gune offers the search box both at the top and at the end of each page.
Another factor that differentiates Gune from traditional meta-search websites that are based on the same principles is the fact that the search results provided are only from mobile search. According to Ricardo Garay, CEO Handcase, the goal was to optimize the time of the user. Gune aims to provide a superior experience with search. At present, Gune is available only in English. Handcase is working on Gune’s versions in Portuguese and Spanish.
The Gune offers a catalog of mobile websites. That is, users will be able to submit their mobile websites in Gune’s mobile website directory. It is not necessary to own a mobile website to submit it. If a user knows any mobile websites, he can go ahead and submit it. Garay added that since Gune is designed for everyone to contribute to the directory, whoever has, or knows a website mobile should just visit the website for the PC and give his tip. As soon as the website is checked and approved, it will be added to the directory.
Gune searches other websites and generates a single page of results. Search results are optimized for small screen phones and smartphones. Gune consults other search engines such as Google (News - Alert) and Bing to deliver the search results. Unlike traditional meta-search websites on the Internet that use the same principle, Gune displays 10 results each from Google and Bing simultaneously on the same page. Moreover, Gune offers the search box both at the top and at the end of each page.
Another factor that differentiates Gune from traditional meta-search websites that are based on the same principles is the fact that the search results provided are only from mobile search. According to Ricardo Garay, CEO Handcase, the goal was to optimize the time of the user. Gune aims to provide a superior experience with search. At present, Gune is available only in English. Handcase is working on Gune’s versions in Portuguese and Spanish.
The Gune offers a catalog of mobile websites. That is, users will be able to submit their mobile websites in Gune’s mobile website directory. It is not necessary to own a mobile website to submit it. If a user knows any mobile websites, he can go ahead and submit it. Garay added that since Gune is designed for everyone to contribute to the directory, whoever has, or knows a website mobile should just visit the website for the PC and give his tip. As soon as the website is checked and approved, it will be added to the directory.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Opera's Mobile Emulator for Desktop
Opera Software said April 22 it is "making mobile Web testing even easier" with the release of a new emulator for testing the Opera browser on Websites from Windows, Linux and Mac desktop computers.
"With Opera Mobile running on the desktop, developers are relieved of [the burden of] investing time and money in multiple phones for testing. Opera Mobile allows developers to resize the application easily to emulate the wide variety of mobile screen sizes. The Opera Widgets Mobile Emulator similarly helps developers test their mobile widgets directly from their computers. Both these applications can be used in tandem with Opera Dragonfly [a JavaScript debugger], significantly lowering the barrier to mobile debugging," Opera said.
"With more people accessing the Web from their phones, optimizing and tweaking Web content for display on phones is increasingly important," Bovens said in a statement. "By making a version of Opera Mobile available for normal desktop computers, [Opera Software has made it so that] developers are now able to create mobile optimized Websites and widgets quickly and efficiently, without investing in multiple testing devices."
"With Opera Mobile running on the desktop, developers are relieved of [the burden of] investing time and money in multiple phones for testing. Opera Mobile allows developers to resize the application easily to emulate the wide variety of mobile screen sizes. The Opera Widgets Mobile Emulator similarly helps developers test their mobile widgets directly from their computers. Both these applications can be used in tandem with Opera Dragonfly [a JavaScript debugger], significantly lowering the barrier to mobile debugging," Opera said.
"With more people accessing the Web from their phones, optimizing and tweaking Web content for display on phones is increasingly important," Bovens said in a statement. "By making a version of Opera Mobile available for normal desktop computers, [Opera Software has made it so that] developers are now able to create mobile optimized Websites and widgets quickly and efficiently, without investing in multiple testing devices."
Accessibility
Barrier-free design is beneficial for all users. Designing for universal access is not only good social practice, but in general, it is good business practice.
1. 1 in 5 people in the United States has some kind of disability, and an estimated 30 million people are impacted by inaccessible computer and software design.
2. The number of people with disabilities is only increasing, as it has increased 25% in the last decade, especially among those 50 years old and above.
3. Among the 31 million seniors aged 65 and above, 16 million reported some level of disability (Census Brief 97-5).
But accessibility actually affects a much larger percentage of the population, as many people who do not have permanent disabilities have temporary conditions that can affect the way they operate for a period of time. Beyond that, the very young and the very old can also benefit from more accessible design. With this in mind, accessibility in website design should really be thought of as part of universal design.
