10 March 2009
What the *@!*$ is a mobile web widget?
We’re working with Betavine to help raise awareness about mobile web widgets. I agreed to help because I really believe it’s big news for web developers, designers and entrepreneurs.
Here’s why: everyone loves designing and building for the iPhone. Who wouldn’t? It’s a very sexy, powerful and easy-to-use device. But here’s the problem, there are millions of people that don’t have an iPhone (or don’t want one). What about them? There’s a huge market that’s being ignored … and that’s where mobile web widgets come in.
Here’s a quick video to actually show you what a mobile web widget is:
Some examples
Here are a couple screenshots of very simple widgets:
Clock widget
Flickr widget
Twitter widget
Standards based
The thing I love the most about mobile web widgets is that they’re built with standards-based, open-web technology. We’re not talking about some proprietary tech from some huge corporation. It’s straight up HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Dan Appelquist is working hard with all the carriers and device manufacturers to get everyone to agree on standards so that these widgets can access device level functionality like contacts, location and photos, no matter what phone they’re installed on. BONDI and OMTP are the beginning of this process and are progressing quite well.
Distribution
If you build a widget, how will you distribute it to millions of potential customers? First of all, Vodafone will be placing the widgets in the ‘Widget Manager’ which will be pre-installed on many phones – currently compatible with 10 popular S60 handsets across the UK, Spain, Germany and Italy, with South Africa due to launch next month – a potential audience of around 1 million customers. If you want to install a widget, all you do is click ‘install’ and it downloads and installs (it’s basically a simple zip file).
You can now upload your widget to the Betavine Widget Zone, which will include your widget in the Widget Manager.
Competition – Ending April 30th
In order to kick things off, Betavine are offering £20,000 (cash!) to the person who designs and builds the best mobile web widget. I’m one of the judges, so we’re only going to pick a winner with a really kick-ass widget. The competition closes April 30th, so move quick.
Thoughts?
I know that widgets aren’t as elegant or usable as iPhone apps, but it’s a huge move in the right direction for reaching non-iPhone audiences. As web designers, developers and entrepreneurs, I think that’s super exciting.
What are your thoughts?
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Andy Wright
# March 11, 2009 - 12:00 am
Well I had no idea, so thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed the low-tech demo, but I’m a little curious as to why you choose the window as the backdrop?
Jonathan Stark
# March 11, 2009 - 3:02 am
Other than not running in a mobile browser, how do widgets differ from a garden variety web app?
James
# March 11, 2009 - 9:39 am
I’d like to enter this but I think that the winner will be someone who can come up with a unique, useful idea – which is what I’m struggling with right now. So send me your ideas and I’ll make any that sound promising – we can split the cash 60-40 :)
Ryan
# March 11, 2009 - 10:30 am
@Jonathan – They’re not any different, which is the exciting part! You can build web apps that work and hook into mobile devices, without writing a custom phone app.
Ryan
# March 11, 2009 - 10:31 am
@James – I know you can come up with something good :)
Sam Machin
# March 12, 2009 - 5:39 pm
I think one of the big advantages over a mobile web site is access, typing URL’s into phones is a real pain and very few people use bookmarks. Widgets are a great way to get a one click link to your app/site into the phones menu system
Its kinda ironic that on the desktop we’re moving to everything inside the browser yet with mobile we’re moving more onto the device.
Ryan
# March 12, 2009 - 5:50 pm
@Sam – I totally agree. That one step (typing a URL) is really harder than you think.
Tom
# March 18, 2009 - 2:22 pm
What about some sort of mobile web dropbox esque device you can submit pictures you capture to so they auto upload to your computer.
James Pearce
# March 20, 2009 - 6:14 pm
A bit baffled as to why you’re mostly talking about the promise of the mobile web as whole but appending the word ‘widget’ as though it’s an orthogonal opportunity.
“Widgets are a great way to get a one click link to your app/site into the phones menu system”
Like, um, a bookmark.
But I think that’s the point. Widgets are basically interesting desktop icons. Like a launcher for an calendar app that shows today’s date – or a bookmark for a weather web site that syndicates items of the forecast data.
But it would be hard to argue that a widget is somehow an business in itself – and yet not the site, service or extensive content that lies behind it.
Interesting question: does anyone have a business model for a widget that does not involve a click-through?
Widgets are like neon signs in a crowded highstreet. They’re designed to attract attention and help you quickly find the business you seek. Now I’m sure there *is* a respectable niche business selling neon signs. But for the shopkeeper they are a marketing tool, the cost of which is only offset against increased customer traffic to the store’s business itself.
But no discussion about widgets is complete without the fabled analogue-clock-with-slightly-bouncy-hands. So I am glad you didn’t disappoint :-)