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What is Mobile Web 2.0?

Filed under: Front Page,Mobile,Web 2.0 News,Web20 — Chris Cornutt at 8:35 am on Monday, July 31, 2006

On the Web 2.0 Journal today, there’s a new article from Ajit Jaokar asking for a real definition of what “mobile web 2.0″ really means.

I see Web 2.0 as the Intelligent web or ‘Harnessing Collective Intelligence.’ Mobile Web 2.0 extends the principle of ‘Harnessing Collective Intelligence’ to restricted devices. The seemingly simple idea of extending Web 2.0 to mobile Web 2.0 has many facets.

He lists out these facets - restricted devices, building for these devices, and what characteristics can be learned from them. He defines restricted devices in several ways including having one or more of these characteristics - easily carried, battery driven, limited input means, but not wearable.

He gives the iPod as a reference to show a good web/local PC model for mobile devices, a PC-powered interface to provide mobile content to a portable, easy to use device. This is more of a static idea than most think of when they think “mobile web 2.0″. More often, they think of methods to use things such as Ajax in a cellphone’s web browser. He suggests, though, that this is not “mobile web 2.0″ - it lacks the user generated compontent.

Nokia and Backbase cooperate on Mobile AJAX

Filed under: Ajax,Front Page,Mobile,Web 2.0 News — Chris Cornutt at 8:10 am on Wednesday, July 26, 2006

According to this post, Backbase and Nokia are collaborating together on a study of current and potential Ajax use on mobile devices.

In 5 to 10 year consumers are expected to browse the Internet increasingly via mobile devices, and less often via desktop PCs. Mobile AJAX can significantly increase the user experience of mobile web applications, but there are still several areas that need need further research.

They mention that Nokia has already placed themselves well in the market, pushing their web browser onto their S60 devices. Unfortunately, there are also several limitations that come along with these devices, including small screens and slow connections.

The goal of the project is to look for creative and innovative solutions to the issues they’re finding within the limits of the technology available today. Other companies are also helping out, including Mozilla and Opera.