We at Mobile Marketing Watch have long argued that the Internet and the mobile platform will become practically one and the same. The Webby Awards organization has fallen in line.
The 15th annual Webbys–awards for superlative websites, online videos, and interactive ad and marketing campaigns–this year has a new category for mobile apps. Judges include Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Foursquare co-founder Dennis Crowley.
As we’ve noted many times, smart phones allow Internet access that’s cheaper than having a home connection. They also allow connectivity to the consumer anywhere and any time, making it imperative for mobile media to become real-time relevant, such as with location-based services (LBS). All online media needs to optimize itself for mobile–for example, making videos both available and playable–if it wants to remain relevant to the web at large.
“We’ve seen few developments have as profound an effect as apps and the mobile web,” David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards, said in a release. “Apps have transformed the online experience, changing the way we access content, and enhancing every aspect of our daily lives.”
Early entry deadline for the 15th Annual Webby Awards is Oct. 29, 2010. Nominees will be announced in April 2011, and winners will be honored at the gala ceremony the following June.
Considering the well-known character limitations of SMS text messages, it should be easy for mobile app winners to know how to craft a traditional five-word Webby acceptance speech.
