Mobile

Recent developments in the mobile space may well be the sign of the way web based services will be made available across cell phones. There is stiff competition brewing between the handset makers. Now, it seems that the same is happening on the web applications side as well with FaceBook and MySpace trying to get the better of each other with integration deals with several telecommunication companies.

The articles in BusinessWeek give details on how Hutchison Whampoa is planning to make available a $50 handset from INQ supporting integration with FaceBook. Integration would imply ease of use. There are a whole number of web applications available but only the very popular ones would be in a position to support such integration.

One could argue that availability of services integrated with mobile devices makes the phone device as such less important. Could the mobile applications do to the mobile devices what the browser is doing to the Operating System on the desktop. As long as I can access my social networks, my favorite search engine, email account and a decent feed reader, how much more does the hardware matter?

Without doubt it was the iPhone that explored and popularized new horizons with the multi-touch interface. In a trend that is going more mainstream, Nokia and Blackberry having announced their latest models in the touchscreen space. Then there are the devices from Samsung and of course the Google backed phone – T-mobile G1 in what could could well be a revolution in user interface technologies.

For a technology that came into being in the early 70s, Touch screens have taken quite some time to go mainstream. The concept brings with it a fresh outlook to interacting with computer applications. Mobile devices have also been gaining more processing power under the hood and with powerful devices no longer being the forte of business executives alone. Here, its significant that Apple took the mobile community by storm with the iPhone. While the device is known for its sleek looks and interface, it is the synchronization between software and hardware that makes the device tick.

Taking cue from Apple’s success mobile phone manufacturers have also begun making entries in the touch-screen enabled mobile space. Google’s Android, the much mentioned mobile device software stack will be supported by a number of hardware manufacturers ( part of the OHA – Open Handset Alliance) and with its first G1 device that supports both a slide out keyboard and a touch interface, the tone for touch-screen’s importance is set. Nokia also announced its 5800 XPressMusic handset which is the first touchscreen from the Finnish mobile giant. While Apple has its niche space, Nokia has the market share to really make a difference with a slew of devices offering touchscreen interfaces. Also, RIM has announced Storm, a touch screen based device that is targeted at going beyond the business users.

But this appears only a beginning to the application of touch screens. The technology could go on to replace the mouse and keyboards as we know them. Microsoft research had demoed the concept of platform computing, with multi-touch interfaces. Then there are is the patent filed for technology of dual touch interfaces.

While navigation and maps are applications that clearly benefit from touchscreens, the wait is on for the real killer application for mobile devices. What applications of touch screens have you found exceptional?

The iPhone for sure shook the mobile industry, but now people are claiming that it will also affect the mobile gaming one. Time just published an article on that line titled Can the iPhone Rule Gaming?.

The numbers they present are pretty interesting. Here is a quote:

The cell-phone gaming market is ripe for the picking. While millions of people play games on the portable Nintendo DS and Sony PSP every day, fewer than 10% of cell-phone users in the U.S. do the same on their phones, according to Nielsen Mobile. What’s more, the average cell-phone gamer spends just $8 a year on new games, versus an estimated $45 a year for users of the PSP and $65 yearly for DS players.

I certainly can see the average money spent by mobile gamers on the rise with the introduction of the iPhone, but I don’t see it threatening the market of Nintendo DS. Nokia has tried in the past with N-Gage, and we all know how it went…

Hardcore mobile gamers don’t buy the iPhone (they are supposedly younger and don’t go around locking themselves in a 2 year phone contract), and hardcore iPhone users only play gamers occasionally while on the run.

In the future when mobile phones converge with personal computers more heavily we might see phones becoming game platforms, but I don’t think this will happen over the next year.

In the ever expanding panorama of online media services a new service eases the effort it takes to go live. Qik ( pronounced as ‘Quick’) provides live video streaming from a wide array of mobile phones to the net.

In many ways this is a logical evolution from the Youtubes and Metacafes of our times. As mobile devices proliferate, becoming computing devices of choice, services will grow to fit this medium.

