Viigo - Mobile News Reader

I recently started using Viigo, a mobile RSS Reader which I installed on my new HTC Tytn II Windows Mobile-based smartphone/PocketPC. Viigo is a similar application to Mobispine which I’ve used in the past to keep up to date with my favourite websites and news feeds while on the move.

Viigo’s primary purpose is also to provide people with a way of accessing content with reduced data usage on their mobile phone/device and therefore reduced costs!

This is achieved by stripping out all unnecessary content for a mobile device; therefore large pictures won’t be downloaded and displayed unless you decide you want to view the full version of the page and thereby downloading a lot more data – ideal for you lucky people with very large or unlimited data usage plans on your mobile devices!

One point I did like in Viigo is that it takes out large image files from the content, compressing them or not showing them where appropriate (to save on data usage), however the application still allows you the option to view the complete version should you wish to commit to the higher data usage version!

For me, some of the real benefits of using Viigo are:

• Reduced Data Usage,
• Overall Improved Browsing Speed in comparison to using a standard mobile browser,
• It is not a java-based program – I’ve had issues in the past on certain mobile phone handsets in trying to use Java,
• Receive alerts to new feed items - this even includes receiving weather alerts.
• It’s free!

Viigo as a company was started out in 2004 with their mobile RSS reader, specifically for Blackberry users, however they have since released other versions including a Windows Mobile version which is what I’ve been using – this version was only first released in late 2007.

Moving forward Viigo are looking to not just be a mobile RSS reader, but more providing “mashups” of various types of content that people will be able to access in one place in the knowledge that it will be of interest to them.

Overall, I’m finding Viigo to be a really good mobile application – I certainly won’t be un-installing it (like you often do when trying out new apps on your mobile device), quite the opposite in fact, I’m now using this software on a daily basis. I often find myself checking my feeds for new content if I’m waiting around for something and just putting time looking for something to do, it’s great!

I recommend you take a look at this great piece of free software for your Blackberry or Windows Mobile device, download Viigo, have a play, add the Zath! feed to it and then come back and tell us what you think to it!