OXFORD, United Kingdom—Manx Telecom, Europe’s first commercial third-generation (3G) operator, has chosen Calaba’s wireless directory and search engine software in an effort to provoke greater uptake of mobile data services. Manx Telecom, which turned its diminutive network on last month, said that the full-color search service would allow its users on the Isle of Man to search for content within the 3G network or elsewhere on the Web.
Calaba Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Granger said the software’s multi-dimensional architecture allowed all sites to be classified so they could be found by users to whom they are most relevant, with minimum clicks. “Increasingly, we are seeing operators adopt more content-friendly pricing strategies, while implementing advanced content discovery tools. Coupled with increased usability and relevancy, the outlook for wireless information, applications and services is very bright,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Vizzavi claims it has become the first U.K. mobile content provider to launch services tailored for General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) handsets. The company said it released two Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-based games, Chess and Pass It On, that enable users to send texts to opponents when their turn is over, with the message holding a link to take players automatically back into the WAP game. The United Kingdom’s leading mobile portal, Genie, said plans for GPRS content are in the pipeline but nothing is imminent.