An excerpt from InformationWeek:

Basically, if you’re a mobile video fanatic, you need to sign up. I shoot video using my cell phone all the time. Transferring it to other sites was a major pain until Qik came around. Using Qik, any video you shoot is streamed live, and also archived at the same time, so you can watch it again later. For those who need to share what they see and don’t think picture messages or MMS messages are enough, this is the avenue you need to take.

The list of mobile phones supported by Qik includes the Nokia NSeries and ESeries, several Windows Mobile and S60 devices.

The features offered by Qik Are:

• Streaming of video to a select group of users.
• Creation of events for group upload to be viewed by a common audience.
• Integration with Facebook, MySpace, Orkut and several more services.
• Support for several phone models with an App for the iPhone planned shortly ( the Qik Blog does mention a alpha version for iPhone 2G being available).

What’s more, the service has recently moved into public beta. It could be another enabler in taking memory limitations off phones and heralding yet another viral medium of expression.

So what’s next ? A juxtaposition of virtual worlds wrapped around user generated video bringing more realism to Avatars ? Perhaps.

Last year, Google was at the center of much speculation that it would be making a gallant entry into the mobile devices space with a device tailored towards openness and flexibility of use. The rumors were confirmed to some extent when Google announced that they were working on a mobile operating system (Android) that would finally bring openness in its true meaning to all mobile users. For once it seemed that a truly open device focused on the requirements of the user would be available. But that vision has got a bit hampered in recent developments that have seen Apple making huge strides with its iPhone 3G and Nokia wooing for more developer attention with open sourcing the Symbian OS. And added to these are the few steps taking by Google that has invited the ire of several Android developers.

Open as in “Open”

First of the hits that has come to Android concerns the recent uproar in the blogosphere about Google making available the recent versions of the Android SDK to a select few of the developers community (winners of the Android Developer Challenge). The action has invited the ire of several developers who are miffed about Google not considering all developers of Android on an equal footing.

Google’s grand vision of an open OS that gives independence to mobile users on several fronts is a big move against the closed garden that telecom space has always been. Low cost handsets with a multitude of applications supported by local ads could make communication more accessible to many. But for that vision to carry through, Google needs the support of the developer community and they cannot afford to draw lines of separation among them.

Apple’s second act

While Google continues parry questions on the delay of Android handsets, Apple has completed the second phase of its mobile act with near perfection. Folks were lining the streets outside Apple stores days before the release of the iPhone 3G. The new devices, faster and less costly than the previous version is also the first time that Apple will support third party applications via the App Store. A million plus sales and 10 million plus downloads via the App Store signify a great success. And all this should add to Android’s chagrin. But Google would be taking measures to hedge its bets and there is no doubt that its vision to dominate in mobile search is no way limited by Android.

Nokia’s bid for openness

And lastly the news that Symbian, the smart phone OS that currently leads in market share, is going to be made open once Nokia acquires full ownership may represent a direct jab at Android. There are several advantages that Nokia could gain here – a readily available developer base, a real market share – both of which are essential differentiators that Android lacks.

The Mobile Developer’s Quandary

Its great opportunity and great fragmentation out there. There are several developers who have taken to the Apple App Store since the model seems pretty sound and viable. Google Android does have several important issues that need to be addressed if the interest of the developer community is to be maintained. I was initially interested in working on Android but could not continue owing to inability to commit sufficient time. But considering that Google is not all that eager to roll out updates to the larger community, perhaps, it was not much of a loss after all.

Lastly, there are still more rumors that Google was after all working on a Google branded mobile device. Not much of a surprise considering what Apple has achieved in this area. Google would be looking to gain some market share in the mobile space, if not to be an outright leader. But perfectly blending hardware and software is a very esoteric art.

Not sure your to point your mobile browser? We can help!

10. BBC News
An oldie but still a goodie. If you want to learn the latest news, you can alwas get it from BBC News. It has its top three news first, followed by other top stories around the globe, followed by features, sports, place-specific, and field-specific news. Simply the best news website for your mobile! And it helps your mobile for being text-based, as loading and functionality is efficient. BBC News is really a staple for news on-the-go.

