RMLSweb and the IPad

by RMLS Communication Department | Jun 29, 2010

Guest Post by Terry Romel

With the recent release of the IPad and the significant adoption by the general masses I thought it appropriate to make you aware of what to expect when using the IPad with RMLSweb.

As I’m sure many of you already know, RMLSweb works best with Internet Explorer 7 and higher. All of the RMLSweb system functionality is available and fully supported on IE 7 and up.

That being said, with the proliferation of new browsers, we frequently get questions at the Help Desk as to why RMLSweb is not fully bi-browser compatible. That question is a complicated one and the entire answer would be much too long to discuss here. Bottom line is that all new modules written for RMLSweb are compatible in many of the new browsers, but some of the existing core functionality (ex. Listing Load) is still in the queue for re-write. (Here’s a list of what parts of RMLSweb currently work in other browsers.)

So, what about the IPad? The native browser on the IPad is a hybrid version of Safari. I say hybrid because it is neither the “full” version nor the IPhone version. What it does share in common with the IPhone version is it presents itself to websites as a “mobile” version of browser. Because of this reality, the IPad is automatically redirected to the RMLSweb Mobile site.

Now there are browsers out there for the IPad that can “spoof” other browser identification strings and as a result take you to the “full” version login page for RMLSweb. They will allow you to log in, but from that point forward all bets are off. One of the most disconcerting behaviors of non-supported browsers is the lack of integrity while performing searches on RMLSweb. Let’s never forget that one of our core responsibilities as a MLS is to provide accurate data to our subscribers.

As a result of the inconsistency of this core function of the RMLSweb system I suggest you proceed with caution regarding the IPad. While it is a wonderful new tool that fits well in the real estate space and undoubtedly has many other benefits for our Realtor® subscribers, accessing RMLSweb is not currently one of them. We are starting to look at the overall functionality of the IPad Safari browser in relation to RMLSweb, but in keeping our eye on the bigger picture it may be some time before you see it fully supported.

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Terry has returned to RMLS™ as the Help Desk Manager after a few years of working with other real estate related companies in the Portland Metro area. We’re happy to have him back!