WorldCat in your pocket: announcing the WorldCat Mobile pilot
A very long time ago (2005! gasp!), I wished for all the library content in the world to fit in your pocket. We're a whole lot closer to that now, with the launch of the new WorldCat mobile pilot. The six month-long pilot will gather data to help inform future WorldCat mobile efforts, and is currently available to people in the US and Canada.
To download the application, go to www.worldcat.org/m on your mobile phone's Web browser.
The current WorldCat.org mobile pilot complements the recently released experimental iPhone app for WorldCat, built from the WorldCat Search API.
Once you've used WorldCat.org on your mobile phone, please give us your feedback with details of your experience and/or suggested enhancements.
This pilot was developed through a partnership with the mobile technology organization Boopsie. You, too, can partner with WorldCat by linking in.
Wondering if your phone will work? Here's a list of supported devices, which include iPhones, Blackberries, Nokias and more.
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I'm going out on a limb to say it's so. Here are my observations so far this year: DC Public Library launch of the first library iPhone application. 2nd m-libraries conference coming up later this year. The just-released 2009 Horizon... Read More
On January 19, 2009 at 9:46 AM Adam Chandler said:
Is this functionality available for your paying customers, those who use WorldCat Local?
http://cornell.worldcat.org/
On January 19, 2009 at 12:53 PM Alice Sneary
said:
Great question, Adam.
Are you asking if there are customized views of the WorldCat Mobile pilot for individual libraries who have implemented WorldCat Local, such as Cornell?
The short answer is not yet. As a pilot, the current release is the first step to test functionality, work out the kinks and improve from there. Feedback from the pilot will help OCLC know what features we should work on next--expanding geography wider, scoping results to be more local, showing more information in the results set, etc. So that's why it's so important to send your feedback to worldcatmobilepilot [AT] oclc.org and make your wishes known.
The good news is, the mobile functionality is available to everyone with a Web-enabled mobile device. In fact, even libraries who do not currently appear on WorldCat.org are able to show up in the "Find a library" search through the WorldCat Mobile pilot. (The Mobile pilot uses WorldCat Registry data--so it's even more reason for ALL libraries to enter in as much information as possible into their WorldCat Registry profile.)
I did just hear that a few people have had some trouble getting to the app, once they've downloaded it. I had to accept multiple things from Boopsie, to install. (This is normal.) If you are having trouble, please let us know at the e-mail address above or post comments here.
On January 19, 2009 at 1:01 PM Alice Sneary
said:
More information for Dell and HP devices. These two manufacturers chose a more restrictive security access policy for 3rd party applications...and Boopsie staff are currently working to make sure this gets corrected ASAP. Thanks for your patience, and we'll let you know once this kink gets ironed out.
But feedback like this is what the pilot is all about. Keep it coming.
On January 19, 2009 at 4:59 PM Alice Sneary
said:
There is now a video demo available of the WorldCat Mobile pilot, where you can see a quick, 4-minute walk-through of how the functionality looks on a Nokia mobile phone.
Highlighted item from the demo: Set your location first, and then look up materials.
On January 19, 2009 at 5:03 PM Alice Sneary
said:
I have also heard that if you're having trouble, you may want to try turning your phone off and then turning it back on again. (Rebooting.) That cleared a situation earlier today, with a Blackberry...
On January 20, 2009 at 6:01 PM Alice Sneary
said:
More videos available for the WorldCat Mobile pilot functionality:
Windows mobile device (Palm)
Blackberry Curve
Also, there have been technical difficulties reported that have been isolated to be Windows Mobile-specific. So if you have a Windows mobile device, I have a fix right now that I can send you--but it is rather long and tedious. If you're willing to wait 24 hours (I know...an eternity in Web time!) the Boopsie framework client will be updated with the fix.