Mobile Web Development: Building mobile websites, SMS and MMS messaging, mobile payments, and automated voice call systems with XHTML MP, WCSS, and mobile AJAX

This is a quick and effective introduction to developing websites specifically targeted at mobile device users. I say "users" for a reason -- one of the strongest advantages to the book is a strong focus on considering your user and their needs as a key element of mobile web development. My overall reaction to this book was positive. It covers a wide variety of key issues for mobile web programming in an easily understood manner. The book is targeted primarily at developers who already have some experience at web development and design, so it doesn't delve into any serious detail when it comes to server-side programming or HTML coding, but instead makes a point of emphasizing places where the mobile web is different from internet interaction on a desktop device. Mehta goes out of his way on many occasions to emphasize the serious importance of considering who (and what!) will be using your mobile web application. "Any website accessed from a mobile device is mobile web -- whether it's been tailored to work on a mobile or not!" (Mobile Web Development, Nirav Mehta, page 10) The book covers a wide range of issues -- from developing for mobile devices using a "lowest common denominator" plan to implementing highly dynamic mobile applications which adapt automatically to the device currently in use. The text is easy to understand and follows a logical progression, starting with the mobile web development practices which are most similar to the development of standard web applications before moving into the areas which are very specifically targeted towards mobile devices.