MOBILE WEB

The Mobile Web refers to the access to brower-based web services such as the World Wide Web, WAP, and i-Mode using a mobile device such as cell phones, PDAs, and other portable gadgets connected to a public network. Such access does not require a desktop computer, nor a fixed landline connection.[1] The total number of mobile web users grew past the total number of PC based internet users for the first time in 2008 (source: Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2009).

However, Mobile Web access today still suffers from interoperability and usability problems. This is partly due to the incompatibility of the format of much of the information available on the Internet with mobile devices and partly due to the small physical size of the screens of mobile devices and other device limitations.

W3C is also developing a validating schema to assess the readiness of content for the mobile web, through its mobile OK Scheme, which will help content developers to quickly determine if their content is web-ready. The W3C guidelines and mobile OK approach have not been immune from criticism. This puts the emphasis on Adaptation, which is now seen as the key process in achieving the Ubiquitous Web, when combined with a Device Description Repository.

The inability of mobile web applications to access the local capabilities on the mobile device can limit their ability to provide the same features as native applications. The OMTP BONDI activity is acting as a catalyst to enable a set of JavaScript APIs which can access local capabilities in a secure way on the mobile device. Specifications and a reference implementation[4] have been produced. Security is a key aspect in this provision in order to protect users from malicious web applications and widgets.