The Ultimate Challenge For the One Web Principle
By: Barry Welford
The One Web Principle, which is at the heart of the W3C Mobile Web Initiative, is challenging at many levels.
The aim is to have a Web page that can deliver a satisfactory user experience whatever the device used, whether desktop PC or cell phone. Part of the suggested solution involves a device detection process, which can then modify what is delivered to the device. There are many technical challenges here but possibly they could all be solved.
Dwarfing the technical challenges are the challenges involved in getting all the stakeholders to work in concert with agreed standards. The consensus process involved in getting all to agree and work with the same standards takes time.
In a fast evolving world like the Mobile web, where large profits are to be made quickly, big players may choose to move pre-emptively to seize competitive advantage. Divergency rather than convergence would seem to be the natural outcome.
Two news items this week confirm divergency rather than convergence. The first points out that Telcos Are Failing to Capitalise on Mobile Web 2.0. This is based on new research by global consultancy Arthur D. Little. The article notes that:
The challenge for the Telcos is to support user needs in the mobile environment whilst over-coming previous barriers such as sharing across companies and territories and high mobile data prices, walled gardens around content and exclusive proprietary formats. ..
The telecoms industry is now faced with the dilemma of whether to collaborate or compete with the newly emerged yet de facto web 2.0 leaders (Flickr etc.). Should they go with the long haul choice of building competing communities or take the reduced margin option implied from partnerships with existing players.
The second item suggests that Google’s Alleged Mobile Phone Plans seem to be taking shape.
An ad for a first-rate analog designer notes that “Google is experimenting with a few wireless communications systems including some completely novel concepts.” Google, like Microsoft, has sometimes been somewhat cavalier about standards.
Perhaps it’s that ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely‘ phenomenon again.
As the big players in the cell phones marketplace seek individual advantage, it would be somewhat surprising if they have the resolve or the resources to agree on and follow the standards required by the One Web principle.