Merge

While Merge has always been mobile conscious when developing websites, this summer we have branched out to mobile-specific websites and apps. I’ve had the opportunity to plan and test the user experience through preliminary wireframes, as well as design the user interfaces of these projects. With the ever-increasing iPhone fan base, the emergence of Android, and smart phones becoming more affordable for every day mobile users (One in two Americans will have a smartphone by Christmas 2011), I can’t help but see the potential of taking our clients mobile.

But hold up! Before we take a look at apps, let’s start with the basics: Your current website and why you should take it mobile.

So why create a mobile version of your site when users can already access the original on their phones? Because mobile browsing leaves much to be desired. I know my mobile browsing experience always consists of insane amounts of scrolling, zooming, “back” tapping because I tapped on the wrong tiny link... you know the drill.

By creating a mobile version of your website, you can provide your users with a simplified, enjoyable, browsing experience. Let’s take a look at Amazon:

If Amazon did not have a mobile version of their site (right) you’d end up with something similar to the example on the left. Get ready for a lot of horizontal scrolling (or zooming, for you iPhone users). You would have to sift through thumbnails, a large Kindle ad, all of your recommendations, other items to explore, new items for you, etc, etc, etc. The mobile version on the right provides you with what a simplified version of what you WANT to see, for quick and easy use.

Whether your mobile users are coming to your site for location information, to make reservations, check their auctions, look at job postings, you can provide them with great user experience to help build customer loyalty and boost profit.

Do you have an app for that? Stay tuned to our blog and sign up for our monthly newsletter for further articles about how you can benefit from mobile websites and iPhone apps, and releases of the mobile projects we are currently working on.