Opinion: It's big and it's only getting bigger, but the Mobile Web is only an afterthought at Web 2.0 cocktail parties. Why?The Mobile Web is poised to become huge. Well, that's not exactly right—it's already huge, and it's only going to get bigger. Here in the states it might not seem that way, but if you do a little digging you'll see that the Mobile Web is probably one of the biggest content platforms in the world right now and it keeps getting bigger.
At my new day job we've been talking quite a bit about mobile. Our clients are very, very interested in it, and it seems to be in our best interest to stay on top of it.
Whether most people see it or not, there is a big future in mobile, and the longer we wait, the harder it'll be to catch up. You don't want to miss out on this one. Trust me, it's going to get really big, really soon.
It's important to note that there are about three times as many mobile phones as there are personal computers in the world, and these phones are becoming more and more sophisticated. And don't forget the countless gadgets popping up all the time: gaming platforms like the PSP, media players like Apple's iPod and other devices. These things are all part of the Mobile Web, and they need to be looked at as viable options for content and application delivery.
Sprint mixes in a mobile download service. Click here to read more.
The United States hasn't seen the same growth in mobile use that's been seen around the world, but my guess is that we will. One of the things that makes the Web so important is its global nature, so while things are much less standardized and separated in the mobile space, it'd be very short-sighted to dismiss mobile as a viable platform.
With so many people accessing the Mobile Web, you'd think there'd be all sorts of excited designers and developers talking about it. You'd think there'd be all sorts of great resources on designing and developing for this burgeoning platform. You'd be wrong.
The truth is there are relatively few resources out there when it comes to the Mobile Web. For some reason it doesn't seem to be all that interesting to designers.
It's ironic when you think about the potential of the Mobile Web. We are hearing a whole lot (too much?) about Web 2.0, and it's pretty amazing to note that there is very rarely a mention of the Mobile Web in those discussions. When it is talked about, it's usually an afterthought.
Delivery, not content, is driving the mobile IT industry. Click here to read more.
That a pretty big afterthought. If you're talking about building something for Web 2.0 and the Mobile Web isn't part of that discussion, then you're missing the boat.
Next Page: Mobile design is no fun.
So, why aren't more people jumping on the mobile bandwagon?
It may have something to do with the fact that, as a content platform, it's not all that mature, at least here in the states. Even in places where Mobile Web is already a widely used platform there are issues—despite its popularity.
And then there is the simple fact that you're working with some pretty sizable limitations. You've got a small screen, tricky physical interfaces and all sorts of other challenges when it comes to designing for mobile. If you thought Web design didn't offer a whole lot of freedom, the constraints of the Mobile Web are going to be very unattractive.
Cameron Moll, with some help from Brian Fling, in the first part of a great series on the Mobile Web, talks a bit about why mobile design might be a turnoff.
Click here to read about weighing the tolerance for mobile phone marketing.
"And that's where the frustration begins. The variety of screen sizes, devices, user agents, and operating platforms is astounding," Moll said. "XHTML and CSS support is all over the map. 'Standards' are virtually non-existent."
Not only is it not very fun, it can be quite difficult as well.
So, it sure as heck isn't really sexy yet, is it? But that's not an excuse to write off mobile design completely. The technology will get better, especially here in the states as we begin to catch up with the rest of the world. In fact, this might give many of us a chance to get started with the Mobile Web.
As it was with the Web, designers need to begin with the fundamentals. Moll and Fling's Mobile Web design series is a good place to start.
The Mobile Web is coming on strong. There's no time like the present to get started learning about it. My guess is you'll be glad you did.
Web Design 
