We may be slightly behind on internet technology here in South Africa, but I think it is safe to assume that it is exactly because of this that we are one of the most progressive countries in the world in terms of mobile communications.

The company behind Opera mini, a web browser that is installed on mobile phones, has recently released their State of the Mobile Web Report for August 2008.

The report highlights a couple of interesting facts, especially for businesses looking to incorporate mobile communications into their marketing mix.

1. Usage of the mobile Web continues to grow in terms of unique users, page views and data transferred.
2. This month, usage of the mobile Web saw significant growth in Ukraine, which jumped to 4th place, and South Africa, which jumped to 6th place in the top 10 list of countries, displacing China and the United States respectively.
3. Mobile Web users spend a significant amount of time browsing less popular Web pages in addition to the most popular ones.

From these highlights, it seems that South Africans are pro-actively engaging in online content, not only perennial favourites such as Google and Facebook, but also lesser popular websites. It would be interesting to note how many of these less popular websites are visited via an organic search in Google.

The list of the top 10 mobile browsed website in South Africa also provides a significant amount of evidence that users nowadays use their mobile phones to engage, rather than only seeking results or once off information.

1. facebook.com
2. google.com
3. wikipedia.org ( back on the list )
4. gamejump.com ( down from 3 )
5. yahoo.com ( down from 4 )
6. mxit.co.za
7. peperonity.com ( up from 8 )
8. capetown.gumtree.co.za ( up from 10 )
9. amazon.com ( new )
10. twilightwap.com ( new )

Two search engines rank inside the top 5 browsed websites which strongly supports the importance of search engine optimization for higher result ranking for your website. Not only is search engine ranking crucial, but since such a large portion of users access the internet via their phones, it is critical that your website is mobile friendly.

Mxit continues to be the most popular 100% mobile chat interface for the youths, while Facebook can rightly defend its position as networking facility among the young and upcoming professionals.

There is no doubt that mobile browsing will continue to soar in a country where it seems we will have to make do with expensive broadband, busy schedules and a generation that are as tech savvy as they are dynamic.

The pen-to-paper generation is rapidly becoming extinct and as business professionals it is vital for us to keep in contact with the technological preferences of our target audiences.

I’ve recently received news that Sony has launched their own e-book reader to the public. Second-to-market I thought, until I did some research and within 3 minutes found no less than 12 other such products.

Why would people prefer to read novels, magazines and newspapers on a digital unit like the Amazon Kindle or Sony Digital Reader? Basically, for the same reason people upgrade their mobile phones on their cellular contracts. Because they can. Is it worth it? Hardly ever. Do we do it? Hell yes.

The Amazon Kindle introduced the world to a new way of reading. It allows us to download any book from Amazon in digital format, at a cost of course, and then read it using an electronic unit wherever we go, battery permitting.

When you’re done with reading your latest spy novel, you simply connect to the Amazon store and purchase a new one. No trips to the book store. No waiting for delivery and no shipping costs ever again. It sounds extraordinary. But it’s not.

It’s nothing but a clever marketing ploy in human extortion. Persuading people to purchase things they really do not need and actually have absolutely no use for. But it’s convenient, you may argue. It saves us valuable time. Just about as convenient as your mobile phone, your TiVo, PDA, IPhone Touch, Macbook Pro, Digital Camera, Video Camera and SAT Nav. You see, there are so many “conveniences” these days, that it actually has become an inconvenience, not true? How much time do you actually have in any given day to sit down and spend time with your Kindle?

Because people, the harsh reality is that you will still buy the odd newspaper, visit Exclusive Books while having an Espresso at Seattle, ask people for directions, watch movies with other people created by other people, listen to music on the radio and browse through an actual photo album.

Because that is what living is. Being alive and having time to connect with real people, real things and real emotions. While I am all for technological advances, a part of my being is to try and identify these marketing mockeries that is supposedly engineered to save time, but actually manufactured to extort money.

Yes, people by the hundred thousands are streaming to buy the Kindle and many more will follow suit with the Sony Digital Reader. Just like the Tamagotchi though, people will realise that raising a real pet is more fun than feeding binaries to a digital dog.

Do I want an Amazon Kindle? Oh yes I do. Will I be using it? Probably not.

Just another step into oblivion at understanding the human psyche.