With innovations in smartphone technology abounding, cross-platform compatibility, when it comes to web design and development, is becoming increasingly important for any small business.

According to statistics compiled by MobiThinking, “half a billion people accessed mobile Internet worldwide in 2009. Usage is expected to double within five years as mobile overtakes the PC as the most popular way to get on the Web.” The recent enhanced availability of unlimited data plans offered by most major cellphone networks serves too as a testament to the growing popularity of mobile Internet browsing.

As our blog on HTML5 noted, one of the key downfalls in terms of Flash as a web coding language was/is its inability to be displayed on smartphone screens.

In an effort to lead the race within their own locale of London, Ontario, the team at Inspiratica is proud to be able to offer their clients “responsive” website design. In short, instead of having to create multiple versions of websites, each compatible with only a limited number of devices and/or browsers, responsive website design, as its namesake would suggest, “responds” directly to its web browsing environment.

Technically speaking, CSS3 coding has been expanded to include a new “media query” specification which allows web designers to build right into their coding not only website layout targets for various device classes, but further website layout targets based specifically on an actual inspection of the physical characteristics of the device displaying a given site. This is not to be confused with simple site “re-sizing” however.

Responsive web design allows for the customization of a website’s content by taking advantage of one’s elected web browsing device’s specs in order to designate the most effective means of display. In other words, if you’re viewing a website vertically on your Apple iPad and then for whatever purpose decide to tilt your screen to its horizontal axis, the website will instantaneously re-configure in order to best make use of its new allotted space parameters.

The benefit for web designers and developers? Increased efficiency resulting from the ability to make a single cross-platform compatible layout.

The benefit for small business owners desiring a website? Reduced costs and more potential customers.

Sounds like a win-win situation!

To learn more about how you can make your current website “responsive”, contact Inspiratica today for a free no-obligation consultation.