Cut off from the world: why mobile internet is not all it is supposed to be
 For the past two weeks I've been cut off from the Internet. All I've been able to use is my Nokia's 3G connection, which has effectively limited me to eMail, robbed me of everything but the most basic of Facebook functionality, and left me with little more than an ability to post on Twitter.
I think there's a few lessons here. The first is that the mobile phone is not a true substitute for a decent portable device. I could keep in touch - just - but that was about it. Anything more complicated was out of my reach. Even updating my status on Facebook was a sequence of taps that drove me nuts.
Ironically the Facebook mobile interface is a lot cleaner and easier to use than the full version. On my iPod touch I prefer it. On my Nokia it is a lot more awkward to use, prone to not appearing, while the Facebook App always seems to be a few hours - and sometimes days - behind.
Twitter's mobile interface is relatively simple to use, being no more than a timeline and an option to post your thoughts. Again very simple, but lacking in the retweeting and searching functionality. Both are things I find invaluable on Tweetdeck on my iPod. As for retweeting, that was out of the question, as was checking out my lists or even acknowledging those who started following me.
eMail is easy to use, thanks to Nokia allowing me to link my main Yahoo account into their messaging app. I was even able to set it to automatically poll my account and bring mails down.
The biggest lesson my week with only my Nokia left me with is that the mobile phone is OK for keeping in touch with people I already have a good relationship with, but difficult to use if I want to reach out to those people on the edges of my network, or if I want to share more than the most basic of content.
Previously on this blog...
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A dozen beautiful images of Saturn
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Setting up shop in a new country: beyond the website
Building a website for multiple languages is not just about translation. It is a critical business decision that has to be taken carefully.
Why call centre staff deserve your respect
If call centre staff set the first impression for your business, why do we treat them so badly?
Becoming a Specialist? A hard decision to make ...
Specialising requires hard strategic decisions to be made about your business.
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The quest for quality in Agile Software Development
Why quality assurance remains a central part of project management, regardless of the use of Agile methods
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