Redirecting Mobile Surfers?

[RawAlex]

Okay, sort of a two parter here, maybe you guys would know:

What is the best way to detect mobile surfers? Is there some sort of definitive way, or is it just sort of a long list of possible browser types, OS, etc?

The second part is more important:

What is the best way to either redirect or guide these users to a mobile optimzed version of a site, or at worst a replacement site, without getting google pissed off?

Thoughts? ideas? Thanks ahead of time!

[Hell Puppy]

Okay, sort of a two parter here, maybe you guys would know:

What is the best way to detect mobile surfers? Is there some sort of definitive way, or is it just sort of a long list of possible browser types, OS, etc?

The second part is more important:

What is the best way to either redirect or guide these users to a mobile optimzed version of a site, or at worst a replacement site, without getting google pissed off?

Thoughts? ideas? Thanks ahead of time!


http://wurfl.sourceforge.net/

[DannyCox]

Here's a simple PHP script that handles the majority of devices...http://detectmobilebrowsers.mobi/. I did use it a bit before using the WURFL that HP listed above.

[gonzo]

Bigger question is what are you going to sell them?

[Toby]

I've read a number of discussions regarding Google and mobile redirects. About the only consistency among them is that there is no consensus. :idontknow

[DannyCox]

We do mobile redirects, but just to our own mobile pages for the website in question. I'm in the middle of changing everything once again as I was just getting too complex with my redirects. Having iPhones go to iPhone formatted pages and Blackberry's going to another page, etc. I figured out a common theme that works for all, but now offer 5 different mobile video choices as it seems that each device likes a different video format!

Even within Blackberrys there is a difference. The BB Bold likes a DivX video while the Storm uses an MPEG-4. So we offer a M4V for iPhone, MP4, DivX Mobile, and WMV mobile, as well as a 3GP for cellphones. That takes care of everyone and covers all the bases. Most of the supposedly good mobile sites are just using generic MP4 videos, and nothing else. While that will work across 80% of the platforms, they could do better. And a M4V formatted video looks much much better on an iPhone than any MP4 does!

[Evil Chris]

We do mobile redirects, but just to our own mobile pages for the website in question. I'm in the middle of changing everything once again as I was just getting too complex with my redirects. Having iPhones go to iPhone formatted pages and Blackberry's going to another page, etc. I figured out a common theme that works for all, but now offer 5 different mobile video choices as it seems that each device likes a different video format!

Even within Blackberrys there is a difference. The BB Bold likes a DivX video while the Storm uses an MPEG-4. So we offer a M4V for iPhone, MP4, DivX Mobile, and WMV mobile, as well as a 3GP for cellphones. That takes care of everyone and covers all the bases. Most of the supposedly good mobile sites are just using generic MP4 videos, and nothing else. While that will work across 80% of the platforms, they could do better. And a M4V formatted video looks much much better on an iPhone than any MP4 does!Hard to please them all.
So what we have to figure out is what type of phone owner is most likely to actually purchase something adult with their phone. Then maybe lean on that format.

[softball]

Danny, fyi, your video don't work on the new iphone. AEBN doesn't work on the new iphone. Apparently only youtube works on the new iphone.

[DannyCox]

I know. The video only works on the older 3G phone. Apple knows the problem, and only very recently even admitted there was a problem. A fix should be coming soon.

[softball]

I know. The video only works on the older 3G phone. Apple knows the problem, and only very recently even admitted there was a problem. A fix should be coming soon.

I gotta figure out a one button rendering solution for this new cat's cradle.

[DannyCox]

Hard to please them all.
So what we have to figure out is what type of phone owner is most likely to actually purchase something adult with their phone. Then maybe lean on that format.

All you need to do is encode the common mobile formats and put them all up. I just batch everything and let it run.

[DannyCox]

Hopefully, the M4V iPhone video format should now be working on our servers. It's not the new iPhone that's the problem, but the new 3.0 firmware for the device (which is already in the iPhone 3GS)

Apple kinda forgot to set the proper MIME TYPES in the new firmware, so you need to add them to your server, which I just did. Since all I have is an iPod Touch which still uses the old firmware (which works) I won't be able to test it until I get in touch with a couple of people I know with new iPhones.

[softball]

You nailed it Danny. It works.

[Hell Puppy]

At the pace things are moving, we're likely no more than 12-18 months away from much of this discussion being irrelevant.

For porn purposes, WAP is useless. For the smartphones with 3G which can actually provide a decent surfing experience, the browsers will converge toward looking the same way as desktop browsers. iPhone and Android are most of the way there already. Blackberry not quite as slick, but if you're patient enough to move around the page to find what you want then zoom in, it's usable.

Video is same deal. Right now, MP4 is a good one size fits all. It's a business decision as to whether you think it's worth the time to also provide a special version for Ipod/Iphone users to make 'em look sharp. With a small userbase, may not be worth it. With a userbase the size of Carol's, you've got a decent base of Apple users no doubt, and their demographic is conducive to loyalty if you cater to them.

[RawAlex]

I did some tests tonight with my new HTC android phone I picked up in HK last week. I got some very interesting results. I cruised some of the tube sites, and the best result I saw was with xvideos, which redirected me to a mobile site that had less functionality than their usual site, but did give me videos to watch and a very decent upsell at the end.

The poor sites? Geez, plenty of them. Even Megaporn didn't have a real mobile site, and the version of flash they are using to econde their videos is a higher revision than my brand new phone. I have to wonder if users are going to really want to update the flash player in their phones or if they will just move on.

I can see some potential to sell out there, I am actually thinking that this might be the right market for PPV movies (adult and non-adult alike). I would have to think that these are people who want to cut to the chase.

[EmporerEJ]

Bigger question is what are you going to sell them?

