Prior to the invention of smart phones, tablets, Wi-Fi, and mobile data networks, many people would just access websites by using their desktop computers. For this reason, most websites on the Internet are just made for desktop viewing. On the other hand, with the introduction of mobile devices and wireless connectivity, a lot of people are now browsing the World Wide Web through their tablets and mobile phones. Having information at hand is now in high demand.
Because of this demand, it’s essential for site owners to update their sites and provide versions that are best suited for various types of mobile devices. There are numerous ways of carrying this out, but many websites have yet to apply a program for mobile browser and tablet detection. Plenty of websites choose to do nothing for their mobile users, and instead deliver desktop-formatted content to mobile browsers. This provides a single advantage: it means spending no time, effort or resources on website formatting. On the other hand, doing nothing has a several disadvantages, like less visits from mobile device users, and thus, less revenue. This is because sites that are not optimised for mobile browsing may lead to software crashes. Furthermore, content designed for desktops may be rendered useless - thereby, worthless - when viewed via low-end surfers. Both situations are highly frustrating for users.
On the contrary, websites can also offer separate mobile versions of their websites and place a hyperlink to these versions on top of their page. This is somewhat better than doing nothing as it gives mobile users a website that they can deal with. However, having a different mobile website version can have several drawbacks: first, putting a link at the top of the site can be unsightly, especially for those who are browsing the page through a desktop computer; second, desktop users can accidentally click the link (and have to go through the trouble of clicking back to the main site) or mobile users can simply miss the link (and thus miss out on a better surfing alternative); lastly, using a separate mobile site signifies separate maintenance, which can be a hassle for web developers (it’s very simple to forget to maintain the mobile site since more focus is often put on creating the desktop version).
The best way to address mobile users is by using a system for detecting their devices and then instantly redirecting them to the website version that makes the best use of the features of their device. This may require an additional cost from the website owner, but it provides advantages that are very attractive: enhanced website functionality and so, increased satisfaction from users. Of course, keeping mobile users happy can also result in more return visits, and therefore, more revenue for the business.
www.handsetdetection.com - An online company who help make internet businesses a lot better.
No comments:
Post a Comment