CarWale on Mobile - Apps, Website etc

Dear Moderators,

I have been wondering if we will be seeing a mobile application for carwale.com sometime soon? It will surely help increase interest and traffic to the website.

It will also enable a lot more people to participate in the forums more actively.

Regards,

Kunaal 

Dont you think the website is sufficient for a new comer? Maybe as you said it will be useful to participate in the forums. For members, it will be a boon, whereas for researchers, downloading an application and learning to use it will take some time and patience. Nevertheless, we will have to hear what banwari says(or if he is already thinking on the same line).

OT but I dont want to start a new thread. But this application might be of some use to me. I have a problem. I cannot type in my mobile browser(both default browser and opera mini). Can someone tell me how to fix it? I can use all other features. The text editor cannot be accessed. It is displayed, but cant click on it/type. Any help?

Hi Sanshrinand,

I certainly feel that Carwale.com has such a strong following because it offers more than just sufficient platform for people to meet discuss and learn more.

Downloading and using apps today is a very simple task.. I too have been facing a similar problem of not being able to post on the forums while using my phone.

Look forward to CarWale.com bwing a much better and more accesible forum to take it to the next level.

Regards,

Kunaal

Yeah - I can view carwale website on my mobile (symbian, that is), but posting is simply not possible - the WYSIWYG editor works only in standard PC-based browsers (IE & FF is what I have checked it with). It does not work in Opera mobile.

Banwari, would it be possible to detect the browser platform and show a simple text box (not the editor type) for unsupported browsers or backward compatibility? This will at least allow users to post replies from their mobiles.

@Kunaal - an app would probably not be feasible - but support for mobile browsers may be possible (as I have described above). Let's see what Ban says...

Oh then I am not the only one who cant post from mobile. Regarding the app, it will be useful for older members and not new comers who are more inclined towards their browsing activities. When you ask them to download a software just to view a website, majority will not do so. What, will be the advantages of a dedicated app? For members like us, it will be enabling us to post from phone, upload pics, make moderations(for moderators) and a host of other features. But for a new comer, what would be better than the carwale homepage? It readily has the important links to everywhere. So, wont it be sufficient enough?

Dear Sanshrinand,

My idea for suggesting a mobile app is to help all users wheather new or old. It just helps make CarWale a lot more accessible on the go. Both the app as well as a mobile site aim to help browse the site on a mobile or portable device. 

However the main advantage a mobile app offers over a simple mobile site is that the app resides on your device. Once installed (it can be simple not very bulky) it does not need your mobile browser to load the website everytime you access it, hence saving precious data charges and loading time for the users. Further more its optional, so a user does not have to dowload it to view the site.

As mentioned by you it will be highly beneficial for moderators and exsiting users, so why not think about it?

I am aware that the final decision for this rests with senior members and moderators, as they are aware of the actual state of affairs and the resources available.  However since I thought this may help enhance the websites experience further I decided to share my views.

Regards,

Kunaal

Kunaal - a full-fledged app probably won't be a good idea. The website (forum, in particular) is database driven - so all posts, reviews, etc are stored in a single place which is the database (which itself would be on some server hidden from public view). So even the app would need some way to connect to this database to show you the data (i.e., posts, reviews etc.) and thus still need to use data connectivity. Besides an app would be heavy - with problems of deployment everytime something changes. With web its simple - just do it in one place which is the web-site server and everyone will instantly see the change.

And even if its an "app", it probably would be a simple URL shortcut - which would anyways open the website in the mobile's default browser!

I dont have any problems posting in the forums using my samsung galaxy android phone & I dont think making an app for each site is going to serve any purpose in the long run are we going to use 1 brwser for everything or different apps for each site?

Those who are facing problem try updating your browser or use another browser on the phone.

Guys,

Got a wake-up call from Pramod and thought of coming on-board for resolving some of the issues at least. Two points on this discussion front:

1. CarWale Android App is live now. Please download it using the link I've provided or searching for CarWale in the Android Market on your phone. It doesn't have Forum as of now but downloading and using it will help us get good feedback.

2. Giving a mobile-friendly version of Forum. We have plans of launching the CarWale mobile site in near future, let me check if I can get you the forum section first and then keep working on the rest of the site.

Many thanks to banwari and the carwale team for the app. BTW, my problem was not addressed. Just hope the mobile friendly version will allow me to post on this forum without trouble. Nice gift to all you android users from carwale. Enjoy!!