Trends in Mobile Tools and Applications for Libraries
Megan Fox
Simmmons College
Size of mobile market
75 % of all US adults have cell phones
90% of college students have them
95% of US mobile phoes support text messaging
62 % of subscribers use text messaging regularly
text messaging increased 95% over last year
Samsung B47 supports picture in picture. Screen rotates to support TV
Nokia N93 has a partnership with Flickr, to upload pics automtically
Audio is advanced on these devices, and they replace the need for a separate mp3 player
iPhone
coolest thing will be the touchscreen
can’t download apps to the iPod, no user-replaceable battery
UMPC
Ultra Mobile Personal Computer
now in 2nd generation
Samsung Q1 Ultra
thumb keyboard on both sides of the screen
battery life is an issue, but they are working on it
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The mobile web
.mobi internet domain
mobisitegalore
businessweek.mobi
fpld.websiteforever.mobi Freemont Public Library
Zinadoo translates information into mobile
Ball State University www.bsu/libraries/mobile
Mobile Optimized Catalog
AirPac is a III mobile version of the catalog
Ready reference info is not available on mobile phones (almanacs, handbooks, etc)
use these resources at the ball game, at the store, at the bar
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The Transcoded Web
Transcoding can be controversial because it distorts the page
Any page can be shoehorned into a mobile device
mobilicious = del.ici.ous on the go
Mobilizing your content
mobifeeds
xfruits
As mobile information becomes more proficient, librarians will need to be more familiar with the objects
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Communicating with library users
Alarama.com.au
company that provides reference service
MagicMessage does this
GizmoSMS
TeleFlip are other webform to phone options
youngest users are heavy texters
Wake Forest has a MobileU pilot program
Library has a mobile style sheet
AirBaruch
reserve study rooms via the library
ClassInHand
sort of like a clicker system, but works with cell phones
AudibleAir
download audio books via wireless broadband
Guide by cell audio tours
YouTube to go is in the works, as is a mobile Second Life
BallState has videos that work on phones
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mobile for Library staff
Wireless Workstation from III
slides at web.simmons.edu/~fox/mobile