Help us test Groupsite Mobile

Looks great here in New Zealand!

Looks very good on Blackberry Curve. Will there be an app which can reside on the phone or we will have to use this through our browser.?

Thanks.

Avinash

I'm a fuddy duddy when it comes to mobile phones so won't be able to join in, but this sounds like a great idea. I wish you well in it. Hope you will keep us abreast of the validation process. Perhaps it will encourage me to go for an iphone.

Peter

Clarence - nice interface and quick load. Went to several of my sites and saw the request mobile capability so I guess those will be there in August. Otherwise looks good on a non- attenuation crippled iPhone 3GS :-)

Here's my thoughts:

The current version is OK from an informational perspective, not good, and not great.  The interface design is good - it's clean, understandable and uses minimal clicks.  My testing was done on an iPhone 3GS.  Speed and transfer times were adequate.  Here's some comments based on my use:

Point #1:  It's about social media, not information

The value of Groupsite is collaboration and there's no way to engage easily.  In the discussion threads, I'd love to see a Twitter-like message box that allows users to send updates to discussion boards.

Point #2:  Make it matter

In the members link, you can see a list of members.  For Champions, for example, there are over 1600 members.  The list shows up in alphabetical order and you can see 25 per page.  That's great is you're looking for someone whose name starts with A, but poor Mark McMurray, how many clicks would it take to get to him?

Even worse, when you click on a member profile, all you see is their picture and their name.  What's the value in that?  I would recommend adding an ability to message that member (not email or endorse).  The member functionality doesn't "matter" in its current form.  Given that it's a mobile world, it would be great to see some Foursquare type functionality or something tied to GPS.

Point #3:  The Calendar has such great opportunity

Great idea having the calendar listings.  What's really needed is to connect to directions (e.g., I'm trying to get to the meeting and need help now!) and/or to add RSVP.  That way a member who sees a meeting doesn't have to get to a computer to respond.  Would also love to see the ability to add it to your mobile device calendar directly from the web app.

Point #4:  Manage the mobile request notification to managers better

Jumped from Champions to our STEMPower community site and saw a message inviting me to ask the manager to add the mobile option.  I clicked it to see what it would do and it shot a message to all site managers telling them to add this.  Oops!  Is the plan for Groupsite to charge for Mobile access and for this to drive that decision-making?  This could get really annoying to managers, esp. sites with multiple managers.

Point #5:  Make it Personal

I didn't see anything on the mobile app that made it work for ME.  I already mentioned interactivity and calendaring, but overall, what's needed is the ability to make it so that it works for me.  So, for example, be able to see my discussion threads, and/or responses to discussions I'm tracking.  Personalize on mobile devices is the key to rabid viral success.

As it works in the Internet age, get a release out asap and then innovate the heck out of it.  I had no errors or bugs with the beta - i think it's fine for a 1.0.  Would love to add it to my site and am looking forward to seeing it evolve to reach its full potential!

Best,
Dan. 

Working on iPhone 3GS with 4.0. Love it. Wish I could change between group sites. Echoing sanjay's comments

Great feedback by Dan.. Excellent thought!

@Dan

Great feedback... looks like you put great thought and a lot of time into it. We appreciate it.  I will attempt to address each point below by placing my responses in bold.

Point #1:  It's about social media, not information

The value of Groupsite is collaboration and there's no way to engage easily.  In the discussion threads, I'd love to see a Twitter-like message box that allows users to send updates to discussion boards.

Is this a general comment about a feature that should be added to Groupsite, or a feature that should be added to the mobile app?  For Groupsites in general, we do have plans for a twitter-like global activity status (i.e., What are you working on?) type feature that can be customized by group managers. I'll keep you posted as we move closer to implementing. 

Point #2:  Make it matter

In the members link, you can see a list of members.  For Champions, for example, there are over 1600 members.  The list shows up in alphabetical order and you can see 25 per page.  That's great is you're looking for someone whose name starts with A, but poor Mark McMurray, how many clicks would it take to get to him?

