iMonk | September 2007

Johannesburg, South Africa — Sunday, September 30th

iMonk Mobile

Two weeks ago, Mukunda Prabhu showed me the iMonk website on his mobile phone. Looking at the bulky desktop version of the iMonk site on the tiny 128 x 128 pixel screen of his mobile made me realize: it was time to provide a mobile version of the iMonk!

I have been thinking of providing a mobile-friendly version of the iMonk site for some time, but the USA lags so far behind Europe, Asia, and Africa when it comes to using web-enabled handheld devices, that I have not been in too much of a hurry to do so.

Lately, however, I couldn't help noticing how many devotees in Russia, India — and yes, even South Africa! — use internet-enabled handheld devices like mobile/cell phones and PDA's (Personal Digital Assistants) to access the web. The mobile to PC ratio in these countries is very, very high. While most devotees in the USA have a laptop or PC (or both!), very few devotees in these developing countries have either. But they almost all do have mobile phones — and they know how to use them!

These devotees may not be so computer-literate, but they are definitely not intimidated by mobile phones, and have no trouble using them to log on to the internet to check their email and to browse the web. So beginning this week, even if you don't have a computer, you can use your mobile phone to see a mobile-friendly version of the iMonk blog at:

http://imonk.net/mobile

Of course, if you do have a computer, you're not going to read an entire iMonk blog on your tiny mobile web browser when you can read it on your laptop or desktop, but you can log on with your mobile to see if the latest iMonk blog has been posted, and if it has, read an excerpt to decide whether you do want to read in full, on a bigger display.

In addition to the latest blog, the mobile site will host a condensed version of the previous blog, a featured (popular) blog, a random quote, and a mini biography to give devotees and other interested persons a quick and easy reference to who and what the iMonk is about. (Before a public lecture or interview, for example, guests or reporters can dial in and see: "Who is this guy? Who is his guru? What is his philosophy?")

There are two versions of the iMonk Mobile site: Basic (for older phones with smaller screens) and Enhanced (for the newer 240x320 screen smartphones). The iMonk web server should be able to detect which phone you are using, and direct you to the appropriate version...

Please see the new Mobile FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for more information about how to log on to and use iMonk Mobile.

URL: http://www.imonk.net/07/september4.html
Layout by iMonk — September 30th, 2007.