iPhone Sidestepping Problems of Today's Mobile Web?

Posted by Lisa Hochgraf

All ye iPhone owners, please weigh in. The July 31 Forrester Report, "The Mobile Web Vs. the Web on an iPhone: iPhone Wins in a Blowout," suggests the beginning of the end of the mobile banking world as we know it. In particular, the report says:

Forrester has identified three primary barriers to the Web's success: 1) poor usability; 2) hard-to-find content; and 3) costly access. The third barrier has already started to crumble. Now, the introduction of the iPhone knocks down the other two barriers. How? By bringing full-featured Web sites to a device that can handle them--eliminating the need for stripped-down mobile sites delivered to tiny screens with inadequate keyboards. On the iPhone, the "mobile Web" becomes simply "the Web," transforming the customer experience to one that's easy to use ... (and) easy to find content on.

The report predicts that usage of today's mobile sites will decline quickly because "the iPhone experience will continually improve," as "iPhone competitors are on the way."

Forrester says companies shouldn't immediately abandon the mobile Web, however. Instead it suggests: 1) getting an iPhone and becoming familiar with it, 2) continuing with mobile Web experimentation and applying lessons learned, and 3) focusing on creating mobile content that's timely, location-aware and actionable for laptop users as well.

What do you think? Do you love Web surfing on your iPhone? Is it at least a lot better than Web surfing on other hand-held wireless devices? Are you doing mobile banking at your credit union? How has the introduction of the iPhone influenced your perspective on mobile banking strategy?

CUES and FSF members: Check out "Banking on the Go" and "Banking on the Go, Part 2" about the various mobile services. Please e-mail cues@cues.org if you need your username and password.

Comments

[Jeffry Pilcher]

The iPhone has its own kinks to work out. This gal was on Fox News talking about her 300-page AT&T bill she got for her iPhone. And those were double-sided pages. It came in a box. She made a YouTube video about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdULhkh6yeA

Apparently, the iPhone service logs every time you use any of the internet-based apps on Edge, even for updating weather or stocks. This gal had 30,000 text messages (no joke), through Twitter, I believe.

Other people are also commenting on how long their iPhone bills are. Ten pages is common. Fortunately, AT&T gives you the option of opting-in for “paperless” billing on their web site.

[Denise wymore]

Lisa,

I just got the iPhone last week. It has changed my life. I can't put it down (that's why people have 300 page bills - AT&T needs to use a smaller font).

Anyway - the best part about surfing the web....you get to your page, put two fingers on the screen and easily zoom in on what you want. Every webpage I've pulled up looks just like it would on my MacBook Pro (with the screaming fast pentium processor!)

I know Apple is probably working on the next generation iPhone already (many of my friends are waiting for that one) but I seriously haven't found one thing on it that needs to be improved!! It's amazing. Did I mention that???