Mobile Industry Review - Latest Comments in Mr Operator: Developers are out of date

Re: Mr Operator: Developers are out of date

jamescoops — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:51:56 -0000

Developers dont need operators anymore now that the walled gardens are down, people are exploring off-portal and data costs are falling. The question is, apart from Apple, who is going to emerge as the search and context provider for mobile applications and services - the operators could do it if they could create proper next generation smart portals but I dont see that happening.

Re: Mr Operator: Developers are out of date

TerenceEden — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:28:11 -0000

I'm not sure if we've picked up any specific apps... yet :-)
We have picked up designs for our new site - see http://www.betavine.net/bvportal/web/guest/aboutus
Also, as I said before, Vodafone Spain now links directly to the Spanish version of betavine.mobi meaning these developers get exposed to a much larger audience.

Re: Mr Operator: Developers are out of date

Mike42 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:24:42 -0000

Hi Terence,

Betavine has been around for a while - what has come out of it that's been picked up by VF operators around the world? i.e. is it working?

/m

Re: Mr Operator: Developers are out of date

MartinSFP — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:55:27 -0000

"These people will always grumble that MNO’s are too restrictive, too slow, too afraid. Some MNO’s are. People are like that, and people run MNO’s"

An important point that too many geeks forget!

Re: Mr Operator: Developers are out of date

TerenceEden — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:41:03 -0000

This is exactly what Vodafone R&D's Betavine is all about. Allowing niche players access to the Vodafone APIs and letting them distribute their apps via web and .mobi.

The service is currently integrated into Vodafone live for Spanish customers. But anyone can point their browser at Betavine.net and get downloading.

We're even drinking our own kool-aid by using it to promote our branded applications.

Applications are really where it's at. We're always going to have some premium apps which we fully support, but we know that letting bedroom developers and other 3rd parties run wild is the best way to create a thriving ecosystem.

The only way we can make the mobile web a success is by being open. Open protocols, open ideas, open development and, most of all, open minded.