Mobile Web

Operators team on mobile web development effort

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:56:41 -0400

A group of international mobile operators announced their participation in BONDI, a new initiative spearheaded by the Open Mobile Terminal Platform consortium intended to create a blueprint and roadmap for galvanizing mobile application development. OMTP members AT&T, T-Mobile, 3 Group, Telenor, Telefónica, Telecom Italia and Vodafone will take part in BONDI, which promises to provide a consistent and secure web services interface for use by developers across multiple device platforms--according to the OMTP, BONDI will harmonize various open and proprietary ongoing initiatives in an attempt to minimize the potential for technology fragmentation while contributing toward ongoing standardization efforts. BONDI handset software will also seek to block fraudulent and malicious activity via unauthorized access to services or personal information.

For more on BONDI:
- read this release

Related article:
IBM seeks to accelerate mobile web development

IBM seeks to accelerate mobile web development

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:07:56 -0400

Computing giant IBM announced a collaboration with European Union partners to develop new software tools that promise to improve performance and reduce time-to-market of mobile web applications. According to IBM, the Milepost project (MachIne Learning for Embedded PrOgramS optimization--yeah, it's a stretch) will create advanced artificial intelligence technology that automatically optimizes newly-developed programs for embedded mobile processors, employing machine learning to determine which compiler optimizations are most compatible with each new hardware design.

The announcement follows on the heels of a recent IBM study reporting that 80 percent of consumers would prefer a mobile service provider that offers more choice in the applications and services available on their device. IBM says the survey indicates to developers the role consumer demand for customization and personalization will play in the future, as well as the necessity for projects like Milepost to foster a more expedient path to market for new mobile apps. IBM adds that the Milepost consortium partners (among them includes the IBM Haifa Research Lab in Israel. the University of Edinburgh and CAPS Enterprise in France) are in the midst of the proposed three-year program, with a Milepost release scheduled to be available to the open source community in June 2009.

For more on IBM's Milepost initiative:
- read this release

Related article:
IBM launches mobile applications initiative

Google demonstrates Android applications

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Google publicly demonstrated its forthcoming Android mobile operating system Wednesday during its annual developer conference in San Francisco, touting the platform's mobile web services, mobile gaming prowess and map features by means of an iPhone-like touchscreen device. Speaking at Google's I/O conference, the firm's vice president of engineering Vic Gundotra said Android heralds its attempt to extend the browser to handheld devices: "We believe over time, the browser on mobile devices will be the entry point for many, many applications," he said.

During the brief demonstration, Google showed the audience Android versions of its Google Maps Street View service (bolstered by the device's internal compass and accelerometer) as well as a snippet of a Pac-Man game--other bells and whistles include mobile website bookmarking and a mobile web content magnifying tool.

Andy Rubin, the Google exec charged with spearheading the Android initiative, said Android-based devices remain on track to hit retail sometime during the second half of 2008. Rubin also hinted strongly that Google is planning to launch an Android application storefront: "It would be a great benefit to the Android community to provide a place where people can go to safely and securely download content and where a billing system would allow developers to get paid for their effort," he said. "We wouldn't have done our job if we didn't provide something that helps developers get distribution."

For more on the Android demo:
-read this Associated Press article and watch this Android live demo

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Opera Widgets SDK beta released

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Web browser development firm Opera Software released its Opera Widgets SDK beta, promising developers the tools to deploy web applications on any device. Based on open, W3C-set standards that support technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Ajax, the SDK features an emulator, libraries, documentation and Opera Dragonfly for debugging, as well as user forums. According to Opera, its widgets repository contains over 1,200 widgets for desktop, mobile phones and portable media devices, including widgets for games, news feeds, weather and travel information--web developer tools like color pickers and pixel rulers are also available. The Opera Widgets SDK beta is supported by Opera 9.5 and above and is available here.

