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Insight on helpful tips for web design on the iPhone, Part 2

This is Part 2 of a six part series on web design for mobile devices, such as the iPhone. If you missed the first section on "Insight on helpful tips for web design on the iPhone, Part 1" be sure to read it prior to continuing on with Part 2.

  • Always test your web design on several different phones before publishing your site. You may try using emulators, but viewing and navigating through your site on a phone’s small screen is always best.
  • You can use flash-enabled, wide screen browsers, but be aware that your viewer will be previewing your website on a much smaller screen with limited colors. Therefore, you can be certain that all of your critical information is visible. General Rule: Anything beyond XHTML Basic won’t be useable on some cellular devices.
  • Building a web design just for cell phones and wireless viewers is an option. If you do decide to take this route, be sure to MAKE IT AVAILABLE.
    • Best solution is to place the link at the top of the page.
    • Hide this link from non-cellular devices by implementing the handheld media type.
    • Implement a m. subdomain on your website specifically for mobile users.
    • Implement a auto detect program that will send mobile users to the right version of your site. Our website is a good example of this technique. Mobile visitors need not know subdomains or special web page names to see the mobile version.
    By using these guidelines, you can avoid viewers leaving your website due to poor functionality or difficult navigation.