Mobile theme and tools for buddypress needed

Mobile-theme-and-tools

Mobile theme and tools for buddypress needed

By on November 11, 2008 in Blog with 10 Comments

I have noticed lately that all the major social media and social networking websites are coming out with a mobile version of their website hosted like this – m.socialsite.com – If you view it in a browser it looks like an extremely stripped down version of the main website. Click on these websites and see for yourself:

My suggestion is as follows:

  • Create a theme for BuddyPress
  • The theme needs to include with a bunch of mobile tools
  • The tools should include a mobile optimized website at m.socialsite.com
  • Users needs an easy way to upload photos and notes to the website via SMS and MMS messages
  • Users should also be  able to receive new BuddyPress messages on their phones via SMS, but might be costly to implement.

A well-known South African blogger called Matthew Buckland wrote and awesome article on the future of the mobile internet. Read the article if you are interested in in what I am talking about.

I am going to write next about how I see a need for combining the mobile theme with a Jabber Client to allow users to chat anywhere, connect and grow the network in their geographic location.

Please give feedback?

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10 Comments

  1. jdblundell November 11, 2008 at 11:51 pm ·

    I found a wp mobile theme and use it on my regular site (www.casadeblundell.com/jonathan). wonder how that would work with buddypress?

  2. phlux0r November 12, 2008 at 8:33 am ·

    I totally agree. These days every popular CMS/Web App should be prepared for mobile access. After all, mobile phones are one of the most used communication devices in the world.

    A mobile theme should have a cut-down version of full theme features. Essential things on front page and other stuff in the nav by priority. Usability is imperative. But then, different people want different things first so there should be a way to configure the mobile theme features from the full site user profile. Ie, what widgets go on the front page and so on.

  3. feedmymedia November 12, 2008 at 8:45 am ·

    Thanks Robert. I am out of my depth on the mobile theme front so any suggestions are most welcome. Especially on do’s and don’ts…

  4. phaeder November 24, 2008 at 5:07 am ·

    i have built one from scratch (with your help Robert) after optimizing it, it scored a 4 out of 5 on the. mobi ready test set up…
    it is a really stripped down WP loop with a basic CSS and i am going to make it available for all to download this week.

    Peter

  5. phaeder November 24, 2008 at 5:14 am ·

    oops, that’s a standard WordPress theme, but can be adapted.

  6. feedmymedia November 24, 2008 at 8:45 am ·

    @phaeder – Hello. Thanks for the comment, I am keen to chat more about mobile themes. I see a link for Obama Mobile on your website… Were you involved in that? I might have some paid work for you potentially.

  7. gpo1 November 28, 2008 at 3:11 pm ·

    Any update on this mobi theme

  8. feedmymedia November 28, 2008 at 3:25 pm ·

    We are still busy with our work, @phaeder was keen to release his theme I think, maybe chat to him directly. Good Luck and keep us posted please.

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