Posted by Lisa Hochgraf
All ye iPhone owners, please weigh in. The July 31 Forrester Report, "The Mobile Web Vs. the Web on an iPhone: iPhone Wins in a Blowout," suggests the beginning of the end of the mobile banking world as we know it. In particular, the report says:
Forrester has identified three primary barriers to the Web's success: 1) poor usability; 2) hard-to-find content; and 3) costly access. The third barrier has already started to crumble. Now, the introduction of the iPhone knocks down the other two barriers. How? By bringing full-featured Web sites to a device that can handle them--eliminating the need for stripped-down mobile sites delivered to tiny screens with inadequate keyboards. On the iPhone, the "mobile Web" becomes simply "the Web," transforming the customer experience to one that's easy to use ... (and) easy to find content on.
The report predicts that usage of today's mobile sites will decline quickly because "the iPhone experience will continually improve," as "iPhone competitors are on the way."
Forrester says companies shouldn't immediately abandon the mobile Web, however. Instead it suggests: 1) getting an iPhone and becoming familiar with it, 2) continuing with mobile Web experimentation and applying lessons learned, and 3) focusing on creating mobile content that's timely, location-aware and actionable for laptop users as well.
What do you think? Do you love Web surfing on your iPhone? Is it at least a lot better than Web surfing on other hand-held wireless devices? Are you doing mobile banking at your credit union? How has the introduction of the iPhone influenced your perspective on mobile banking strategy?
CUES and FSF members: Check out "Banking on the Go" and "Banking on the Go, Part 2" about the various mobile services. Please e-mail cues@cues.org if you need your username and password.
