Wikipedia pushed a new mobile interface live today and though end-users probably won’t be able to tell the difference (except the new Beta label) – it’s the start of something big. The new mobile front end framework that’s been pushed live, called MobileFrontend, replaces an older less agile front end for the mobile site and aims to enable a host of new developments.
First, the new mobile front end will be deployed across all the Wikipedia sister sites and projects, right now it’s just Wikipedia that has a specially formatted mobile interface. Next, this new front end will support forthcoming mobile developments like mobile editing, image uploading from mobile devices and offline support for Wikipedia on your phone. Those sound like great directions for Wikipedia mobile to go. Mobile has long felt like a second class citizen, but perhaps that will change soon.
Looking at the revamped mobile platform, together with yesterday’s announcement of a Wikipedia/Ushahidi partnership to build an experimental real-time news reading and curation app for Wikipedia editors, really makes it clear that things are moving and shaking at the world’s largest encyclopedia.
A Wikipedia that supports mobile editing and image uploading will be a much more inclusive and real-time Wikipedia in the future.
