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!
I am happy to hear you are working on this. It puts you ahead of so many other MLS’s in the country. I agree, the Ipad is going to be a major player in Real Estate tools for Brokers and the sooner we have it the better.
One of the biggest uses will be to write contracts in the field using the Forms on Line feature. Hopefully this will be available as well. I imagine I can use the save Word version in a pinch?
It is my experience that the $.99 Atomic Web app ion the iTunes store not only allows you to easily spoof RMLSweb into thinking that you are browsing on IE7, but also delivers full and accurate RMLSweb funcionality with the iPad, including listing load, agent and office search, etc. This had been the caseinitially when browsing with Safari in the first few weeks after the iPad came out, during which time Safari alone would automatically access the full RMLSweb site, not the mobile site. Since then, for reasons known only to html cognoscenti, iPad’s Safari has only been pulling up the mobile version. But with Atomic Web, you can see the whole site, and do it accurately!
I just purchased the Atomic Web app…everything BUT listing load seems to be working… any update as to which browser on iPad will let me access the listing load?
Hi Carisa,
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment. Currently no browser on the iPad will allow you to access Listing Load. As you’re aware, Listing Load is a vital piece to the RMLSweb system and while it’s easy to access the system, the alternative browsers out there do not accept our data-validation rules essentially allowing agents to enter incomplete listings for publication to RMLSweb. Rather than allow listings which do not have all the required information to populate the system, we’ve only allowed Listing Load access from Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. I hope this helps.