I was building a website for iPhone (WebApp) with asp.net and wanted to use the new html 5 controls. I mean the textboxes that ask you to enter number, telephone or do automatic email validation and more (input type=”email”, input type=”url”, input type=”number”, input type=”tel”, input type=”search”).

But asp.net 3.5 doesn’t have these controls, so I built some of my own.
This is how it works:
You download the binary zip file (CatchyTech.Libs.Binary.zip) and unzip it.
You create a reference from your project to CatchyTechMobile.Libs.dll
Then add to web.config in the <controls> section:

<controls>
<add tagprefix="HTML5" namespace="CatchyTechMobile.Libs.HTML5Controls" assembly="CatchyTechMobile.Libs" />
</controls>

In your aspx use:

<HTML5:HtmlInputNumber ID="txtNumber" runat="server" PlaceHolder="Enter number here" />

The available properties:

• PlaceHolder – A string of text to display in the form input when the input is empty.
• AutoCapitalize – A Mobile Safari–specific setting that allows you to turn off the default autocapitalization feature. On (true) by default. Use false to disable.
• AutoCorrect – A Mobile Safari–specific setting that allows you to turn off the default spellcheck feature. On (true) by default. Use false to disable.
• AutoComplete – Setting that allows you to turn off the auto complete feature of Mobile Safari. On (true) by default. Use false to disable.
• CssClass – Set a css class of the control (as regular asp.net textbox).
• ValidationGroup – Set validation group (as regular asp.net textbox).

If you like it, add a comment. If you want more html5 controls, add a comment.
Download binaries here
Download full source and examples here

We are all familiar with web payment gateways like PayPal, Google checkout, Amazon, WorldPay and many more. Usually we need to create an account with the gateway company in order to pay, or just give our credit card without creating an account. In the mobile world we can buy apps for our phone in iPhone AppStore, in Google Android Market, or in Nokia Ovi Store. But what about mobile web? I mean websites that are adapted to mobile phones. The choice of payment options there is much smaller.

PayPal Mobile Payments

PayPal Mobile allows you not just to manage your PayPal account from your mobile phone, but also allows mobile sites accept payments on mobile devices. That means that merchants can sell their goods in mobile enabled web shopping cart and accept payments trough PayPal. The system redirects the buyer to PayPal secured mobile website to collect the money, so you don’t have to rely on security of the merchants site. This is very convenient also because PayPal fees are pretty low (especially in Business or Premier accounts).

Google Mobile Checkout

Google Mobile Checkout works almost the same as PayPal. You can pay with your Google checkout account. It also supports layout for mobile devices. The fees are also low so it attracts many sellers.

Credit Card Payment

It is always possible to ask the customer for his/her credit card, and build an SSL secured web page that will collect those details, but many customers are still very concerned about giving their credit card details to someone they don’t have a working experience with, even if it’s secured.

SMS/SMS to approve Payment Gateways

There are also SMS payment gateways (like clickatell.com, mobiletransaction.org). It means that buyer sends SMS with certain code, and receives some goods (usually ringtones, games, etc.) The SMS usually costs more than just plain SMS.

Another interesting SMS payment gateway if PayFoIt (payforit.org) (we call it SMS to approve). It currently works only in UK, but is supported by all mobile network providers. When a buyer wants to buy something on mobile website he inputs his phone number (or it’s automatically detected, depending on the network) and then redirected to secured checkout page to approve his order. After the approval he receives an SMS, and has to answer the SMS (at plain SMS cost) and then the goods will be sent to the customer. This is currently supported for products with cost up to 10 Pounds. The good thing about these SMS/SMS to approve Payment Gateways is that a buyer doesn’t have to register with any payment gateway. The money charge will appear in the monthly mobile phone bill. PayForIt is especially good because it can be used to sell cheap products or make micro payments easily from mobile site. The bad thing is that the fees for merchants are very high (up to 40% of payment).

So in the near future I don’t think that merchants are going to use SMS gateways to sell something more than just ringtones and games online, that’s because of the high fees.