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Did you know that your mobile device has much more to offer beyond e-mail and making calls? Many Web sites have been formatted specifically for mobile devices. The sites are less cluttered, with fewer graphics, easy-to-read headlines, and links to the full text. You can bookmark Web sites for quick access, just like on your computer. Several e-mails you receive now likely include Web links that you can click to access the Web immediately. There is no need to wait until you return to your computer desktop.
We've identified the following Web sites and site-reader applications as worth bookmarking or installing on your mobile device today.
News
Washington Post: http://mobile.twp.com
Headlines and top stories are shown in tidy links on the front page. The Washington Post offers downloadable shortcuts for the BlackBerry®, the iPhone, and the Windows® Mobile device. It will also send a link to your phone if you text it.
Instructions are available at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/contents/devices.htm.
New York Times: http://mobile.nytimes.com
Site opens with headlines and summaries of top news. The New York Times supports a variety of specific mobile devices with their own applications. Visit its mobile support site for details at http://www.nytimes.com/services/mobile/index.html
NPR: http://www.npr.org/services/mobile.html
Local and national news and commentary are available through a mobile Web browser and a phone call at no charge. Test your knowledge with the daily news quiz.
RSS News Readers
Bloglines: http://www.bloglines.com/mobile
Lists your feeds and shows the number of new entries.
Google Reader: http://www.google.com/reader/m/view/
Displays the most recent updates at the top.
Business and Law
Westlaw®: http://wireless.westlaw.com
Westlaw has a clean and easy-to-use site with results that display search terms in bold just like on your desktop. Remember to log off.
Bloomberg: http://mobile.bloomberg.com
Bloomberg.com provides market news and allows you to check world indexes.
Fed Ex tracking: http://mobile.fedex.com from your mobile browser or http://fedex.com/iphone from your iPhone or iPod touch.
Enter your tracking number and the information pops right up.
Linked In: http://m.linkedin.com/
A great tool for keeping track of acquaintances and making new contacts.
Reference
Search
When searching for a mobile Web site, enter the word mobile in the search. The browser will look for the site that is formatted for mobile devices.
Google: http://www.google.com/xhtml
Yahoo: http://us.m.yahoo.com
Google Mobilizer: http://www.google.com/gwt/n
This handy site makes any Web site, including those not formatted for mobile screens, suitable for viewing on your device.
Trivia and Other Miscellaneous Fact Needs
Answers.com: http://mobile.answers.com
Offers instant answers to questions on more than 4 million topics.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.7val.com
Mobile Translator: http://m.mikebrittain.com/tr
Allows you to translate words or phrases. Currently features English and 10 other languages, including Russian and Chinese.
Yellow Pages and Other Directories
InfoSpace Yellow Pages:
http://www.infospace.com/info.avant/redirs_all.htm?pgtarg=ylwi
Superpages Mobile: http://yp.superpages.com/
Weather
PDA Animated Weather: http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/paw
Provides animated weather radar images for cities and regions around the globe.
The Weather Channel: http://xhtml.weather.com/
The site includes access to weather, news, traffic, and sports information. The Weather Channel offers several weather display options, including video, text alerts, smartphone software, and other mobile applications for a variety of devices.
Travel
FlightStats Mobile: http://mobile.flightstats.com
Check flight status, departure and arrival information, and flight status by route. Use the site to get a jump on finding connecting flight status and gate information upon landing.
FAA: http://www.faa.gov/wireless/
Airport delays, service problems, safety hotline, and links to the major airlines.
Entertainment
ESPN: http://espn.mobi
Quick links to scores, schedules, news, and analysis.
Fandango: http://mobile.fandango.com/
Purchase movie tickets without waiting in line. This works best when you have a film and theater in mind.
Netflix: http://www.netflix.com/Mobile
You'd rather stay in after a long week on the road? Add and remove movies or rearrange your queue.
Open Table: http://mobile.opentable.com/
Choose your city, then your restaurant. Restaurants are listed alphabetically in a drop-down list.