9. Doppler

Relatively new but making its mark in the Web 2.0 space, Dopplr helps you with your travels through sharing it with your friends and colleagues online. Interestingly, it also tells you if some of your friends are on the same area as where you plan to be, aw if by coincidence. It manages online calendars and your social networks to let you know where everyone you know is. This is a definite must for globetrotters and sightseers alike.

8. MySpace

Many of us knows about MySpace, the social network that almost every one around the world is a member of. Handsome and clean as it may seem on your regular desktop browser, mobile MySpace doesn’t look as stylish as its desktop counterpart. Almost typically text-based, mobile MySpace offers menu in an orderly manner, expanding and contracting links much like your regular website sitemap, giving it a very simple look. But don’t get me wrong. MySpace’ simple interface still gets the job done despite the simpleton look.

7. Amazon

From the simplistic MySpace, I now give you a somewhat heavy loader for your mobile web surfing: Amazon. But despite taking some time to open the website, Amazon’s main purpose—online purchasing, can really be done in a breeze after logging in. It’s the best mobile web store for impulse buyers and window shoppers alike.

6. Facebook

Facebook isn’t another of your mobile social networking sites, as it offers more than any regular social websites can. What sets it apart from others is the options it gives you when using Facebok on-the-go. Mobile Texts utilizes your mobile phones’ sending and receiving capabilities, but I personally think it isn’t as efficient as the other two options. Mobile Upload allows, well, uploading photos and files from your mobile phone straight to your Facebook account. And, lastly, Mobile Web is simply the mobile version of your regular Facebook site. It’s like Facebook compressed into your mobile phone’s screen, but just as functional as your browser version. I think this is the best option of the three as it can be used to check for all updates for utilizing content.

5. Yahoo

In a simple interface, Yahoo didn’t deny us surfers the full functionality and service that it has been offering us. From Yahoo News, Sports, Weather, to even Mail and Messenger services, it continues to give users the assistance that they have always been known for. Also, its purpose as a search engine is still in the picture. At the expense of an attractive interface, mobile Yahoo still is the same Yahoo that we’ve learned to love.

4. Google

Unlike Yahoo that gives you everything, mobile Google is in pursuit of giving you your personalized search engine page. Though not as wide-ranging as Yahoo, you are sure that you get in your personalized Google page everything you want, be it news or sports update, minimizing clicks, loading time, and visits to unnecessary pages. Although you can also use bookmarking for other websites, Google stands out as they made the bookmarking function a feature in their mobile version.

3. Flickr

Flickr, the online photo management and sharing website, is not what you may call a mobile website. It only shows a few thumbnail photos per search result, and it looks quite monotonous, if you ask me. The reason why it is one of my top mobile websites is because, like Facebook, it has a direct upload capability, from mobile to their server. The reason why it is above Facebook is that it is quite straightforward: one click and you’re there in your destination. No bookmarking or winding menu levels! For a website that manages pictures, Flicker is more than optimized for the mobile phones, if you ask me.

2. Twitter

Twitter has already been discussed in “5 Terrific (and Unusual) Twitter Uses” (link: http://www.dailybits.com/5-terrific-twitter-uses/) by fellow writer Luke, and surprisingly, it is one of those growing and top-notching mobile websites in my list. With above par interface to answer its intriguing “What are you doing?” and other questions, Twitter really rocks your mobile web experience, which is why it is my top two on this list. Being innately text-based, Twitter doesn’t have a problem adapting to the small screens of mobile phones, and with a clear layout, reading updates from your friends have never been easier and more fun.

1. Google Reader

It seems like Google Reader is the talk of the Web 2.0 town! Similar to the Google search engine (which happened to be my top four), it allows you to check your favorites. But this time, the reader allows you to check your RSS feeds! It doesn’t really put a lot of effort in offering you a multitude of services, but with the birth of RSS, your one-stop shop for updated online content, there’s really no need for repetitive checking of your favorite websites elsewhere. Google Reader really focuses on giving you the latest and the most updated, so there’s really no thinking twice with this mobile feed reader.