Mobile Development › case studyWhen designing for mobile, there are two main routes: mobile websites andmobile applications. Mobile websites are websites designed to cater for thelimitations of the mobile device, and constraints demanded by the users’expectations. Mobile websites can be accessed by any phone with a browserand an Internet connection.Applications, on the other hand, are device and platform specific. Applicationstend to be more task focused than websites (even when that task is just“fun”). Applications need to be designed for a particular platform, and are notavailable on other platforms or devices. For many brands, applications offer adirect route to consumers’ mobile devices. By creating applications with utilityor entertainment in mind, brands can create useful mobile experiences fortheir target market. 6.8 the bigger pictureMobile phones have been referred to as a “stitching” medium in marketingterms. Given that they are ever present and easily accessible, mobile phonescan make it easier to connect other forms of marketing communications.Having a website available via a phone when someone sees your offline advertcan make a significant difference to your customer’s experience. Having auseful application available that users may use daily on their phones can do alot for placing your brand top of mind. 6.9 case study: Diningout.co.za Dining-OUT.co.za is South Africa’s largest Internet-based restaurant guide. Dining- OUT began in 2000 and currently lists over 2 000 restaurants, attracting over 250 000 visitors per month. The website allows users to search for restaurants by location, food type and ambiance. The restaurants are split approximately 50/50 between one line listings and full listings. One line listings contain only location, food type and ambiance. Full listings contain an editorial, photos, full menu with prices, map with directions and the facility to make a booking. In 2008, Dining-OUT launched a mobile version of the website (www.dining-out. co.za/m) aimed at providing customers with greater ease and flexibility in accessing the site. The mobile site contains the same features as the existing site, but has been optimised for the mobile browser. The site is able to detect the screen size on the handset and automatically adjust the resolution to fit as the sizes of mobile screens vary greatly from handset to handset. The search function has further been simplified with fewer pages to be loaded in the browser, meaning less of the customer’s data bundle is used.