I understand your point, but from experience I tell you, the content provider often offers a very different view, and often a wrong one -- and often different content, though Dave assures that won't happen -- when they detect you are "mobile".

Tell me why the content provider gets to decide how content is delivered. Just have the server deliver valid HTML. Current, standards compliant HTML. HTML 5. Don't decide what to deliver to me. Give me the content and follow the standards.

On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 8:25 AM, Alexander Hawley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> device's characteristics based on what the server sees as the mode of connection ... tethered devices ... mobile phone's local Wi-Fi access point

It doesn't work like that.

> mobile support ... separate

Of course. It's not that the browser or screen requires separate needs. It's that a user on a mobile actually has different uses for information. It's most apparent with extreme cases.

For example, the IRS income tax website. On your mobile, you're not likely to step through your entire income tax preparation. You very much more inclined to be looking for calendars, deadlines, and contacts.

Another example. For a mobile user, a restaurant needs to highlight contact, map, menu, reviews. That is, not the family history of the owner, from where they get their produce, or what they put in the special sauce.

It is entirely unreasonable to assume all users may be accommodated by simple changes in style and complexity but given the same content and delivery.