14 DAY TRIAL // Low-cost mobile phones available all around the world are about to get more attractive for handset users, as Myriad Group AG, a worldwide leader in mobile technology, announced recently the launch of its Myriad Dynamic Homescreen, which is meant to deliver web-based widgets for this type of devices. According to the company, handsets that cost as little as US$10 or US$15 are now able to deliver to users the experience that widgets come along with.
These small software solutions, designed to deliver weather reports, horoscopes, sports scores and other information straight to the mobile phone's home screen do not require for users to enter different menus or search for an exact application. While these widgets are already popular on smartphones or higher cost handsets, they are missing on the vast majority of mass market phones.
Due to the fact that many carriers and handset makers are already considering the idea of extending their footprint over rural areas like those in India, simple widgets prove ideal for consumers who do not have Internet experience. The Myriad Dynamic Homescreen has been developed exactly for this segment of the market and is the first one to provide such functionality to these devices. Less than 500Kb ROM and 500Kb RAM are needed for the software to work, the company added.
“It is clear that ultra-low cost handsets are the key to mobile services growth in emerging markets, but this segment poses significant challenges to handset manufacturers both in terms of cost and functionality,” commented Richard Windsor, global technology specialist, Nomura Securities. “The Myriad Dynamic Homescreen addresses both of these issues by providing a way for handset manufacturers to deliver new data services on the most basic mobile platforms.” Simon Wilkinson, CEO of Myriad, added, “The home screen is becoming a vital differentiator for low cost phones. The simplicity of zero-click or one-click widgets is an important driver of both adoption and usage, creating real advantage for network operators seeking to drive data services growth.”