Reaearch > Mobile Interfaces

I have researched the interface design of three different leading mobile phone manufacturers, to gain an insight into designing for small screen devices. I have chosen three phones from the top 10 at www.thelink.co.uk. All of the phones use either a joystick or four way buttons for navigation, along with two soft keys.

MOTOROLA RAZR V3
The main menu on the Motorola uses icons in a grid layout as navigation, when the user navigates the menu the name of each function appears a the top of the screen. When a function is selected the sub-menus are in a simple text list layout. If a user selects the right hand button whilst in a sub menu a separate menu pops up from the bottom right corner giving more options.



NOKIA N73
The Nokia main menu is layed out in a similar way using icons in a grid formation, however the Nokia also includes text under the icon with the name of the function. Once in the sub menu the Nokia also uses a text based list but with small corresponding icons at the top of the screen. Further along in the menu the list includes small icons to the left of the text.



SONY ERICSSON W800
The Sony Ericsson menu is fairly identical to the Motorola in using icons and the corresponding function name at the top of the screen. Once in the sub menu Sony is the only phone to use a tabbed system to navigate, like the Nokia it also uses a text based list with smaller icons. The Sony also has the same pop up menu as the Motorola giving the user more options.


-Image source: www.mobile-review.com