In a lot of ways, the mobile phone can be a very powerful tool in granting access to the latest forms of business and entertainment.

For one, a device as ubiquitous as the mobile phone is essential in connecting us to our family and friends.  It provides a means of sharing one’s experiences and interests immediately.  Creating one’s own mobile web site, for one, gives us an immediate avenue to let our friends and families know about the experiences we have encountered during the day.

Wireless networks are also powerful social networking tools that enable the exchange of real-world experiences, almost in real time.  Whenever and wherever we may be, people are immediately able to find out our current state by simply logging into our mobile web site.

It is also a good avenue in connecting with people of similar musical/artistic/culinary interests.  It gives birth to communities and forums where people form bonds with one another through the sharing of photos, music, videos, games and documents.

More than an information and entertainment bank, the mobile phone may also be used by businesses to communicate with their employees and clients.  In fact, with the abundant stream of developments happening in the mobile web, it would no longer be a surprise if in the future, almost all document and program in the office will be accessible to workers who are out of the office.  The mobile phone will no longer be an ‘all play and no work’ device.  Once considered objects of distraction, mobile phones will now be stand-ins for laptops to handle basic job responsibilities like web access, file storage, voice conferences, e-mails, messaging, database updating, and document editing.

Workers will now be able to access essential contacts, schedules, and official documents while in transit towards the next client meeting.  On the sales and marketing end, businesses (with the help of the creation of a mobile web site) will now be able to deal with their target market on a more immediate basis.  No longer will they have to wait for their customers to log onto their Internet web site or visit their nearest retail branch to peruse products and services, they can easily interact with their market at any given time and place.  This leads to a more pro-active way of doing business.

Where a client is at the moment will determine the information relevant to him at that given time so services providing location-based information to consumers have high potential.  Imagine your company’s line of products and services published on a mobile web site, readily available for your customers’ viewing pleasure.  Your latest promos and discounts broadcasted to your consumers while they are on transit, eliciting enough excitement and interest for them to head on to your nearest branch for retail therapy.

These are just among the opportunities and possibilities offered by the mobile phone.  With developments fast surfacing, both individuals and businesses will definitely see the rise of the mobile phone as an Everywhere Office and Entertainment Center.

Today’s world has witnessed the inculcation of wireless technology into our everyday lives.  Mobile phones, in particular, have changed and improved the ways in which people connect and interact with each other.  Mobile technology successfully bridged the gap of time and distance, enabling people to instantly get in touch with one another at any given time and place.

However, as there are benefits when it comes to instant connectivity, it is not without its corresponding price.  It happens with just a click of the mouse.  The moment you make your identity “open” for the public to see, you are not only opening yourself up to connecting with potential friends, clients and partners.  Unfortunately, you also leave yourself vulnerable to fraudulent and malicious characters lurking in the Mobile Web.

A number of factors are at play when it comes to mobile privacy and security, especially now with the recent emergence of additional technology.  For instance, the advent of camera phones have caused quite a stir.  There have been incidents wherein camera phones, clipped to the belt or placed in a discreet location, were used by “undercover” criminals to document and send to the internet, or an associate/accomplice, the location of valuable contents of a victim’s home, or sometimes even more private/scandalous material.

Another privacy concern that has sprung up is the increase in the sending and receiving of unsolicited SMS messages, the mobile version of Internet Spam.  Mobile phone companies have been labeled as the main culprit here and the public has become more vocal about the irritation factor that this service has caused.  In some cases, mobile users have complained about being annoyed after opening a text message only to find a promotional message from a retailer advertising about a new product.  To top it all off, it came with a fee and the message was actually charged to a mobile phone user.

In addition, mobile phones with built-in bluetooth functions are immediately exposed to the prospect of being hacked.  Also, possible threats may emerge with the combining of mobile phone networks and the Internet.  Especially now with the advent of mobile sites.  People uploading their personal profiles and information into the Mobile Web are immediately prey to malicious peers.  However, a number of mobile site providers, Mobilemo for example, are addressing this issue by offering privacy setting features that enables mobile site owners the discretion to choose only a specific list of contacts and networks that may view their mobile sites and personal information.

It must be noted, however, that more than the technology, it is the people themselves that are responsible for these security and privacy concerns.  The technology is only there for people to use and take advantage of.  Ergo, as with every human encounter, there will always be risks that come along with its corresponding benefits.

Today, mobile phones have become a staple in every person’s bag or pocket.  It has revolutionized the way people communicate and connect with one another.  It has successfully bridged the gap once caused by distance and space.  It has broken barriers.

Current statistics have revealed that there are thrice as many mobile phones now than there are personal computers.  According to Cellular Online, global mobile phone subscribers in 2003 amounted to 1.52 billion, around 20 percent of the current world population.   To say that the mobile phone has become one of the most successful inventions in the 20th century is an understatement.

In just a span of 20 years, the global demand for mobile phones has exponentially increased.  With people from across the globe instantly connecting with one another through calls, text messages or, most recently, video phone conferences, it is quite hard to imagine there was a time wherein getting in touch with a friend or business partner was a challenge.

