Mobile web design 'changing due to iPhone'

14/07/2008

Web design for the mobile platform has seen significant changes in recent times, thanks to the growing popularity of the iPhone, according to the New York Times.

The newspaper reports that web designers are increasingly looking to refine site usability as a result of the rising uptake of the handset and in response to the challenges of designing for a small screen.

It noted that many designers are now embracing web pages that can only be scrolled vertically, making the browsing experience easier for mobile users.

Furthermore, many sites incorporate larger text for better readability, while designers are also focusing on easing access to the most relevant and important information and services for users, according to the newspaper.

"The small screen forces you to be even more ruthless and focus on usability almost like a haiku," remarked Barney Pell, chief executive of Powerset, which has developed a Wikipedia search engine.

"That's what happens with design for the small screen. You have to think about what the most important thing the user is doing is."

A 3G version of the iPhone was launched last week. According to a recent study by comScore, about 80 per cent of iPhone users utilise the handset's mobile internet capabilities, compared with 32 per cent of other smartphone users.