Even worse, when you click on a member profile, all you see is their picture and their name.  What's the value in that?  I would recommend adding an ability to message that member (not email or endorse).  The member functionality doesn't "matter" in its current form.  Given that it's a mobile world, it would be great to see some Foursquare type functionality or something tied to GPS.

The last sentence of my initial post at the start of this discussion thread, I mentioned that member search will be included before we release Groupsite mobile web. Quote: "Between now and early August when we go live with Groupsite Mobile, we will be adding the ability to add and edit calendar events and search member profiles"

Also, when viewing member profiles on your mobile phone, depending on the make of your phone, email address and phone number links are active. Example: If a user has shared his/her email address, clicking the address will launch your iPhone email client and clicking the phone number will initiate a call. I am not sure how other phones handle this. I've only tested in on the iPhone.

Point #3:  The Calendar has such great opportunity

Great idea having the calendar listings.  What's really needed is to connect to directions (e.g., I'm trying to get to the meeting and need help now!) and/or to add RSVP.  That way a member who sees a meeting doesn't have to get to a computer to respond.  Would also love to see the ability to add it to your mobile device calendar directly from the web app.

Driving directions are a great idea. Groupsite mobile web already supports RSVP... you can't test it here because there aren't any events that are set for RSVP on the Champions calendar. 

Point #4:  Manage the mobile request notification to managers better

Jumped from Champions to our STEMPower community site and saw a message inviting me to ask the manager to add the mobile option.  I clicked it to see what it would do and it shot a message to all site managers telling them to add this.  Oops!  Is the plan for Groupsite to charge for Mobile access and for this to drive that decision-making?  This could get really annoying to managers, esp. sites with multiple managers.

Great point. We will implement a feature that will allow managers to turn-off mobile requests... after they have received at least one. You are right, it could get annoying and we hadn't considered that.

Point #5:  Make it Personal

I didn't see anything on the mobile app that made it work for ME.  I already mentioned interactivity and calendaring, but overall, what's needed is the ability to make it so that it works for me.  So, for example, be able to see my discussion threads, and/or responses to discussions I'm tracking.  Personalize on mobile devices is the key to rabid viral success.

As it works in the Internet age, get a release out asap and then innovate the heck out of it.  I had no errors or bugs with the beta - i think it's fine for a 1.0.  Would love to add it to my site and am looking forward to seeing it evolve to reach its full potential! 

Of all of your suggestions... I like this one the best. I like the idea of section in the mobile app dedicated to the users... that shows all of your activity (e.g., like we show in member profiles) so that you could easily get to the discussions you are participating in or the calendar events that you RSVP'd to... etc... This makes sense and might not be too difficult to add. I'll see what we can do in time for this 1.0 release.

Point #2:  Make it matter....

Also, when viewing member profiles on your mobile phone, depending on the make of your phone, email address and phone number links are active. Example: If a user has shared his/her email address, clicking the address will launch your iPhone email client and clicking the phone number will initiate a call. I am not sure how other phones handle this. I've only tested in on the iPhone.

Blackberry Curve 8330 also lets you click on a phone number to call and click on an email address and a new email is initiated.

BBcurve ... discussions looked good,
                 calendar hung requesting script, finally (2min) on login page
                 then quickly into calendar, can't confirm add, but read is ok.

Checking in with a Palm Pre.  I use the less popular sections - photos and file cabinet - more than the other sections people are talking about, so I'm submitting my solitary vote to get these on the mobile version sooner rather than later. :S

Finally getting around to checking it out on my iPhone. Another thumbs up here

When will the mobile feature be available for other groupsites?  I need it for mine ASAP. Thanks.

@Esther - Groupsite Mobile Web is currently available on your groupsite. Simply visit your groupsite from the web browser of any mobile phone by typing http://yourgroupname.groupsite.com

Full acess to Groupsite Mobile Web requires that your groupsite be a part of a GroupsitePro plan... Or a premium bundle plan.

Enjoy

Sent via Groupsite Mobile.

Yea! Does that mean I can accept or decline a request to join right from my mobile now?

Sunny