Two of the world’s largest mobile phone operators on Thursday signalled their determination to profit more from the growing popularity of wireless internet.
Vodafone, the world’s largest operator by revenue, and China Mobile, the largest by number of customers, announced a research project aimed at speeding the roll-out of mobile internet services. Softbank, Japan’s third largest mobile operator, is also part of the project, to be known as the joint innovation lab.
The collaboration underlines how mobile operators are keen to stop internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo dominating the provision of potentially lucrative services on the wireless internet.
After years of hype, the mobile internet is finally becoming a reality thanks to attractive handsets and effective high speed wireless networks.
Apple’s iPhone, launched last year, set a new standard in the way internet-based services are used on mobiles.
China Mobile, Softbank and Vodafone will establish their innovation laboratory this summer. “The three companies expect the initiative will help to accelerate the commercial deployment of mobile internet services,” they said in a statement.
The research project is expected to focus on how to improve the mobile’s user interface, and in particular, software applications that have been nicknamed widgets.
Widgets are like mini web browsers and are found on the handset’s homescreen. They remove the need for time-consuming and potentially difficult web browsing because the user is taken directly to the service they want, such as e-mail, maps or social networking.
But one key problem is that web developers currently need to write multiple sets of computer code to ensure a widget will be compatible with the plethora of mobile operating systems that exist.
Vodafone is already calling for a reduction in the 20 plus number of operating systems. But the research project will focus on the development of a universal software specification known as the application programme interface, which could enable a widget to connect to multiple operating systems without the need for tailored computer code.
James Barford, analyst at Enders Analysis, said mobile operators might be able to charge customers £2-£3 each per month if they came up with attractive bundles of widgets.
After years of false dawns, Vodafone is reporting strong revenue growth from the mobile internet.
In its results for the six months to September 30, Vodafone recorded data revenue of £1bn, up 45 per cent on the same period last year on a comparable basis.
