14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Norwegian software company Opera Software announced officially the release of a new widget runtime platform for Google’s Android operating system, one that offers support for the new WAC (Wholesale Applications Community) 1.0 Specification. The new Opera widget runtime for Android is available only in an alpha flavor for the time being, though it is meant to offer developers the possibility to start with the development of application.
Moreover, in addition to opening the road to the next step in the building of apps for smartphones, the widget runtime offers a platform for distribution, via the said WAC implementation.
For those who might not be familiar with what WAC is all about, as should note that it is an alliance formed by some of the largest wireless carriers and OEMs in the world, including AT&T, China Mobile, Telenor, Telefonica, Vodafone, Verizon, Samsung, Huawei and others.
The initiative was based on the idea of “defining, creating and deploying a common mobile application platform.”
WAC is meant to put together what today is a fragmented applications marketplace, so as to create an open industry platform that would serve the entire industry, starting with app builders and mobile phone makers, and going all the way to OS owners, network operators and end users.
“It is a great pleasure for us to present our public implementation of the WAC 1.0 specification and to get developers going,” said Christen Krogh, Chief Developer Officer, Opera Software. “Opera is participating in WAC and remains committed to take the WAC platform to the masses.”
Opera already has a widget system put in place, and the new Widget runtime for Android is based on the company's expertise in the area.
At the moment, Opera already implemented cross-device widgets on its web browsers, including the Opera solution for desktop PCs, or the Opera Mobile application and Opera for devices.
“We are delighted that Opera is supporting WAC 1.0 with its new widget runtime” commented Peters Suh, CEO, WAC.
“In the year since WAC was announced at Mobile World Congress in 2010 we have consistently hit our deadlines, and this announcement underlines that we are on schedule to launch WAC 1.0 devices and storefronts at Mobile World Congress 2011.”
Those developers interested in coming up with widgets or in the implementation of the WAC APIs should download the runtime via this link. Additional info on the solution are available on Opera's website here.
The runtime is compatible with devices running under Android 2.1 or higher that pack a minimum 25Mb of free space. The solution was meant only for evaluation and demo purposes, and not for commercial use.