Restaurant Row: http://www.restaurantrow.com/avantgo/
This alternative site to Open Table lets you browse dining destinations by location and type of cuisine, which can be useful in an unfamiliar city.
Banking
Bank of America: https://www.bankofamerica.com/mobile/
Transfer funds, check account balances, and pay bills electronically.
American Express: www.amexmobile.com
User ID and password are the same as those you use to access www.americanexpress.com.
Wells Fargo, Washington Mutual, USAA, and several others have mobile sites, too.
Applications Available for Most Mobile Devices
Google Maps: http://m.google.com/maps
This is a must-have application. It easily identifies your current location and helps you get to point B on foot or by car. This application may require an additional fee to your service provider for the full location-finding functionality.
Google Mobile App: http://m.google.com
Offers access to many of Google's popular applications, including Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, News, Google Reader, and more. It is faster than loading the browser version of these sites and saves your search history.
BlackBerry Only Applications
The Wall Street Journal Mobile Reader: http://online.wsj.com (Click Mobile at the bottom of the page.)
Features include easy access to top headlines, the ability to select your news feeds, full-text article access, and stock and market tracking capabilities.
ETrade: http://etrade.com/mobile
Allows you to set up watch lists, place orders, and view all of your accounts on a single screen.
Apple® iPhone Only Applications
iPhone App Store: http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore
Largest source for both free and fee-based iPhone applications. A few popular free apps include:
- Wi-Fi Finder
- Dictionaire: The Simple Dictionary
- Trapster: Alerts you to speed traps and police cameras
Windows Mobile Only Applications
Metro v5.7.0: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-downloadmetro-v5-7-0.html
Helps you navigate public transport systems found in more than 350 cities around the world
WorldMate Live: http://www.mobimate.com/downloadcenter/wml_windowsmobile.php
Includes a currency converter, hotel booking tool, world weather, flight status, flight schedules, clocks for multiple cities, travel itinerary tracking, and a day and night map. Some features are only available for an additional charge.
Phone Only Applications
Many Web sites provide links through text messaging. You text a message to the site and it responds with a link to the mobile version. This method can be easier than typing a URL on the phone's browser. See the New York Times site for an example, at http://www.nytimes.com/services/mobile/index.html.
You can purchase phone applications, usually for a nominal fee, at numerous Web sites. We've listed a few below.
Youpark: http://www.youpark.com/
Youpark tests applications on several different devices before adding them to the roster. The Web site allows you to sort applications by device or category and offers numerous free downloads.
Mobile Master: http://www.mobile-master.com/
Synchs your phone with Microsoft Outlook®, Lotus Notes, and other software.
Free Application Resources
Phoload: http://www.phoload.com/
Provides free games and applications for your phone.
GetJar: www.getjar.com
Applications are free and can be searched by device. From your phone, access wap.getjar.com.
Along with seeking out and connecting with great Web sites, applications, and other tools for your mobile device, we recommend that you take some time to explore and master the tools already there. The MemoPad found on many devices can help you keep track of your notes. You can record things to do, reminders, and other lists. Some users record their business expenses or mileage. There are a large number of tips and tricks Web sites worth investigating such as http://www.mobiletipstricks.com/. These sites can help you be more efficient and effective in your use of mobile devices.
Please note that in our research we found many other mobile Web sites and applications are not ideal or even practical. Reading large sections of text online can be difficult and some tasks are easier on a full-screen monitor. Web sites requiring passwords are not always cooperative in the mobile world. Checking the Save Password box may not work and entering passwords again can be a hassle. Several businesses have built mobile Web sites and applications that are not worth your time. To find mobile sites and applications that make a difference for you, focus on the type of information you wish to access while in transit.
Make the most of your mobile device today by bookmarking some of these Web sites or installing the applications we've recommended. If nothing else, you may impress your clients or your kids with quick information retrieval through your mobile device, something that many people see as just an e-mail tool. Soon you'll be surfing the Web on the Metro, in your hotel lobby, and while waiting to board your flight.
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