Anyone who has been reading these pages knows that I am keen on the fusion of the Web, PC, and mobile. Not only have I been elaborating on what makes a great mobile product, but I have been trying to understand the dynamics of Mobile Living in the Web world.
I’ve mentioned a bunch of Web companies that get mobile, companies that understand how to create neat mobile products, products well integrated into the Mobile Lifestyle. What I haven’t done is list Web companies who I think need an infusion of mobility into their products. I don’t mean that these companies don’t get it, but from what I have seen, they either have nothing, or have a long way to go to create compelling mobile products and services.
Some Web companies that could use an infusion of mobility (in no particular order):
Six Apart – TypePad, LiveJournal, Comet; Yahoo! – Flickr, Search, Yahoo!mail; Google – GMail, Search, Dodgeball, GMaps; Blogbridge; Socialmarks; Broadband Mechanics; Wikipedia; Social Text – SocialText.Net, SocialText.Org; AskJeeves – Bloglines; Apple – iTunes, iPhoto, .mac; 37signals – Basecamp, Backpack, Ta-da lists; eBay – Skype; Writely; Amazon; del.icio.us; Feedster; Technorati; qoop; dropcash; Barfrog
This list is by no means complete, but includes a subset of companies I have been observing and like. To be fair, some of these companies have already created connections to the mobile world or already on the right track. Also, some of these are actually companies connected to the Mobile Living space, but could go further than, say, just SMS or basic browsing.
But, here is my question for all Web companies:
What is your strategy to integrate your Web product with the Mobile Lifestyle?
Please leave a comment or send me a private email on your thoughts about this. Here are some related questions to help you formulate an answer.
- How important is integrating your Web-based product to the mobile world?
- How does mobility extend your business model?
- Would you hire a full-time person or team to do the integration for you?
- Would you hire an external team of consultants to either guide you or do the integration for you?
- Would you partner with a company to add mobility to your offering?
- Who do you turn to to understand how integrating your product to the mobile world will impact your business?
Feel free to add or comment on this list of companies or what kind of questions you’d like to ask. You can also participate with your mobile phone: visit http://winksite.com/cschick/mobile (bookmark it!) with your phone or click on the 'Powered by WINKsite' graphic on the upper right of this page to open it up in your browser.
A few disclaimers and comments: Of course, the goal here is to get a feel for what Web companies are doing in the mobile space and thus make some business suggestions. I will collect info for the next month or two and try to summarize at some point. All responses mailed directly to me are confidential and will not be repeated without permission. Also, don’t get all excited thinking this is directly related to Nokia (my employer). It’s not. But, what I learn here might spill over there, so let me know if you’ve withheld something because of my employer. And, my personal email address is on my about page.
