Mobile devices

Mobile devices are portable computers such as smartphones and tablets. You carry them with you, and they run feature-rich operating systems that support many apps, a web browser and multimedia playback.

That makes them useful for reaching an audience on the move. For example, a city library could release a short animation about its reading challenge through a phone app and a mobile web page, so visitors can watch it on a bus or while waiting in a queue. An app is installed on the device, while a mobile web page is opened in the device's browser. A tablet is small enough to pass around, which suits a family watching together or a group on a journey.

Design limits

Mobile devices have small screens, so content must be designed for a small display. Use readable text sizes, simple layouts and large, easy-to-tap buttons. A product built for a wide desktop screen may need a mobile version with fewer columns and shorter lines.

Streaming over mobile data can also be expensive, particularly high-quality video, because it uses up a data allowance. A lower-bandwidth option, such as a smaller video or an audio version, helps the audience use the product without worrying about cost. On Wi-Fi the same video usually costs nothing extra, so the expense depends on how the audience connects.

When you choose mobile devices as the platform for a product, they give reach and convenience, but the product must be adapted to the small screen and to data limits.