Sprint Nextel taps Openwave to open browser platform to developers

Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) has chosen Openwave Systems Inc.’s (OPWV) Integra technology to power its Sprint Browser VAS (value-added services) ecosystem, which enables developers to access different pieces of the Sprint network to develop applications and services that run in the browser. Sprint is the first operator to announce a browser VAS platform, according to Openwave.
The operator plans to demonstrate the platform today at its Sprint Application Developer Conference in Santa Clara, Calif.
“Operator data, distribution capabilities, and other assets have always been highly comprehensive and sought-after assets, yet to date they have not been as easy to leverage as web counterparts for ecosystems players,” said Dan Nguyen, VP of product management, Openwave. “We are pleased to announce Sprint as our first customer to provide this first of its kind offering to developers through their Browser-VAS Ecosystem.”
In an interview with RCR Wireless news, Nguyen said the solution allows Openwave and Sprint Nextel to leverage the browser to be the next platform for mobile apps. The Integra platform allows developers to quickly design and distribute apps for a variety of smart-phone operating systems (Android, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and webOS) that take advantage of the operator’s assets, including location, subscriber relationships, billing relationships and the other knowledge the operator has about the subscriber. Developers can just write the app once and quickly address a large base regardless of the OS and the device. The platform also takes advantage of HTML5 as end users continue to consume video wirelessly.
A toolbar can appear on the device that floats within finger’s each on any webpage they go to so they can translate a page from English to Spanish or only find search results that are touch-screen friendly, Nguyen said.
The platform is intelligent enough to deliver end users a contextual experience, based on past searches and personalization techniques and distribute that experience seamlessly, he added.
The storefront will be available in the first half of 2011, but developers can begin accessing the initiative by visiting http://success.openwave.com/developer-app.html.
“With the launch of the Sprint Browser-VAS Ecosystem powered by Openwave, developers now can create applications that can be executed in the browser, within the Sprint 3G network or in the cloud, to ultimately provide new and innovative applications and services for Sprint’s customers,” said Len Barlik, VP of wireless and wireline services for Sprint Nextel.
Taptu is also working with Sprint Nextel and Openwave to make its search directory service available when the service launches next year.