Only if you were on the dark side of the moon could you have missed the
impact of the iPhone. Its sweeping success has brought mobile services into
the mainstream. As the first device to convincingly integrate traditional
phone capabilities with Web access, it highlights the multi-channel shape of
things to come.
The mobile Web is having its time in the limelight. But in truth, "mobile
applications" have been with us for quite some time. Think phone banking or
sending a text message to check on your remaining pre-paid minutes (see
Figure 1).
Doesn't sound right? That's because in terms of convenience and usability,
phone applications have historically played in the minor leagues. When
visiting eBay, have you ever been asked to "look carefully, because the order
of our... (more)