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<p><strong>Homepage / search box</strong></p>
<p>Both homepages are basic, partly because both sites have been designed to be usable on as many mobile devices as possible. This is no bad thing though, as users will just want to get on with their property search. </p>
<p>The <a href="http://mobile.globrix.com/">Globrix homepage</a> is simple enough; users select buy or rent, enter the postcode, street, town etc, then search for available properties. It has one advantage over <a href="http://rightmove.2ergo.com/index.jsp?msisdn=-1&cn=-1">Rightmove</a> for iPhone users as it can find your current location via GPS and deliver results within a specified distance.</p>
<p><img alt="Globrix mobile homepage" height="323" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/3771978646_8b57155270_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p>Rightmove's homepage: </p>
<p><img alt="Rightmove mobile homepage" height="257" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/3771171291_4a9bb5d872_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p><strong>Advanced search options</strong></p>
<p>After the initial query, both sites provide advanced search options, which are needed to narrow down the number of results that users have to look through. </p>
<p>Rightmove's mobile site takes you straight to these sorting and filtering options, and allows you to search by price range, type of property, search radius and number of bedrooms. All good, though the search / call to action button should be made clearer: </p>
<p><img alt="Rightmove mobile advanced search options" height="262" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3771975066_81767aaff7_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p>On the Globrix site, you need to select the advanced search options from the results page, and provides roughly the same options: </p>
<p><img alt="Globrix mobile" height="322" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3771170991_c0929b5589_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p>What it does do better than Rightmove is to make it easier to add and remove search filters from the results page, so if you apply them then have too few results, you can select the filter and alter it easily: </p>
<p><img alt="Globrix - adjust search filter" height="219" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/3771974738_d86c37ebf0_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p><strong>Results pages</strong></p>
<p>Here's the Globrix results page, which is clear enough, but the Google ads just above the listings get in the way, and could be clicked by accident, since they are in the same text size and colour as the property links:</p>
<p><img alt="Globrix mobile property search results" height="274" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/3771974576_c6785f061a_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p>Here's the Rightmove results page, same information as the Globrix site, though it only shows five properties per page, so it's necessary to load more pages to see more: </p>
<p><img alt="" height="317" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/3771975104_f7e1a06845_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Property listings</p>
<p>The Globrix property pages contain a decent size photo, as well as basic details about the property. To get more details or contact the estate agent advertising the property, there is a link to their website, though this means users will be sent to some sites which have not been optimised for mobile users.</p>
<p><img alt="Gkobrix property page" height="280" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3771974910_d49c4e28ef_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p>The location of the property is also highlighted on Google Maps, with the option to open Google Maps on the iPhone and get directions: </p>
<p><img alt="" height="314" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3771171147_6eacf89acc_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p>The Rightmove pages contain much the same information, and unlike Globrix, provides more photos of each property, though they are a bit too small to be much use:</p>
<p><img alt="Rightmove property page" height="301" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/3771975184_70356b9528_o.jpg" width="250" /></p>
<p>Instead of sending users to the estate agent's website, it provides the option to request a callback, email the details for later, or to call the estate agent direct, much easier than having to find these details on a separate site. </p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>Both sites are relatively basic for the iPhone, but do a decent job of returning relevant results and allowing users to customise their searches. Thanks to the GPS functionality, and the more usable filtering options, the Globrix mobile site just shades it, for iPhone users at least.</p>
<p>However, it could improve by providing contact details to find out more about the property on the listings page, rather than forcing users to got to the estate agent's website on the their mobiles.</p>
<p><strong>Homepage / search box</strong></p>
<p>Both homepages are basic, partly because both sites have been designed to be usable on as many mobile devices as possible. This is no bad thing though, as users will just want to get on with their property search. </p>
<p>The <a href="http://mobile.globrix.com/">Globrix homepage</a> is simple enough; users select buy or rent, enter the postcode, street, town etc, then search for available properties. It has one advantage over <a href="http://rightmove.2ergo.com/index.jsp?msisdn=-1&cn=-1">Rightmove</a> for iPhone users as it can find your current location via GPS and deliver results within a specified distance.</p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/3771978646_8b57155270_o.jpg" alt="Globrix mobile homepage" width="250" height="323" /></p>
<p>Rightmove's homepage: </p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/3771171291_4a9bb5d872_o.jpg" alt="Rightmove mobile homepage" width="250" height="257" /></p>
<p><strong>Advanced search options</strong></p>
<p>After the initial query, both sites provide advanced search options, which are needed to narrow down the number of results that users have to look through. </p>
