Mobile Revolution
The September issue of Wired Magazine proclaims “The Web is dead”. This statement is hard to believe considering how much time people spend online. But Chris Anderson, Wired Magazine’s editor-in-chief, tells NPR that the end of the Web is likely just the next step for the Internet.
Although the headline “The Web is dead” is a bit of an overstatement, it does recognize a major shift in how we view and use the online world. The World Wide Web is no longer the leading force of the Internet. Many people think that the Internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing. They are not. The Internet was created in the 1970’s and is the network, the wires and routers that transport the digital information.
How do the Web and the Internet differ? Think about it this way — many applications use the Internet, and the Web is one of those applications. When you make a call using Skype or download a movie from Netflix or Blockbuster you are using the Internet, not the Web. The number of applications that use the Internet has grown over the past decade. Much of that growth has been fueled by mobile computing. Slowly but surely, the Web is the shrinking majority of the Internet’s traffic.
Consumers are driving this change every time they buy an iPhone, an iPad, a Blackberry or any of the other devices that communicate through the Internet.
Tim O’Reilly, the founder of the Web 2.0 conference, recently said in a debate hosted by Wire.com, the Web is the adolescent phase of the Internet. And it’s dead in the sense that the child is transformed when he or she becomes an adult.
There will be many more changes to come, that we can count on. The Web phase was not the end of the story and it is certainly not the end of the digital revolution. We are just entering a new phase, the mobile phase.
So what does this mean for you and your law firm? It’s time to recognize this evolution in Internet use and prepare for it. Will you be ready?
A few things to consider:
- The percentage of users that try to access your site through a mobile device. We have seen some of our clients have upwards of 5% of users attempt to access their sites through a mobile device.
- A mobile version of your website. This will be a more functional, accessible version of your site that mirrors the look and feel of your current site.
- Smart phone app. Apps are built specifically for mobile devices and they offer more functionality and utility for the user. Don’t get swept up in the “there’s an app for that” mentality. It is critical to have the right strategy.
- Social Media networking plays a major role in mobile phone use. A few examples include uploading photos, videos, even CNN’s iReport. Do you have a vision for user generated content?
Is your web vendor poised to help you conquer the mobile revolution? For additional information please see Why Are Mobile Friendly Websites Necessary for Law Firms? Contact us at marketing@consultwebs.com or 1-800-872-6590.
