T-Mobile unveils new widgets platform
Published: 19 February, 2009
T-Mobile unveiled its long awaited new applications platform, which aims to create an experience for users and developers that will keep them loyal to the operator and its devices, and enhance it as a mobile internet brand. This came a day after the cellco announced a deal with Nokia for their respective portals to coexist and even be cross-marketed, especially on midrange phones.
T-Mobile is the latest to launch its own widgets-based platform, designed to bring the same type of experience that it offers in Germany through the iPhone and Apple App Store, to its own brand. T-Mobile also supports Android G1 and Android Market, and now the Nokia Ovi portal, with its own new storefront. The operator is set to open its own updated store too, spanning all its high end products.
The widgets service, rather like one that Vodafone announced recently, will run on T-Mobile's web'n'walk devices from next month, but the major focus is on Window phones, which T-Mobile will specify and brand. CEO Hamid Akhavan said the iPhone and the G1 had been very successful for the company's business and it would now seek to have the same impact with its Windows 'MDAs', offering similar features, such as one-click access to favorite services. This reflects a growing trend for operators to learn from the iPhone and App Store, and to try to emulate these phenomena under their own brand, thus promoting themselves in the value chain and reducing their dependence on Apple and its tough business terms, which do not give the carrier a cut of software revenues.
Users will be able to personalize the new MDA handsets, such as the T-Mobile MDA Compact V and the MDA Vario V, through the widget gallery.
Unlike rival 3, which has a Skype-optimized handset, and even new Skype supporter Nokia, Akhavan believes the VoIP-like service is "not relevant" to T-Mobile's model. He said T-Mo was creating "the largest portfolio of messaging services" on a mobile device through various partnerships, but did not include Skype.
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