Consumer mobile site on a phone

We’ve launched a mobile version of our website for members to use when out shopping or wanting a snapshot of our latest recommendations.

The mobile site, consumer.org.nz/mobile, focuses on the most popular areas of the main site including appliances, electronics, home and leisure. Rather than a full list of products tested under each report, the mobile site provides only the recommended models and those worth considering.

Increasingly members have been asking for easy access to recommendations while they’re shopping. A recent survey showed visits to consumer.org.nz from mobiles had jumped 50 percent in three months.

The mobile site lists all available reports in alphabetical order under categories. On accessing a report, a list of recommended and worth considering products is displayed. Members can click on individual products to access a score, image, indicative price, summary rating guide and simple need-to-know commentary.

The mobile application has been designed for use on high-end devices like the iPhone, iPod touch and Android.

We partnered with software developers 3months to build the mobile site. 3months also made significant upgrades to consumer.org.nz last year.

3months principal Mark Pascall said opting for a web-based application cut through the clutter and expense of developing for competing mobile applications. “Instead we were able to use a modern framework (Ruby on Rails) coupled with powerful front-end tools (AJAX) to build a slick mobile interface in a matter of days.”

In-depth research, product reviews and extensive databases can still be found on consumer.org.nz and through Consumer magazine.

More from consumer.org.nz

Member Comments


Got a question or comment on this topic? Share your views and experiences with other Consumer members...

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Great Idea Posted by: Sarah Lawson 08 Apr 2010 11:36pm

Please consider adding the following:
A members sign in - with additional info provided.
Search option - when you sign in.
I needed to find freeview box's and it took a while.
Date of the review as some are now out of date. eg: Freeview showed 2007 models.

iphone Posted by: Julien LeSueur 08 Apr 2010 9:04pm

I agree with Keith

Great start, but more to come... Posted by: Keith Shaw 08 Apr 2010 11:59am

Hi Consumer

Great that you've got a mobile version up but why didn't you make it a mobile version of the existing website e.g. like NZ Herald m.nzherald.co.nz which is my one stop website for news? Then ALL consumers can browse your website and if they want specific information then they can login - I think this would dramatically increase your online membership!

Also how about an iPhone App that only requires a one time login and thereafter you're logged permanently.

Cheers
Keith

Good move Posted by: Bodo & Sarah Lang 08 Apr 2010 10:23am

Hi Consumer team,

I am pleased to see that you have implemented the mobile site. This gives consumers access to the important info where they need it: At POP.

I also think that you have focused on the right info, i.e. listing recommended models and those worth considering.

Well done.

Best regards,

Bodo Lang
Senior Lecturer - Marketing
MIT

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