Partnership adds location context to mobile apps
May 17, 2007

location based services


GPS chip vendor SiRF Technology and communication software specialist Openwave Systems are teaming up to add location awareness to Web 2.0 mobile applications. The collaboration aims to enable developers to easily add location context to mobile widgets, rich data services, and online idle-screen user interfaces on mobile devices, the companies say.

Specifically, SiRF will integrate the location capabilities of its SiRFstudio with Openwave's MIDAS, described as a Mobile AJAX-based application development platform. The location-enabled MIDAS platform offers content publishers and developers easy access to a variety of location functionality -- from location determination to mapping and routing -- that provide end users with a "rich location experience," according to Openwave. The platform also includes tools to create idle-screen widgets and a framework for widget discovery, delivery, and lifecycle management.

SiRFstudio provides handset manufacturers and carriers with location "platforming" and integration capabilities that deliver an "out-of-the-box locative experience" for mobile devices, SiRF says. It also provides a rapid LBS (location-based services) application development platform for embedding sophisticated location capabilities into new and existing applications or services, according to SiRF.

According to Nara Rajagopalan, VP of products at Openwave, "A key part of creating mobile services with a highly targeted and personalized experience is knowing where subscribers are, and the integration of the SiRFstudio APIs with MIDAS is designed to bring high-accuracy location technology within the reach of content publishers and developers. When combined with other existing content feeds and services in addition to other applications, location adds the geographic dimension and filtering needed to create compelling and highly relevant mobile data services that can drive Web content consumption on mobile devices."

MIDAS creates applications that run on Windows Mobile, Symbian, BREW, QTopia, Linux, and "any feature phone platform," Openwave said.

SiRF Technology and Openwave plan to jointly market the combined software to wireless operators and mobile handset and device OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), the companies said.