The mobile phone started becoming one of the major communication devices in the late 90s.  The first commercial mobile phone system started in the late 1970s in Japan.  Mobile phones were invented for the sole purpose of enabling users to communicate easily and freely wherever they want.  In the late 90s, however, the invention of a new mobile technology, SMS, made it even easier for people to interact.  SMS is a transmission of a short text message from one mobile phone to another.  This revolutionized mobile technology and elevated mobile phones into a device that not only allows simple voice to voice telecommunication.   It evolved into a mobile lifestyle.

Eventually, the years that followed witnessed the emergence of the mobile phone as an entertainment device.  With functions such as cameras, FM radios, MP3 players, and Personal Digital Assistance (PDA) functions built into the mobile phone, the desire to own a mobile phone has increased tenfold.  From early stages of analog cellular to the latest 3G mobile phone system, mobile technology has been witnessing rapid changes.  Every change has also been a major improvement–from mere voice-to-voice communication, to WAP and GPRS internet connection to the eventual rise of the Mobile Web.  The mobile phone has indeed become one of the leading technologies in the world.

The convenience brought about by mobile technology has changed the life of people in society.  Businesses, for one, are able to gather information about the latest industry news and reports at any given time and place.  The emergence of mobile site providers has also provided a new avenue wherein they can freely promote their products and services through the mobile web.  On a more social aspect, mobile site providers have also given people the opportunity to form mobile communities with peers sharing similar interests.

Along with mobile phone developments, other subsidiary technologies have also been introduced by mobile phone companies.  These products include Bluetooth, Symbian (operating system designed specifically for mobile phones) and other programming software.  These technologies have helped improve the interactive aspect of mobile phones, generating wider usage from users.  More and more companies are now aiming to claim a chunk of the mobile phone market.

Tech experts are also predicting that a new mobile phone network system, Fourth Generation Mobile or 4G, will be introduced to the market in the near future.  This will mean stronger and clearer signals and higher speed connection through the internet.  From the looks of things, mobile phones may even replace personal computers in the future!

Recent developments in the Mobile Web have made it easier for individuals and businesses alike to instantly interact with the audience they have in mind. In the span of a few years, the mobile web has successfully bridged the gap once caused by time and distance. Today, a business located as far as Asia can easily set up another shop in Canada and be able to directly interact with the consumers there through mobile phones. A student from the United States can easily maintain the connections he has formed with Chinese friends he met during a trip to Hong Kong.

Indeed, the mobile web has broken barriers between cities, countries, and continents; paving the way for a global interactive community.

Mobile Site Providers

Perhaps one of the most important advancements made in mobile technology is the rise of mobile site builders. These platform sites enable individuals and businesses to easily create their own mobile web sites. In a nutshell, mobile sites are the mobile counterparts and mini versions of web sites we see in the Internet.

Mobile site builders provide highly innovative custom tools that allow mobile phone users to creatively express their individuality. Mobile sites also serve as non-traditional channels of communication for businesses to enhance their presence among markets. These sites actually offer a lot of flexibility that you may do with it as you please. Among its many uses include mobile blogging, file sharing, event postings, online mobile portfolios, mobile business catalogues, etc. And these form only the tip of the iceberg.

The features of mobile sites vary according to the mobile site provider . Some mobile site builders cater to social networkers alone, offering profile pages and file sharing features. Some cater mainly to businesses, with tools tailored to meet the needs of companies looking to elevate their presence in their markets. Some platform sites even go so far as to provide tools that would cater to both social networkers and business institutions.

Mobilemo, for example, provides user-friendly customization tools that may be used for both personal and business purposes. Among the site’s features include a tool designed to create Polls and Surveys that both entities may use to interact with their target audience. Teens and Adults alike use it to create surveys and polls soliciting opinions among social networks about the latest news and events. Most of its business members, on the other hand, use the tool to discern the tastes, preferences, buying habits and spending trends of their consumers.

Mobile phone users are also given the freedom to customize their sites according to the vision they have in mind. A wide array of themes and color schemes are available, giving users the liberty to design a site that would best represent their vision. Some site builders even feature emulators that allow users to view how their mobile site would look after the changes they have made.

Given the wide array of tools featured by platform sites and their immediate availability, cellular subscribers around the world are given an avenue wherein they can readily reach out and meet individuals of different race, culture and heritage, penultimate in the heightening of their global awareness.

More and more individuals are riding the mobile wave! Mobile web sites are springing up by the minute and it is entirely up to you to make your mobile site stand out. Here are some helpful tips to make your mobile site a cut above the rest:

Play with Color. Some mobile site builders offer its members extensive color palettes wherein users may experiment with various color combinations when it comes to the color scheme of their mobile sites. Let your WAP site’s colors reflect your personality!

Are you the outgoing type? Let your inner party animal shine by using strong colors like red, aqua and emerald green. Mix these up with even more outrageous tones like orange, purple and gold! If your tastes lean more towards the classics, choose understated pastel tones to bring out that touch of elegance. The idea here is to build a mobile web site that speaks of YOU!

