Mobile Phone Support for Forums?

General chat that fellow COM'ers may be interested in.
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pardsbane
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Mobile Phone Support for Forums?

Post by pardsbane » Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:48 am

Hi,

I've been using a mobile app called Tapatalk (http://www.tapatalk.com/) to access a bunch of forums like miata.net, etc. Adding support for Tapatalk is free for forum administrators, I was wondering if that is something COM could do?

This is the link for forum administrators:

http://www.tapatalk.com/en/plugin

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Mick
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Re: Mobile Phone Support for Forums?

Post by Mick » Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:37 am

Thanks for the tip.
I've been looking into a few solutions including Tapatalk. It has some nice features but, although it's free to install onto the forum, it puts the burden on our members to pay for a client app. Which I think is unfair. I know it's only $3 per member but it still bugs me when there are some free solutions out there.

Some other things to consider with that type of proprietary solution: Once we started using it switching to another platform would be difficult as our members would have already paid for the client application. Also, at any point the publisher could decide to start charging in app fees or inserting ads into our threads. It may be unlikely, but I don't like that it takes control out of our hands.

After looking into a few solutions I'm going with something that is based on open standards instead of a closed system.

pardsbane
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Re: Mobile Phone Support for Forums?

Post by pardsbane » Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:48 am

Mick,

That makes a lot of sense and I support your rationale. I happen to have paid for Tapatalk (on Android), but I'd be much happier with a free solution.

The only thing I would say is that you could consider supporting multiple mobile platforms, both free and commercial. Although I suppose that runs the risk of adding some confusion (ie, which is the preferred system?), if the plugins are non-conflicting, I don't see any reason you couldn't have both Tapatalk and other mobile alternatives.

Anyway, whatever you decide on, I look forward to mobile access!

-Josh

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subsonic
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Re: Mobile Phone Support for Forums?

Post by subsonic » Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:04 pm

Speaking of mobile phone support....check out COM Sorts Car Club... they sort up cars?

http://twitter.com/account/profile_imag ... reflang=en
#217 SPB

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