I think the 800 pound gorilla just wandered into the room. Finally.

Users have plenty of trouble finding content on their computer. We just saw two major operating systems build in live content search. So why couldn’t we do that on mobile devices when we have so much more control over the actual content? It’s starting to happen, and could change how we use mobile devices.

When I last wrote about the problem, I was unaware of Qix from Zi Corporation. They’ve improved their product over the last year, with availability on a few phones (Windows Mobile, Series 60) and the ability to search operator portal content. It’s exciting, but it will take a while to get traction (especially with their limited device support).

So, in comes Tegic. They’ve made major usability improvements in their new XT9: error correction and easier/automatic input mode switching (finally!). They’ve also announced T9 Discovery Tool [pdf, sorry] which replicated the Zi functionality (on-device plus portal keypad access). I find it particularly interesting that this has been picked up by Wireless Watch Japan but nobody else, despite Tegic’s promotion of it at 3GSM.

Tegic has three things Zi is missing: AOL is behind them, they have a huge install base, and they are working on mass-market phones. This makes them the 800 pound gorilla. I look forward to seeing what Zi will do to best their long-time larger rival. Maybe partner with Google?

These events are important in several ways.

• Mixed local/online search. Right now it’s just the operator portal, but further developments could search the entire web. Hypothetically, the user would start typing just as they would with the current product, but have a button that would send the text to a generic web search. The web search would need to have the same intelligence as the on-device product: if “tomorroq” was sent, it would check both that and “tomorrow”.
• Promotion of operator portal. Carriers who want to avoid becoming “just a pipe” can provide live searching of their content ahead of the rest of the web, in a fashion that enhances user experience (with the right data plan).
• Promotion of mobile-safe sites
• Promotion of the development of the semantic web. Content, particularly non-text content, will need text tags to be readily searchable.
• Hypothetical addition of favorite sites to on-device search. I’d add del.icio.us and LinkedIn, you might add Flickr.
• Promotion of … the web. The information really is there, it really is useful, and now it can really be easy to access.

Original Source: Little Springs Design

                    
Little Springs Designs the user experience for mobile devices and services. Our practice of user-centered design means the user comes first, not the technology. We learn about the user, design for the user, and talk to the user - but we understand the technology and its limitations and potential.