One of the many positives for using WordPress as a site's Content Management System is its ability to install plugins. With 13,944 different plugins available it can be hard to find the right one for the job. In my case I want to look for plugins that assist in the creation of a mobile optimised version of my site.
Step 1 - Search the WordPress Plugin Directory for keywords such as 'Mobile'
Step 2 - A good tip for finding the best plugin is to search by 'Most Popular' or 'Highest Rated'
Step 3 - Find the best plugin, download and install!
Here is a short list of the 3 best plugins for optimising your website for a mobile device -
WPtouch WPtouch automatically transforms your WordPress blog into an iPhone application-style theme, complete with ajax loading articles and effects, when viewed from iPhone, iPod touch, Android, Palm Pre, Samsung touch and BlackBerry Storm/Torch mobile devices. The admin panel allows you to customize many aspects of its appearance, and deliver a fast, user-friendly and stylish version of your site to touch mobile visitors, without modifying a single bit of code (or affecting) your regular desktop theme. The theme also includes the ability for visitors to switch between WPtouch view and your site's regular themeWordPress Mobile Pack
WordPress Mobile Edition
My Final Call
After looking at the plugins above, I've decided to use WPTouch for my client project. This is because it provides a more concise mobile version of the website and its design is modern and simple for all types of mobile devices. I also like that this plugin provides the user with the ability to switch between the desktop version and the mobile version of the site. For me this is important as sometimes I still want to view full sites on my mobile device.
The WordPress Mobile Pack is a complete toolkit to help mobilize your WordPress site and blog.
It includes a mobile switcher to select themes based on the type of user that is visiting the site, a selection of mobile themes, extra widgets, device adaptation and a mobile administration panel to allow users to edit the site or write new posts when out and about.WordPress Mobile Edition
WordPress Mobile Edition is a plugin that shows an interface designed for a mobile device when visitors come to your site on a mobile device.
Mobile browsers are automatically detected, the list of mobile browsers can be customized on the settings page.My Final Call
After looking at the plugins above, I've decided to use WPTouch for my client project. This is because it provides a more concise mobile version of the website and its design is modern and simple for all types of mobile devices. I also like that this plugin provides the user with the ability to switch between the desktop version and the mobile version of the site. For me this is important as sometimes I still want to view full sites on my mobile device.
