Mobile Search - can you say compuphone?

Mobile search is not a surprising concept considering the proliferation of Internet dependence nowadays. There are a few problems standing in the way, and for starters, people are too comfortable in front of their computers. Wrenching their IP dependence from computer to cell phone is denying a comfort that is a big part of their lives. But it`s coming - the net is spreading.

I think imperative here is to tug the paradigm of “Internet equals PC” into a more mobile, entertaining (and dare I say it, social) environment. A big focus of technology is to mesh capabilities (i.e. two in one shampoo and conditioner, sliced bread, cigarette lighters in cars) for the efficiency and ease of our daily grinds. You see, the hope is to watch a movie with a great hairstyle in it (on your phone), search for your coolest local hairdresser (on you phone), then phone and make the appointment without switching technologies. Ease is the catchword here.

The cell phones of tomorrow will allow you to interchange between cellular and voice-over IP through Wi-Fi reception - even within the same call. These new “hybrid” phones are expected to crush the use of landlines by bringing a third, Wi-Fi based dimension to telephone service; effectively lowering the overall cost of phone calls.

Currently the forecast is three to four software generations before VoIP calling capability is resonant, and for the phones to be realistically affordable. Word is that because the iPhone is quite revolutionary as far as combining technologies goes, others are going to follow suit. With the veiled, but imminent rise of the Gphone, it is hoped that the market is going to wake up.

Once the arrival of a capable phone is heralded, it`s assumed that the market will flood with copycat competitors who will push the message home. Once we have the means, the methods and intricacies of mobile search development will be hot topics among SEM magicians.

Factors that will set the ball in motion include Motorola and Nokia`s moves moves to extricate themselves from wireless carriers by selling new hardware and navigation systems directly to consumers. Combined with the iPhone`s attempt at VoIP calls, the factors are in place to begin the great shift away from constricting cellular networks. With the sheer pleasure of advertising your business on Google maps, it will soon make sense to shift focus from PC to phone.

The enemies of mobile search lie in the competitors and the consumers. WAP browsing capability can`t compete with a home pc, practically or aesthetically. By all reports, the iPhone is slow, and watching a movie out of your hand is a scratchy, bathetic experience. To boot, it`s in no carrier`s interest to encourage WAP-based browsing or calling in the face of jeopardising the use of cellular networks. But they`re standing with their fingers in the dyke.

Also, there aren`t enough users of WAP-based mobile search for businesses to worry about making separate mobile websites aside from their mother page. You see, people aren`t keen on getting their “computer” scratched, stolen or sat on, and because truly, that “computer” doesn`t exist…yet. Another delay to mobile supremacy is the iPhone`s lack of extendable memory and replaceable battery.

It seems to be important not to waste resources building mobi websites, when a dot com mobile search capability is almost a reality. So, as always, the central message here is to gain presence through the primary website using beloved SEO tactics and ensure positive ratings for when the tide comes in. You could spare a thought in your more meditative moments for how your site will look on a mobile browser, using iPhone as a transient template.

Does it look good?