A Few of our Favorite Mobile Apps

By Phase 2 | Published: December 20, 2010

What do mobile app developers and consultants do for fun? Play with their high tech toys, of course. Whether you have an iPhone, iPad or Android (or are hoping that Santa brings you one this week) check out a few of the Phase 2 team’s favorite mobile applications.

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Posted in Apple, Mobile, Technology Trends, User Interface | Leave a comment

Using QR Codes in Your Campaigns

By mark | Published: December 16, 2010

From my local museum to the back of the book I’m reading, odd-looking black and white square symbols are showing up everywhere lately. These symbols, known as QR or Quick Response codes, are a powerful way to communicate in a world where many of us have an iPhone, Android or other mobile device constantly in our hand.

QR codes are modern day bar codes that can be scanned using your phone’s camera. However, these little bar codes are packed with a lot of data and might include information like a URL, links, geo coordinates or text.

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Posted in Android, Apple, Mobile, Software, Technology Trends, User Experience | Leave a comment

5 Questions to Ask When Deciding to Develop a Mobile App vs. Mobile Website

By Colbey Chittenden | Published: December 6, 2010

In a world where your customers can interact with your company at any time from their mobile phone, you’ll be happy to know that you have several ways to take your company mobile. Native mobile applications and mobile websites are both great options, but deciding which is best for your organization takes careful consideration. Read More »

Posted in Android, Apple, Mobile, Software, Technology | Leave a comment

Internet Explorer 9 and what it says about Microsoft’s strategic direction

By Shane Kempton | Published: November 18, 2010

Microsoft released another new browser, IE 9, on September 15th and you might be asking why you should even care. While IE 9 will improve your browsing experience, even more interesting is what the new technology says about the direction Microsoft is taking in software development, Windows and HTML 5.

HTML 5, along with new versions of CSS and JavaScript are the standard platform developers use to create rich Internet software. IE 9 is Microsoft’s first (mostly) HTML 5 compliant browser. The software giant had classically resisted, or at least been slow to adopt, general Internet standards and preferred to push their own technologies. However, IE 9 marks the first product launched to the general public showing their full support for the standard, which has pulled in an improbably large amount of press lately. Read More »

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7 Tips to Developing a Retail Mobile Website

By Heath Clinton | Published: November 9, 2010

Despite numerous studies showing skyrocketing use of mobile devices, most retailers haven’t yet adapted their websites for mobile purchasing or “m-commerce.”  That’s a shame since U.S. mobile commerce sales hit $1.20 billion in 2009 and will grow to $2.42 billion this year, according to Coda research consultancy.

However, a great website isn’t enough in a mobile world. Users are browsing on a tiny screen, hate waiting for pages to load and often fat finger the spelling of even common words.

Tips to make your e-commerce site mobile-friendly:

  1. Create a whole new mobile website and don’t simply adapt your current site. This will let you create the best user experience possible.
  2. Limit your content. Figure out what content must be on your mobile site and which is just fluff that will annoy and distract your consumer.
  3. Make the search box easy to find. Mobile users rely heavily on search features to quickly find what they are looking for.
  4. Limit your product line. Fewer products can make it easier for consumers to navigate the site.
  5. Go easy on images, which can slow page loads.
  6. Let customers check local availability from product search results. Provide a link that lets mobile shoppers enter their ZIP code and see what nearby locations have items in stock.
  7. Make sure your site search factors in typos, which are more common on mobile devices.
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