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Keith sent me this article from the Wall Street Journal about mobile phone internet browsing and how it is coming of age. One of the main reasons being that providers, who previously redirected you to their own web offerings only, are having to allow generic browsing. The article compares the situation to how AOL tried (in the late nineties) to restrict peoples movement around the web with its own community.

I for instance, use Vodafone, but when I go through their web access, I am sent to all the Vodafone stuff I have no interest in, and it they thing that stands out is that they are trying to sell me more… ringtones, wallpapers, etc. Their browser also restricts me from certain websites that I want to see.

Of course, there is so much info out there that we want what we want, when we want it… especially when we know it is ther and that, surely, is the ONLY way the mobile web can go.

With the advent of true browsing, using tools like Opera Mini and with Apple’s new iPhone, the ‘confined mobile web experience’ will no doubt die.

But, as a website owner / developer / e-commerce site manager, you have to ask yourself… is your website ready for the mobile web kin the first place?

Evaluation Tools

• Mobi Ready Test - This site generates a report on the mobile-readiness of a website using industry best practices & standards.

Browser Emulators

Device Independent Browsers

• Opera Mini - Opera Software’s Mini browser emulator for handheld devices.

Device Specific Browsers

• Nokia N70 - An emulator for the default browser of a Nokia N70 phone.
• Sony K750 - An emulator for the default browser of a Sony K750 phone.