For more on the Opera Widgets SDK beta:
-read this release

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Browsing with BREW

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Mobile browsing has become a hot button topic in wireless ever since the introduction of the iPhone last June. But browsing is still the root of a lot of frustration for many wireless users. A recent study issued by market analysis firm Forrester Research reports that 58 percent of total North American wireless subscribers feel the mobile web fails to meet their needs, with 60 percent of respondents complaining their mobile device screens are simply too small for activities beyond making calls and sending text messages.

Many developers say BREW is a preferred platform when it comes to mobile Web browsing because the technology makes it easier to integrate and standardize. In addition, BREW is supported by a lot of handsets, both high-end and low tier. Browsing will be a topic of much discussion at BREW 2008, particularly at the "Browsing on BREW" panel on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m.

Operators team for mobile web services lab

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

International mobile giants China Mobile, Softbank and Vodafone announced they will team to establish a Joint Innovation Lab to promote the development of new mobile technologies, applications and services in an effort to accelerate commercial deployment of mobile web initiatives spanning multiple handset platforms and operating systems. The Joint Innovation Lab will serve as the platform to develop projects according to emerging technologies and market demand, emphasizing web-based services like mobile widgets--the three operators said they welcome vendor and developer cooperation as well.

For more on the Joint Innovation Lab:
-read this release

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Opera Mini for Android now available

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Browser developer Opera Software announced its Opera Mini mobile web browser is now available for Google's fledgling Android platform, with technical previews available here. According to Opera, the Android development community is invited to trial the browser and share feedback for the upcoming beta release, adding Opera Mini for Android supports the full range of handsets built on the Android OS. Opera said the Mini browser now boasts more than 40 million users worldwide, spanning multiple mobile platforms and more than a dozen major international operators.

For more on Opera Mini for Android:
-read this release

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Study: Smartphones driving mobile browser growth

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Smartphone browsers supporting capabilities like AJAX and RSS are now driving the mobile browser market according to analysis firm ABI Research, which forecasts the open-Internet browser segment for mobile will grow from 76 million browsers in 2007 to close to 700 million delivered in 2013. According to ABI, mobile browser developers must take advantage of the latest web standards while creating solutions optimized for the overall mobile web experience, enabling consumers to access content without limitations enforced by browser constraints. However, ABI notes that the mobile web experience still lags some distance behind PC-based browsing, due largely to the absence of key plug-ins on many handsets.

"There is a lot of development momentum for web content on mobile phones," said ABI research director Michael Wolf in a prepared statement. "The move towards web-based applications means browser and web services engines will become increasingly important for mobile, whether these are in a commercial browser implementation or a customized widget. Ultimately, the long-term trend away from native applications to web-based applications means browser and web services engines will be increasingly important components in the mobile environment."

For more on ABI's mobile browser forecast:
-read this release

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Yahoo contends Microsoft takeover bid is too low

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Facing deadline pressure from Microsoft to consummate the software Goliath's $41 billion buyout bid, web services giant Yahoo said Monday it doesn't necessarily oppose a deal--it simply wants a better offer. Microsoft warned Saturday it will mount a hostile takeover if an agreement is not reached by April 26--in an open letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Yahoo's board of directors responds "We have continued to make clear that we are not opposed to a transaction with Microsoft if it is in the best interests of our stockholders. Our position is simply that any transaction must be at a value that fully reflects the value of Yahoo, including any strategic benefits to Microsoft, and on terms that provide certainty to our stockholders... We are open to all alternatives that maximize stockholder value." The letter also asserts that Microsoft has publicly mis-characterized the negotiations, arguing its takeover threats are "counterproductive."

For more on Yahoo's position:
-read this letter to Steve Ballmer

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Opera Mini 4.1 mobile web browser debuts

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Web browser development firm Opera Software released the beta preview of its Opera Mini 4.1 mobile web browser, promising a more interactive browsing experience on both the handset and the Internet. According to Opera, the newest Mini is up to 50 percent faster than Opera Mini 4, with new features including automatic URL completion suggestions, the ability to save web pages for subsequent offline viewing, in-page content searching, and file download and upload. Opera Mini is now available to download for beta testing.

For more on Opera Mini 4:
-read this release

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