Google explains how to build killer mobile applications

Google has been outlining its plans for a killer mobile application during a presentation at its plush New York Offices.

The plans, which will no doubt add fuel to the Google Phone rumours, detail what Google thinks a mobile application should do in order to be a success.

The event, called “Google Presents User Experience & Mobile Apps”, was led by Google user experience designer Leland Rechis who wants information to be “universally accessible”.

When Google launch a mobile application they will look at it through 6 layers:

1. Understanding users, anywhere, anytime
2. Fits in your pocket
3. More personal than the PC
4. Consistency across modes
5. Localization is intensified
6. Integrated devices, modes, products

Information Week writer Stephen Wellman was fortunate enough to be at the event and has a great summary of the different user types Google is catering for:

Rechis said that Google breaks down mobile users into three behavior groups:

A. “Repetitive now”
B. “Bored now”
C. “Urgent now”

The “repetitive now” user is someone checking for the same piece of information over and over again, like checking the same stock quotes or weather. Google uses cookies to help cater to mobile users who check and recheck the same data points.

The “bored now” are users who have time on their hands. People on trains or waiting in airports or sitting in cafes. Mobile users in this behavior group look a lot more like casual Web surfers, but mobile phones don’t offer the robust user input of a desktop, so the applications have to be tailored.

The “urgent now” is a request to find something specific fast, like the location of a bakery or directions to the airport. Since a lot of these questions are location-aware, Google tries to build location into the mobile versions of these queries.

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