Ajax Conquering Mobile CRM

Ajax has certainly changed the way users experience the internet. From simple HTML based websites wherein information is only collected and displayed to powerful Ajax based websites that has virtually transformed the browser to desktop application.

Browser has become a platform for different online application that could easily render the desktop application worthless if the internet connection is consistent and the application host would provide the same consistently.

After changing the way user experience the internet, Ajax developers have set their sights to another platform that would certainly be challenging: mobile devices. Since mobile phones have become an important part of any businesses, it has become one of the most important gadgets as businesses from different industries rely on their mobile devices to control their data.

Slowly, data gathering was also changed in the way data has to be processed. Mobile data should now be able to update in real time as processing of business transactions should be finished in an instant. The idea that information and business transaction would be done in 24 hours is long gone as businesses rush to finish their transactions. Businesses have to get the best out of their mobile phones and Ajax is there to take up the challenge.

Going Beyond the Device

Developers for mobile Ajax applications have to face in developing mobile specific CRM applications are two fold: first they have to deal with the limitation of the device. While it is true mobile phones now have the ability to display for version of websites, the number of websites that has ability to do that is very limited.

If they are available, the price of these mobile devices are staggering that it's a bad idea for small business to invest in such as device just for real time updating.

The current mobile browsers of most devices greatly limits the performance of an Ajax based application. The mobile browser is even clipped in performance as this would only accept HTML version of a website.

The second challenge of developers in mobile devices is the size of the application. If granted that the application should run in mobile browsers, the size of the application should stay small. Data transfer should be limited to limit charges from providers.

There are two ways on how developers could tackle this problem: the first solution is to provide an application. An Ajax based application should be developed so that users should be able to access data without having to download the full application every time they need to connect online.

The second is in changing the face of the mobile browser. But developers don't have to change the browser itself. They have to build a plug-in for the mobile browsers so that it would have the ability to handle Ajax based websites. Think of it as a small plug-in like the Adobe made Flash for playing videos in mobile browsers. But this will be more than just a video player as this will actively interact with users.