Wholesale Application Community
Encyclopedia
The Wholesale Applications Community (WAC) is an organisation that is creating a unified and open platform to allow mobile software developers to more easily write applications usable on a variety of devices, operating systems and networks.
The alliance completed its acquisition of the Joint Innovation Lab on 1 October 2010, accelerating the commercial launch of WAC-enabled application stores and put it in a position to be fully operational and commercially running before the end of 2010. At least 48 companies are members of the organisation.
project, the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) device APIs and the GSM Association's OneAPI program.
By utilising web-based technologies, rather than relying on developers to write native applications for specific devices, the WAC alliance believes it can spur the development of more applications across a much wider range of devices. The group also aims to make certain telecoms APIs available to developers, such as those for operator billing.
BONDI was developed by the now defunct Open Mobile Terminals Platform OMTP. JIL was a joint venture by China Mobile
, Softbank
, Verizon Wireless
, Vodafone
focused promoting the use of web based technologies for mobile application development. JIL compliant handsets include the SGH-i8320 (Samsung Vodafone 360 H1).
On the 27 of July 2010, WAC announced that it would "join forces" with JIL and then completed the acquisition on 1 October 2010. This meant that "Developers currently creating JIL applications can continue working with the existing JIL specification, tools and software libraries and these applications can be deployed on JIL based devices immediately. With the publication of the WAC specification, developers will also have a clear path to deploy applications on a wider range of devices supporting the WAC specification in 2011."
. However, Vidhya Gholkar, WAC's Developer Relations lead commented at Mobile 2.0, September 20, 2010, that "WAC is not about competing with Apple and similar companies. Its focus is on making apps available to a much greater audience. To do this requires adherence to a core set of Web technologies and have the ability to distribute to a base larger than that served by a single device or OS."
The alliance completed its acquisition of the Joint Innovation Lab on 1 October 2010, accelerating the commercial launch of WAC-enabled application stores and put it in a position to be fully operational and commercially running before the end of 2010. At least 48 companies are members of the organisation.
Overview
The Wholesale Application Community application development platform is based on standard technologies based such as HTML, Javascript, and Cascade Style Sheets (CSS). Specifically this platform builds on the work of the former Open Mobile Terminal Platform Ltd.'s BONDIBONDI (OMTP)
BONDI is a web OS aimed at mobile devices. OMTP launched the BONDI initiative, which defined new interfaces and a security framework to enable the access to mobile phone functionality BONDI (named after Bondi Beach) is a web OS aimed at mobile devices. OMTP launched the BONDI initiative,...
project, the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) device APIs and the GSM Association's OneAPI program.
By utilising web-based technologies, rather than relying on developers to write native applications for specific devices, the WAC alliance believes it can spur the development of more applications across a much wider range of devices. The group also aims to make certain telecoms APIs available to developers, such as those for operator billing.
Development
WAC is not a Standards Development Organisation (SDO) - but rather uses Standard technologies. Press releases and analyst briefings indicate that the first apps that can be purchased from the WAC warehouse will be based on W3C widget standards. WAC application development technology is based on W3C HTML, Javascript and APIs from BONDI and JIL.BONDI was developed by the now defunct Open Mobile Terminals Platform OMTP. JIL was a joint venture by China Mobile
China Mobile
China Mobile Limited is a Chinese state-owned telecommunication company that provides mobile voice and multimedia services through its nationwide mobile telecommunications network, the largest of its kind in the world...
, Softbank
SoftBank
is a Japanese telecommunications and internet corporation, with operations in broadband, fixed-line telecommunications, e-Commerce, Internet, broadmedia, technology services, finance, media and marketing, and other businesses....
, Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
, Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
focused promoting the use of web based technologies for mobile application development. JIL compliant handsets include the SGH-i8320 (Samsung Vodafone 360 H1).
On the 27 of July 2010, WAC announced that it would "join forces" with JIL and then completed the acquisition on 1 October 2010. This meant that "Developers currently creating JIL applications can continue working with the existing JIL specification, tools and software libraries and these applications can be deployed on JIL based devices immediately. With the publication of the WAC specification, developers will also have a clear path to deploy applications on a wider range of devices supporting the WAC specification in 2011."
Problems
One question is whether such a large group of operators are able to respond to changing market conditions, particularly in the wake of the influence exerted by Apple and GoogleGoogle
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
. However, Vidhya Gholkar, WAC's Developer Relations lead commented at Mobile 2.0, September 20, 2010, that "WAC is not about competing with Apple and similar companies. Its focus is on making apps available to a much greater audience. To do this requires adherence to a core set of Web technologies and have the ability to distribute to a base larger than that served by a single device or OS."
See also
- App Store (iOS)
- Android MarketAndroid MarketAndroid Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...
- Research In Motion Application store BlackBerry App WorldBlackBerry App WorldBlackBerry App World is an application distribution service and application by Research In Motion for a majority of BlackBerry devices. The service provides BlackBerry users with an environment to browse, download, and update third-party applications. The service went live on April 1, 2009...
- BetavineBetavineBetavine is an open community and resource website, created and managed by Vodafone Group R&D, for the mobile development community in order to support and stimulate the development of new applications for mobile and Internet communications...
is an application store from Vodafone R&D which predates most of mobile operators application stores. - Microsoft Application store Marketplace