What is the Mobile Web Initiative?

World Wide Web technologies have become the key enablers for access to the Internet through desktop and notebook computing platforms. Web technologies have the potential to play the same role for Internet access from mobile devices. However, today, mobile Web access suffers from interoperability and usability problems that make the Web difficult to use for most mobile phone subscribers. W3C’s "Mobile Web Initiative” (W3C MWI) proposes to address these issues through a concerted effort of key players in the mobile production chain, including authoring tool vendors, content providers, handset manufacturers, browser vendors and mobile operators.

Currently, the W3C MWI is focussing on developing "best practices" for "mobileOK" Web sites, work on device information needed for content adaptation, and marketing and outreach activities.

Mobile Web Initiative Working Groups

The mission of the Mobile Web Best Practice (MWBP) Working Group is to develop a set of technical best practices and associated materials in support of development of Web sites that provide an appropriate user experience on mobile devices.

The mission of the MWI Device Description Working Group (DDWG) is to enable the development of globally accessible, sustainable data and services that provide device descriptions in support of Web-enabled applications having an appropriate user experience on mobile devices.