Is mobile web dead in the water?

Hi, I think there are different approaches to mobile web. The one mowser used was difficult. No authomat can decide, what is important on the page and what is not (which image to take out etc...)
We at http://www.wirenode.com choosed another approach, you can create mobile website from scratch and put on it only text and images that mattter.

I like the concept of "building your own mobile page" very easily for those that cannot code it on their own - almost like a "mobile calling card."

I tried goign through the mobile RSS process, but the first error I hit prevents me from completing it - "Invalid Name" but then doesn't give me any reference as to what I'm doing wrong, or where I can get help.

I think your thoughts about the mobile web vs mobile apps is right on, although I get the sense you're less than excited about the prospect. It seems to me this is the same issue we have now on "the big web", different user agents and different capabilities mean we have to look to progressive enhancement to offer users the best experience given their system.

I look at it as a "placing the most effort in successful efforts" vs. the "invest a lot of time/money to end up going backwards or investing in obsolete efforts." It just feels like mobile technology is quickly catching up to the mobile PC (like Toby's ASUS eee PC) where we are almost at the point where the screen size is the only consideration, not the technology required.

Which goes back to the idea of mobile apps, which may just be the same web application, only constrained to the screen size. I am not sold on the idea yet, but I do think there is still need for consideration.

The Pareto principle? I don't like that idea for the web, which was intended to provide for universal access..

I worded it poorly. I don't mean "serve the majority" but I also don't see the benefit of focusing on the old technology. Really, I need to do more research into the areas of *what* phones are most often used for browsing, and by whom, and for what. As with mowser the case was that 80% of its traffic was to porn sites (shocking? not really...) but I know that insurance companies, banks, and other institutions could greatly benefit from mobile browsers ( and I know Amazon has a new mobile SMS offering where you could walk in borders and compare prices on the spot!

Again, that falls a little outside the realm of mobile browsing, which goes back to my original point. Not all phones have good browsers (or data plans), but text messaging is becoming king, which is a different beast altogether.

I just wonder if it would be better to be a leader - going towards the end goal - vs. a player - playing along, doing the same thing everyone else is doing. Of course, that gets into hardware technology (and we know how Jesse James Garrett feels about that).

It's becoming more "ideas for the future" vs. applicable right now. I suppose I'm hoping to see more "let's do this" approach in technology so we can crank out relevant uses and applications at a faster pace (learning curve be damned!)