MEDIA RELEASE PR36676
Leading Handset Manufacturers to Support the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) Initiative
ROTTERDAM, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
- LG, RIM, Samsung and Sharp Agree to Support the Joint Innovation Lab
Widget Specification Enabling Development of Compelling Mobile Internet
Services
The Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) today announces that leading handset
manufacturers LG Electronics (LG), Research In Motion (RIM), Samsung
Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung) and Sharp Corporation (Sharp) will support
the JIL widget specification in future mobile handsets from Q1 2010.
The launch of a wide range of JIL widget compliant handsets will enable
developers to create applications that can be rolled out to customers across
the JIL member companies of China Mobile, SOFTBANK, Verizon Wireless and
Vodafone, who have a combined user base of more than 1 billion across Africa,
Asia, Europe and North America.
Customers will benefit from having a wide range of useful and innovative
mobile applications to choose from.
While JIL compliant handsets have launched in some European countries and
China, this is the first time that major handset manufacturers have committed
to global adoption of the JIL widget standard across devices.
"The decision of LG, RIM, Samsung and Sharp to incorporate the JIL widget
specifications in their future product roadmap is proof of the tremendous
potential that JIL offers both to developers and customers," said Peters Suh,
JIL CEO. "All four companies are innovation leaders and this is another
strong affirmation of both JIL strategy and its robust technical
specifications."
JIL is a joint venture involving China Mobile, SOFTBANK, Verizon Wireless
and Vodafone established in 2008 to promote the development of new mobile
technologies, applications and services. Its focus has been to create a
single global platform for developers to encourage the creation of a wide
range of innovative and useful mobile widgets. These mobile widgets will be
capable of enhancing the mobile internet experience for customers on a
variety of smartphones as well as mid- and low-cost handsets across several
operating systems and distributed through JIL operators' applications stores.
JIL has developed a platform for mobile widgets centred around mobile
operators' unique capabilities which enables the developer community to
develop applications for all types of handsets as well as give customers
access to a range of compelling, rich internet services.
* EDITOR'S NOTE: A widget is a small, web-based application that gives
customers access to useful services such as weather guides, stock lists and
flight trackers and entertainment services such as games and music.
About China Mobile
China Mobile is the world's largest mobile operator with more than
450 million subscribes (as of December 31, 2008). China Mobile has been a
leading player in the mobile communications industry, and it is the global
partner of Shanghai World Expo2010. In 10 years, China Mobile has
established a world class mobile network with over 360,000 base stations, as
the mobile network with best coverage and largest scale in the world.
Being included in Fortune Global 500 for 9 consecutive years, China Mobile's
latest ranking is No.99. In 2008, China Mobile Limited became the first and
only company from Mainland China to be listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability
About SOFTBANK
SOFTBANK GROUP offers its customers a range of services including
mobile communications, broadband infrastructure, fixed-line
telecommunications, internet culture, e-Commerce, and others. SOFTBANK MOBILE
achieved the No. 1 position in net additions for FY 2007 and FY 2008 in the
Japanese market, with a total of 21,316,900 subscribers as of September 2009.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless
voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in
Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon
Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone
preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution
stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile
communications group with approximately 315 million proportionate customers
as at 30 June 2009. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 31 countries
across five continents and around 40 partner networks worldwide. For more
SOURCE: JIL
Translations:
Malay (http://asianetnews.net/Download.asp?ID=138208)
NEWS 