Suggestions?
'cause I got a REAL impressive portfolio of PocketPC type domains, that I REALLY need to capitalize on.

[DannyCox]

You nailed it Danny. It works.

Thanks G, I was hoping that would fix the problem.


With a userbase the size of Carol's, you've got a decent base of Apple users no doubt, and their demographic is conducive to loyalty if you cater to them.

We did a poll back about 4 months ago, and found that we did have quite a few iPhone users on Carol's site. We decided to cater to the most common users and formats for the moist commonly used mobile devices. We've also always gone that extra step for our customers and do like to give them what they want. Believe me, our retention is much higher than the average and the main reason is the support we give in all areas. Listen to your clients and you'll see an immediate increase in both conversion and retention!

[Cleo]

flash they are using to econde their videos is a higher revision than my brand new phone. I have to wonder if users are going to really want to update the flash player in their phones or if they will just move on.
iPhones don't do Flash.

Topbucks has a redirect script that you can use.
They did a white label site for me (http://mobile.cleos-porn-links.com/) but I'm not doing a redirect for mobile traffic. As a surfer I hate it when a site redirects me to a mobile version without me asking first so I often surf with a browser on my iPhone that I can change the user agent like Fake Browser (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=311236117&mt=8).

[DannyCox]

Cleo, how do surfers find your mobile site if you don't redirect? I went to cleos-porn-links.com on the iPhone (well, iPod Touch...same thing) and just got your main page which is hard to see. I didn't see any way to get to the mobile site.

When I went to mobile.cleos-porn-links.com I did get the mobile page, but it's not at all formatted for either the iPhone or Blackberry. The third button isn't showing on the content pages ("Full Episode", "Trailer", "Photos"), and most of the text is missing due to the formatting. (looks like the div class="sitedesc" needs to be adjusted)

[Cleo]

Cleo, how do surfers find your mobile site if you don't redirect?
They seem to be finding all my mobile listings without redirecting them to a special mobile version of my site. I may at sometime in the future do a mobile version for surfers who prefer it but it would be an option not something forced through a redirect. I personally don't care for sites that force a mobile version of their site when I'm surfing on my iPhone. .
When I went to mobile.cleos-porn-links.com I did get the mobile page, but it's not at all formatted for either the iPhone or Blackberry. The third button isn't showing on the content pages ("Full Episode", "Trailer", "Photos"), and most of the text is missing due to the formatting. (looks like the div class="sitedesc" needs to be adjusted)
It's showing up fine on my iPhone. I'm not seeing any formatting issue. Can you post a screen shot of what you are seeing.

Here is a screen shot of what I see on my iPhone.

[DannyCox]

That's an image capture from iPhoney, not an iPhone, I have the same program ;)

You'll notice that your text is cut off due to CSS layout issues. I also had a look at their stylesheets and they have the width set at 600px wide, which is too wide and forcing the iPhone to reduce the page. That affects the quality of the view.

I'm not at all trying to start anything, I'm just pointing out the issues I see. I'm constantly getting people to check my stuff as I know how difficult it can be to get things just right.

[Cleo]

That's an image capture from iPhoney, not an iPhone, I have the same program ;)
No, it is a screen shot taken on my iPhone just now after reading your post.

On the iPhone you hold down the Sleep and Home buttons to take a screen shot.

You'll notice that your text is cut off due to CSS layout issues. I also had a look at their stylesheets and they have the width set at 600px wide, which is too wide and forcing the iPhone to reduce the page. That affects the quality of the view.
It's just something that TopBucks offered me and is on their server. I just have links up to it. So far lots of traffic to to but not much sales.

[Toby]

...So far lots of traffic to to but not much sales.

That's always been my biggest question re: mobile porn on the sales side rather than member area. Do peeps that surf porn using their phones actually buy porn using their phone?

[Cleo]

That's always been my biggest question re: mobile porn on the sales side rather than member area. Do peeps that surf porn using their phones actually buy porn using their phone?
I think the day will come when mobile porn is a big seller, just not enough smartphones being used yet.

Phones are more discreet then a computer and tend to not be shared with family members so it is a safer place to store your not wife approved stuff.

[Toby]

I think the day will come when mobile porn is a big seller, just not enough smartphones being used yet.

Phones are more discreet then a computer and tend to not be shared with family members so it is a safer place to store your not wife approved stuff.

I agree, but I also think you have to be promoting a site that is targetted specifically at mobile users. Promoting a standard site to mobile user is a tough sell, even with a mobile tour.

[DannyCox]

As for traffic vs. sales...I'm finding the majority of our paid users are people that joined the site normally but enjoy having the mobile access. That really is the main reason we're doing what we are, just to give the customer something else. But if mobile does take off on its own, we'll be ready!

[Cleo]

As for traffic vs. sales...I'm finding the majority of our paid users are people that joined the site normally but enjoy having the mobile access. That really is the main reason we're doing what we are, just to give the customer something else. But if mobile does take off on its own, we'll be ready!
I'm seeing the exact same thing.

And ditto on the be ready if it does take off on its own. :)

[RawAlex]

On my recent trip to HK, I picked up an android phone (HTC), which is pretty interesting. Rogers in Canada is starting to push them as an alternative to the Iphone (which they also push), with the Blackberry Pre and third choice on their list. Smart move for them I think, it gives them a horse in almost every race except maybe windows mobile.

For the android phone, the browser is okay to use for normal sites, except for too much side to side scrolling, but still better than some of the alternatives. It supports flash and all, although the flash version appears to be out of date, the idea is there.

I think in the end this might be a workable business model, but I am not sure what would sell for now. JUggcash has a new mobile offering, as does Pimproll I think. Others are coming to the game too.

[thepunisher]

google search would surely help you with that