Mobile: What’s Often Overlooked

With all the excitement surrounding the iPhone 4’s release last week and simultaneous headlines about new Android devices on the way, no one seems to be paying any attention at all to the old faithful Blackberry. Those paying attention would know that in the first quarter of the year, Blackberry sold 11.2 million devices and passed the 100 million mark for units shipped. Not only that, but Blackberry’s subscriber base has grown an astounding 60% over last year to a total of 46 million.

So while Apple and Google grab all the headlines with their iPhone and Android devices, Blackberry remains a staple in the Mobile World—in particular when it comes to business-oriented professionals. That being the case, you and the Mobile Solutions provider you are or are thinking about working with, should not overlook or discount the Blackberry when it comes to developing your Mobile Website.

Last Monday we discussed the concept of Mobile Integrity and ensuring that your brand translates to all Mobile Devices. With such a large subscriber base, not only is it imperative that your site function on these devices, but it’s a great test to see if the Mobile Solutions provider you have chosen or are thinking about choosing is up to the task of developing across platforms and devices. Remember, a true Mobile Solution provider will be able to recognize the type of handset you are using and format the content specifically for your device, so it looks as good as possible on a Blackberry as it would on an iPhone or Android.

How can you tell if your prospective Mobile Solution provider is up to the task? Simple, go to that company’s website from your Mobile Device, a Blackberry in particular if you have one available, and see how it looks. If they haven’t dedicated the time, energy or simply don’t have the capabilities to ensure that their own website is enabled for ALL Mobile Devices, can you really trust them to ensure your Website will be?

In fact, I went to the websites of four different companies who provide Mobile Solutions to the real estate industry from my Blackberry Bold and this is what was displayed:

From left to right above we have Mobile Real Estate ID, Aumnia, Kwkly and home Kenex.

As you can see, and I encourage you all to see for yourself on your own Mobile Devices, only one of these companies’ has a website which actually formats specifically for the Mobile Device on which it was viewed with the same look, feel and brand as their website online. How can you trust a company to truly reflect and maintain the integrity of your brand on Mobile when they can’t reflect and maintain their own?

For a free Mobile Consultation on your website or the qualifications of your prospective Mobile Solutions Provider, please feel free to contact Mobile Card Cast at [email protected].