The Internet has the potential to broaden the lives and increase the independence of people with disabilities. For people who can be physically as well as socially isolated, access to the Internet can offer information about social interaction, cultural activities, employment opportunities, and consumer goods. But, as statistics demonstrate, not many people with disabilities are able to take advantage of these possibilities, in large part because their needs have not been addressed by the web design community.
1. 1 in 5 people in the United States has some kind of disability, and an estimated 30 million people are impacted by inaccessible computer and software design.
2. The number of people with disabilities is only increasing, as it has increased 25% in the last decade, especially among those 50 years old and above.
3. Among the 31 million seniors aged 65 and above, 16 million reported some level of disability (Census Brief 97-5).
But accessibility actually affects a much larger percentage of the population, as many people who do not have permanent disabilities have temporary conditions that can affect the way they operate for a period of time. Beyond that, the very young and the very old can also benefit from more accessible design. With this in mind, accessibility in website design should really be thought of as part of universal design.
The Internet has the potential to broaden the lives and increase the independence of people with disabilities. For people who can be physically as well as socially isolated, access to the Internet can offer information about social interaction, cultural activities, employment opportunities, and consumer goods. But, as statistics demonstrate, not many people with disabilities are able to take advantage of these possibilities, in large part because their needs have not been addressed by the web design community.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Mobile web traffic in India
AdMob announced that mobile web traffic in India has crossed a milestone figure of One Billion per month.
Since the inception of its India Operations in June 2009, mobile web traffic in India has increased significantly from 502 million to 1.2 Billion in March 2010.
“We are thrilled to reach and cross this landmark figure of over One Billion and hope to continue contributing toward the mobile ecosystem in India. The reported growth of over a 100 percent in less than a year is a testament to the growing Indian mobile web marketplace, we look forward to what is next given improved data plans and enhanced device capabilities” said Jeff Merkel, VP and Managing Director for APLA.
India generates the second highest Mobile Web traffic globally on the AdMob platform following the USA. According to Mahesh Narayanan, Country Manager India, AdMob “Mobile ownership and usage far outstrips ownership of PCs with Internet access in India. In the near future Mobile Internet usage is going to overtake fixed line internet usage in India.”
The AdMob platform includes a network of premium publishers and high quality content. Advertisers have the unique opportunity to drive consumer acquisition and brand engagement on the mobile web using this platform.
Since the inception of its India Operations in June 2009, mobile web traffic in India has increased significantly from 502 million to 1.2 Billion in March 2010.
“We are thrilled to reach and cross this landmark figure of over One Billion and hope to continue contributing toward the mobile ecosystem in India. The reported growth of over a 100 percent in less than a year is a testament to the growing Indian mobile web marketplace, we look forward to what is next given improved data plans and enhanced device capabilities” said Jeff Merkel, VP and Managing Director for APLA.
India generates the second highest Mobile Web traffic globally on the AdMob platform following the USA. According to Mahesh Narayanan, Country Manager India, AdMob “Mobile ownership and usage far outstrips ownership of PCs with Internet access in India. In the near future Mobile Internet usage is going to overtake fixed line internet usage in India.”
The AdMob platform includes a network of premium publishers and high quality content. Advertisers have the unique opportunity to drive consumer acquisition and brand engagement on the mobile web using this platform.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
W3CAG
W3C Accessibility Guidelines
1. Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and
visual content.
2. Don't rely on color alone
3. Use markup and style sheets and do so properly
4. Clarify the usage of natural language
5. Create tables that transform gracefully
6. Ensure that pages featuring new technologies
transform gracefully
7. Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes
8. Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user
interfaces
9. Design for device-independence
10. Use interim solutions
11. Use W3C technologies and guidelines
12. Provide context and orientation information
13. Provide clear navigation mechanisms
14. Ensure that documents are clear and simple
1. Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and
visual content.
2. Don't rely on color alone
3. Use markup and style sheets and do so properly
4. Clarify the usage of natural language
5. Create tables that transform gracefully
6. Ensure that pages featuring new technologies
transform gracefully
7. Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes
8. Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user
interfaces
9. Design for device-independence
10. Use interim solutions
11. Use W3C technologies and guidelines
12. Provide context and orientation information
13. Provide clear navigation mechanisms
14. Ensure that documents are clear and simple
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Mobile Usability Guidelines
Meet user's needs quickly
Design mobile friendly pages
Don't repeat the navigation on all the pages
Distinguish clearly selected items
Make user input as simple as possible
Show only essential information in the mobile
Design mobile friendly pages
Don't repeat the navigation on all the pages
Distinguish clearly selected items
Make user input as simple as possible
Show only essential information in the mobile
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)