14 DAY TRIAL // On Thursday, AOL Inc. announced the launch of a new smartphone portal, m.aol.com, meant to optimize the experience the popular destination can offer to mobile phone users. According to the company, it also plans on increasing its focus on the Android platform, thus bringing to the display an AOL app for Android, through which users can easily access the wide range of features AOL sports. Moreover, Android users can now enjoy a DailyFinance app from AOL.
The company announced that the newly launched smartphone portal can be accessed from any mobile browser, and that it was designed as the place where mobile phone users would be able to find AOL content that interests them the most. Smartphones that come to the market with support for HTML5, such as the Apple iPhone or those running under Google's Android OS, a touch-optimized UI is offered, to that users can find their way through articles and content much easier. The portal also includes location-based services with local weather, movie, traffic and other updates, an application directory for a fast finding of mobile apps, and more.
As for the new applications AOL released for Android, they are offered as free downloads. The new AOL app enables simple reading of content from sites like PopEater, or FanHouse. Moreover, the solution enables users to access sites like MapQuest and AOL Mail, or access a list of available Android apps from AOL. As for the new DailyFinance app, it is meant to bring real-time stock quotes and financial news straight on the Android-based device. Moreover, the application includes interactive charts and graphs.
“Android has emerged as a top-tier smartphone platform,” said Temkin. “So, while we’ll continue to focus on development for multiple mobile platforms, this time, we are releasing an early version of an app on Android first – the AOL app. We’re also releasing DailyFinance, one of the most popular apps on other platforms, on Android.” Temkin pointed to AOL’s growing library of smartphone-optimized sites and apps as the beginning of a new focus. “Today’s smartphones offer a completely different experience from the previous generation of WAP-based sites, and AOL will be taking full advantage of the possibilities these new devices can offer, both on the mobile Web and in apps.”