Comments for Mobile Web To Get Standards

Mobile Web To Get Standards

2008-07-02T13:11:23Z

A group of mobile operators have just unveiled a new initiative they're calling "BONDI" whose goal is to encourage development of new mobile web applications while not compromising customers' security. BONDI was created by members of the OMTP (Open Mobile Terminal Platform), an industry group that includes participants from all parts of the mobile world and whose members include operators like AT&T, Hutchison 3G, Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

]]> With BONDI, named for the popular Australian beach, OMTP wants customers to know "it's safe to surf!" In order to move mobile web development forward, OMTP wants to fix the current problem we have today where a mobile app written for one phone has to be rewritten again and again to work on all devices. This effort is costly, inefficient, confusing for the end user, and slows down the time to market.

So instead, via the BONDI initiative, OMTP will define what interfaces developers need to access when writing apps that tap into more sensitive functions on the mobile device. BONDI will expose those handset features to the developers while also protecting the users from any fraudulent or malicious activity.

In addition, the web services that result from the BONDI initiative will incorporate the various open and proprietary work currently in progress in this area of mobile development so as not to cause more fragmentation.

As today's mobile phones become more like mini-computers, the need for standards and security is paramount. The members of OMTP agree. Having standards will "encourage more developers to create unique, exciting applications for mobile web 2.0," says Arnd Gallmann SVP Terminal Technology at T-Mobile.

We couldn't agree more and are now eagerly awaiting the plethora of services that are sure to result from this move.

Comment from theregoesdave on 2008-07-03

2008-07-03T13:46:30Z

BONDI isn't about the mobile web at all, it's about handset application standards.

Comment from Gerd Kamp on 2008-07-03

2008-07-03T09:06:38Z

In the 9 years i'm doing mobile internet i've seen lot's of telco drive standards (WAP/WML, OMA, ...) Not a single one was successful. IMHO the only reason why the mobile internet is taking off now is that it is no longer different from the "fixed" internet (both technologically and business wise (e.g. ads instead of paid sections)

Comment from Adrian Hall, Bytemobile on 2008-07-02

2008-07-03T01:18:02Z

Consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with the mobile Internet and are consuming more content and mobile services than ever. It is critical that the industry focus on building, delivering and supporting mobile web applications and services that are available to the mass market. In addition, we hope to see more network operators deploying mobile internet solutions that drive the adoption of data services by delivering the best possible user experience for all content, across all networks, to all devices.

Comment from Steven Noble on 2008-07-02

2008-07-02T20:44:51Z

The irony being that Bondi is actually quite a challenging place to swim for anyone who doesn't understand rips... (which includes most visitors)

Comment from Gordon Lokenberg on 2008-07-02

2008-07-02T17:30:52Z

Getting things more easy to build for all devices, will bring us more apps on our mobile.
More apps means getting used to apps in general on mobile, means getting more users...
More users will bring us more creative content.
More creative content means more possibilities.

I am thinking of a mobile something app for recruitmentissues, accessable on all devices, free to install.

Am I going to fast now?

Comment from Son Nguyen on 2008-07-02

2008-07-02T17:05:17Z

Totally agree with #2, we don't need more standards. Just improve what is already there!

Comment from felix on 2008-07-02

2008-07-02T15:54:12Z

It's totally ridiculous that this is a group of telephone carriers. It goes to show the power they wield and the lengths they'll go to to secure said power.

Comment from Jason on 2008-07-02

2008-07-02T15:07:46Z

The only reason I would even consider making an installed app for mobile phones is to get access to some hardware information like GPS. If you could somehow give a webapp your current GPS location we would see a lot of installed apps turn to webapps instead. Which would then eliminate all these 'standards' issues.

I think mobile browsers are going to get better much faster than companies are going to implement these 'standards'.

Comment from DaveyJJ on 2008-07-02

2008-07-02T14:03:47Z

Or, you could surf using a real browser like Safari on an iPod touch or iPhone and see the web and web apps perfectly well. Standards already exist ... it's the crummy implementation of what some phone companies try to pass off as browsers on their cute little button filled phone that is the problem.

Comment from Todd on 2008-07-02

2008-07-02T13:35:59Z

It costs $175,000.00 a year for developers to participate in the OMTP, and that cost does not include the licensing fee for a signing certificate. It costs $0.00 to participate as a developer for Android, which is licensed under Apache.