(Extracts of a discussion on the w3c mobile mailing list)

Accessing mobile sites is not easy. To start with user has to remember two url’s, one for normal and one for mobile access. TV, radio, ads, they all promote URLs and it would be very difficult to promote two URLs.

The best way would be to provide just one entry point, ie. the same URL for EVERY device with the web server choosing the right content depending on the device.

Even then it is still difficult to enter an URL on small 12-keys keypad. What can be used alternatively ?

• Shotcode, Semacode, QR code or any 2D barcode
  This require a software installed on the mobile AND some proximity with the announcer (does not work for radio for instance)
• (Suggestion by Scott Weiss from “Handheld Usability”) Setting up a new standard for mobile site URL: start with a star (‘*’) and the rest of the entry indicates a URL. That URL would be all digits, and could be a pseudonym for a text-based URL.
  For instance: *52992, also known as *KAYWA could take one to the mobile version
  http://www.kaywa.mobi
  If the .mobi domain does not exist there could be a universal lookup.
  The idea is not that bad. Require a new standard. It already exists on Gallery where every mobile site can be accessed through a “Short code”
• (Suggestion by Shahriar Karim from Nokia) Using T9 recognition with a customized dictionary seeded with http:, .com, .net, etc. as well as common sites such as CNN, Yahoo, Google and completed by the user.
  Already on the market on Sony/Ericsson phones I believe
• Voice recognition (will come).

What else ?

I guess we will see all solutions. I wonder what usability pundit think about this problem.