<p>Rightmove's mobile site takes you straight to these sorting and filtering options, and allows you to search by price range, type of property, search radius and number of bedrooms. All good, though the search / call to action button should be made clearer: </p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3771975066_81767aaff7_o.jpg" alt="Rightmove mobile advanced search options" width="250" height="262" /></p>
<p>On the Globrix site, you need to select the advanced search options from the results page, and provides roughly the same options: </p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3771170991_c0929b5589_o.jpg" alt="Globrix mobile" width="250" height="322" /></p>
<p>What it does do better than Rightmove is to make it easier to add and remove search filters from the results page, so if you apply them then have too few results, you can select the filter and alter it easily: </p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/3771974738_d86c37ebf0_o.jpg" alt="Globrix - adjust search filter" width="250" height="219" /></p>
<p><strong>Results pages</strong></p>
<p>Here's the Globrix results page, which is clear enough, but the Google ads just above the listings get in the way, and could be clicked by accident, since they are in the same text size and colour as the property links:</p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/3771974576_c6785f061a_o.jpg" alt="Globrix mobile property search results" width="250" height="274" /></p>
<p>Here's the Rightmove results page, same information as the Globrix site, though it only shows five properties per page, so it's necessary to load more pages to see more: </p>
<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/3771975104_f7e1a06845_o.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="317" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Property listings</p>
<p>The Globrix property pages contain a decent size photo, as well as basic details about the property. To get more details or contact the estate agent advertising the property, there is a link to their website, though this means users will be sent to some sites which have not been optimised for mobile users.</p>
<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3771974910_d49c4e28ef_o.jpg" alt="Gkobrix property page" width="250" height="280" /></p>
<p>The location of the property is also highlighted on Google Maps, with the option to open Google Maps on the iPhone and get directions: </p>
<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3771171147_6eacf89acc_o.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="314" /></p>
<p>The Rightmove pages contain much the same information, and unlike Globrix, provides more photos of each property, though they are a bit too small to be much use:</p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/3771975184_70356b9528_o.jpg" alt="Rightmove property page" width="250" height="301" /></p>
<p>Instead of sending users to the estate agent's website, it provides the option to request a callback, email the details for later, or to call the estate agent direct, much easier than having to find these details on a separate site. </p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>Both sites are relatively basic for the iPhone, but do a decent job of returning relevant results and allowing users to customise their searches. Thanks to the GPS functionality, and the more usable filtering options, the Globrix mobile site just shades it, for iPhone users at least.</p>
<p>However, it could improve by providing contact details to find out more about the property on the listings page, rather than forcing users to got to the estate agent's website on the their mobiles.</p>
2009-07-29T11:53:12+01:00
1
1
html
<p><strong>Property search engine <a href="http://econsultancy.com/blog/2786-site-review-property-search-engine-globrix">Globrix</a> launched an <a href="http://www.globrix.com/blog/449/updates-to-globrix-mobile">updated version of its mobile website</a> this week, with some extra functionality for iPhone users. </strong></p>
<p>Rival Rightmove also has a <a href="http://www.rightmove.co.uk/resources/mobile.html">mobile version</a> of its property search engine, so I've been looking at the two mobile sites (on an iPhone) to see how the user experience compares...</p>
<p><strong>Property search engine <a href="http://econsultancy.com/blog/2786-site-review-property-search-engine-globrix">Globrix</a> launched an <a href="http://www.globrix.com/blog/449/updates-to-globrix-mobile">updated version of its mobile website</a> this week, with some extra functionality for iPhone users. </strong></p>
<p>Rival Rightmove also has a <a href="http://www.rightmove.co.uk/resources/mobile.html">mobile version</a> of its property search engine, so I've been looking at the two mobile sites (on an iPhone) to see how the user experience compares...</p>
false
4316
<div style="">
<p>Econsultancy has published a <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/mobile-marketing-buyers-guide">Mobile Marketing Buyer's Guide</a> which is aimed at those who are investigating the market for <strong>mobile marketing platforms</strong>, with profiles of 14 leading suppliers. The 117-page guide, which has a UK focus, provides details on the issues and trends affecting this sector, as well as information about best practice and tips for successful mobile marketing and mobile advertising campaigns.</p>
</div>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">
<div style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: #ffffff; background-position: initial initial; margin: 8px;">
<p>Econsultancy has published a <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/mobile-marketing-buyers-guide">Mobile Marketing Buyer's Guide</a> which is aimed at those who are investigating the market for <strong>mobile marketing platforms</strong>, with profiles of 14 leading suppliers. The 117-page guide, which has a UK focus, provides details on the issues and trends affecting this sector, as well as information about best practice and tips for successful mobile marketing and mobile advertising campaigns.</p>
</div>
</span></p>
Mobile site comparison: Rightmove and Globrix
false
2009-07-30T14:50:00+01:00
mobile-site-comparison-rightmove-and-globrix
2009-08-14T16:19:55+01:00
2247