I hate the Internet on my cell phone

Itty-bitty screen, too many keystrokes, and costly too

[MatthewHSE]

I just read this thread [webmasterworld.com] and had to ask, how many people actually *use* the Internet (browsing, e-mail, whatever) on their cell phones? I don't mean for special occasions or unusual circumstances, but on a daily basis for normal, everyday tasks?

For myself, I hate it. I tried it for a month free on my standard flip-phone (the kind you normally see on other peoples' belts, e.g., the norm) and never could get used to it. I could get used to the tiny screen, I suppose, but really, how quickly can you browse when you have to scroll through ALL the links on the page until you get to the one you need? And how fast can you write an e-mail or text message when you have to hit your '2' key three times to get the letter D? And am I the only one who finds the costs *really* outrageous?

I can understand some people using the Internet on their cell phones for certain important, occasional tasks if they don't have access to a computer. But for habitual use, I just don't get it - at least, not if you just have a "standard" phone. I guess some of the more expensive phones out now wouldn't be so bad, but I've never even seen one of those in actual use, so my guess is they have a long way to go before they're anywhere near mainstream...

So I guess my question is this: Is the Internet on the cell phone currently just a cool fad for nerds and geeks, or does it have real-world use for the average person?

[bcolflesh]

Emergency use only here...

[idolw]

i check stuff on a few sites ad use the messenger on my mobile. need a larger screen and qwerty keyboard to do anything more.
i hope my new phone will let me stop carrying my laptop everywhere and everytime

[Swanny007]

I pay $5/mo for unlimited use. I use the GMail plugin which rocks. I don't surf the net much but it is handy if I need quick access to something. I check my GMail several times a day from my phone, very convenient. And cheap.

[jdMorgan]

> but really, how quickly can you browse when you have to scroll through ALL the links on the page until you get to the one you need?

Sounds like you've visited poorly-designed mobile sites, or maybe just visited "regular Web" sites using your mobile phone. Modern mobile sites have pages small enough to avoid excessive scrolling, and you can "click" on any link without scrolling by pressing the number or symbol key that precedes the link (done with the XHTML accesskey attribute on the <a> link tag).

It'll take awhile, but eventually people will realize that designing pages for mobile devices *does* require a significantly different approach than designing for 1024x768 or even for 640x480 desktops.

Jim

[MatthewHSE]

maybe just visited "regular Web" sites using your mobile phone.

You nailed it there. I did visit a few mobile-optimized websites but found them severely lacking in the content I was looking for. The "regular" websites seemed to do okay, except for the inconvenient links, which surprised me overall.

[Jasonb]

Technology for the web will develop. I use Google on my cell phone to check my listings when im on the move because im currently battling with a few major company's on the search terms and its loosing me money when im behind them. Anyway Google is fine on my cell phone but go back to 1994 look at Lynx now look at firefox 2 or IE7. In the next 2-3years i expect it to be better than IE7 on a cell phone.

[Terabytes]

I spend considerable time browsing on my blackberry...(does that count?)
I use G maps, when I get lost...
I even browse WebmasterWorld in hotel rooms...airports..etc

If I don't have access to the net any other way at the time, it has been a lifesaver...

(however I seem to be the minority on this subject...) :)

[adamas]

I have also found web control panel access on a Nokia e61 to be a lifesaver sometimes.

SSH to server even more so!

It's not as convenient as access through a computer but it's doable and getting better. Roll on virtual hardware. A HUD including virtual keyboard/input device should do the trick!

[ash1711]

I use my mobile to access Gmail and yahoomail but only when i'm waiting for an email as I don't have access to personal email at work. I have tried to visit websites on it but the 126 x 80 screen makes it totally impossible along with the slow datarate.

[pageoneresults]

I use my mobile phone for making phone calls only. Thats basically what it was designed for, nothing more. ;)

Internet on mobile phones is for those with keen eyesight and a knack for working in a 1.5" x 1.5" workspace. That's what I call micro-managing.

I can't do it. I don't want to do it either. I'm rarely away from my system for any period of time that would cause me to use my mobile phone. And even then, I'm going to take a laptop with me if I know I'll be in that position.

I hate the Internet on my cell phone.

I feel your pain...

[skipfactor]

>>I use my mobile phone for making phone calls only. Thats basically what it was designed for, nothing more.

That's my approach. The problem is it's getting more difficult to find a quality phone w/o all of the junk in the trunk. AT&T, un-p-i-m-p my cell!

[bill]

I use my mobile phone for making phone calls only. Thats basically what it was designed for, nothing more.

That's because you're in the US, and phone technology there is a bit pathetic. ;) If I was stuck with the sorts of phones you have I wouldn't use the Internet functions either.

I'm fortunate to be in Japan where phones are quite a bit ahead of anything I've ever seen in the US. I hardly ever use the phone for calls. I have a 3" screen that's a QVGA TFT LCD which shows 262,144 colors. My primary uses are mail, net surfing and music. I also use it occasionally for games. It has a 3 mega-pixel camera as well.

Net surfing is something I do every day on my phone. If you've got a decent screen it makes things a lot easier.

[johnafrid]

Like Bill, I am lucky to be in Japan too for the cell phones at least. Besides what bill says, I use it for all the train schedules, moving from station A to station B. On top of this, you can also decide on the fastest and cheapest way of getting to point B. You can save lots of time and headache with this this little phone bill is talking about.

[kneoteric_V]

I do not generally browse though my cell phone, since a carry a palm top as practice. But sometimes, yes!

Liking or disliking to use a technical feature is purely private...

[Animated]

i even hate sending text messages with my normal cell phone but the ones that are used as pocket pc's arent to bad , for faster typing and a larger screen

[JRyan]

the Gmail app is really the only thing I use on a regular basis, even then I respond to emails with a phone call if possible, or do it later from notebook/desk.