Zona: Wireless Future Isn't Now - Industry Trend or Event - Brief Article

ENT, Nov 8, 2000

Wireless is the buzzword of the day when it comes to any discussion of the future of the Web. How close we are to actually realizing the wireless revolution is another matter, according to a report released by Zona Research.

The Zona study indicates that the wireless Web accessible to users is primarily restricted to the computer, entertainment, and hospitality fields. It represents a nominal fraction of the total Web, and presents a very limited Web view.

More than half of wireless sites consist of a one-screen blurb with contact information. Only about one-quarter present e-mail, an order form, or some other means of transaction. Only 14 percent qualify as portals and generally aren't user friendly. Fourteen percent support e-commerce, and only 8 percent offer financial services.

As Zona points out in its information resource "Where is the Wireless Web?", trading stocks or buying last-minute Christmas gifts over a wireless Internet device is anything but the norm at this point in the wireless revolution.