Create a Visual Experience. Make your mobile web site highly visual by using text-wrapping tools that will enable you to insert photographs and wrap text to these images. Images help attract more visitors because they add flavor to your site.

Into photography? Why not build a mobile portfolio of your best photographs? Add brief descriptions for your photos to make it more interesting and personal. Post scanned versions of your artworks and show off that inner Picasso!

One word: INTERACTIVE. Keep your viewers involved! Open up your mobile web site for comments, reviews, and suggestions. Not only will it help point out areas of improvement in your mobile site, it will also help establish connections with your visitors.

Create a Guestbook and encourage friends and potential dates to leave messages for you. If you are building a mobile website for business purposes, one way of generating new contacts is through the Guestbook. Encourage visitors to leave contact details and requests for you.

Mobile site builders also feature tools that will keep your viewers hooked: POLLS. Create surveys! It could be a survey that will help you figure out the latest consumer trends or it could be one for purely entertainment purposes!

Sample survey question: Which do you prefer? Pirates or Ninjas? Silly questions like that. Point is, keep your viewers engaged!

Work around a theme when it comes to content. The most interesting mobile websites (or regular websites for that matter) are usually the ones that are creative when it comes to content. Work around your interests.

Do you have a passion for fashion? Create a mobile style hive! Upload the latest in style and fashion. Post the latest news about this year’s fashion icons. Create polls and predict what the next fashion trend will be!

Are you the next Chris Rock/Will Ferrell/Jim Carrey? Post your jokes and funniest home videos and photos in your mobile web site. Your viewers will definitely get a laugh out of that!

Really into music? Upload songs, recommend playlists, and post all the music trivia you’ve gathered over the years. Be the mobile web’s music guru.

The possibilities are endless!

What are you waiting for? To help you start, check out mobile site builders like Mobilemo–this platform site offers free membership and features highly interactive customization tools– and begin creating that mobile web site now!

The beginning of this century has seen the explosion of the World Wide Web. Overused, and sometimes even reviled, as the term ‘Web 2.0’ can be, nobody can deny that it has further enriched the Internet. In recent months, an offshoot of Web 2.0 has been emerging - the Mobile Web. With the Internet almost reaching its maximum potential - at least until the next major development breaks through - all gears are now shifting to the next frontier - the MOBILE.

Simply put, Mobile Web is the World Wide Web accessed through mobile phones and other mobile devices. The advancement of mobile devices from different makers has spurred its growth. Cutting edge gadgets such as Apple’s iPhone have brought even more attention to the endless possibilities of mobile web.

Users with mobile phones and other hand-held devices that have built-in web browsers can view regular websites on their devices even with its smaller screens. However, there is still the inconvenience factor of having to keep on scrolling sideways and downwards to completely view the web pages. This is where mobile sites come in. Mobile sites are mini-websites formatted to fit the smaller screens of mobile phones and other mobile devices. Though there are some features that are only possible with regular websites, users can still do almost the same things on a mobile site as they can on a regular website.

But is mobile web exactly the same as the World Wide Web? Is it simply the World Wide Web in miniature? Will it ever totally replace the World Wide Web? The answer is no. Mobile web, for all its rich features and interactivity, still does not really approximate the World Wide Web especially in terms of functionality due to device and format limitations. Users cannot really expect mobile sites to look and behave exactly as a regular website would.

A mobile site entails different programming scripts from regular websites. The range of coding scripts, CSS style sheets and fonts, among others, are limited in mobile web. Also, a lot of mobile devices default to their own font sizes and families. There are also limitations on interactivity and applications. Another issue is connectivity. People on mobile devices go in and out of coverage areas, and the amount of bandwidth can surge up and down, thus possibly hindering a full mobile web experience.

The device itself also plays a factor in the divide between the World Wide Web and the mobile web. Handhelds are not as powerful as desktops or portable computers when it comes to data handling and processing and display of rich media. There is also a limitation on navigation capability. Desktop-style navigation schemes may work on mobile devices, but not really as well as they do on PCs because of the smaller screen size and limited scrolling and pointing capabilities.

Limitations aside, however, mobile web has great potential and is slated to be ‘the next big thing’ in Internet technology. The one great edge of mobile web is instant access – the ability to connect people anytime, anywhere they are, and at the exact moment. The day may come when the divide between the World Wide Web and the mobile web will be bridged, but until then, many individuals and companies are coming up with different ways to narrow the gap.

Mobilemo dives in by offering a mobile site platform that lets users create their own mobile sites through simple and easy-to-use interactive tools. Mobilemo seeks to minimize the difference between the World Wide Web and mobile web by providing an almost web-like quality to mobile sites. Among the features enabled are image insertion and text wrapping, customizable templates, interactive tools for polls, comments and guestbook, and file sharing.

In spite of the limitations of mobile web, it is still a very important development that brings the Internet to even more people across the globe. In the future, mobile web may eventually run alongside the World Wide Web in terms of features and functionality. But until then, the key is to find ways to maximize the mobile web and make it work for your specific needs.