Wholesale Applications Community: Difference between revisions
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The '''Wholesale Applications Community''' (WAC) was an organisation that was set up to create 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.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.telecomasia.net/content/cellcos-get-wac-os-fragmentation | title=Cellcos get WAC on OS fragmentation | first=John | last=Tanner | work=Telecomasia | date=11 March 2010 | accessdate=8 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/05/wacaday/ | title=Operator gang gunning for iTunes | first=Bill | last=Ray | work=The Register | date=5 May 2010 | accessdate=8 May 2010}}</ref>. At least 48 companies |
The '''Wholesale Applications Community''' (WAC) was an organisation that was set up to create 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.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.telecomasia.net/content/cellcos-get-wac-os-fragmentation | title=Cellcos get WAC on OS fragmentation | first=John | last=Tanner | work=Telecomasia | date=11 March 2010 | accessdate=8 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/05/wacaday/ | title=Operator gang gunning for iTunes | first=Bill | last=Ray | work=The Register | date=5 May 2010 | accessdate=8 May 2010}}</ref>. At least 48 companies were members of the organization.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.wholesaleappcommunity.com/About-Wac/Lists/NEWS%20%20EVENTS/DispForm.aspx?ID=14| title= Wholesale Applications Community Grows as 32 New Members Join the Open Applications Initiative | date=18 October 2010 | accessdate=18 October 2010}}</ref>. On July 17, 2012 The [[GSMA]] announced that it has reached an agreement to integrate the major programs and initiatives driven by the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC) into the GSMA. Further to this agreement, Apigee, has acquired the technology assets of WAC as well as some of the staff who would be able to keep the old platform alive. <ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.wacapps.net/press-releases/-/asset_publisher/v5Lg/content/gsma-and-wac-join-forces-to-accelerate-mobile-applications-market-1?redirect=%2Fpress-releases| title=WAC post}}</ref> |
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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. |
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. |
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Revision as of 15:18, 3 March 2013
| Company type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computers |
| Predecessor | 2006–2010 OMTP Bondi |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Defunct | 17 July 2012 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Services | Internet Application Platforms |
Number of employees | unknown (October - 2010) |
| Website | wholesaleappcommunity.com |
The Wholesale Applications Community (WAC) was an organisation that was set up to create 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.[1][2]. At least 48 companies were members of the organization.[3]. On July 17, 2012 The GSMA announced that it has reached an agreement to integrate the major programs and initiatives driven by the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC) into the GSMA. Further to this agreement, Apigee, has acquired the technology assets of WAC as well as some of the staff who would be able to keep the old platform alive. [4]
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.
Overview
The Wholesale Application Community application development platform is based on standard technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Specifically this platform builds on the work of the former Open Mobile Terminal Platform Ltd.'s BONDI project, the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) device APIs and the GSM Association's OneAPI program.
By utilizing 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, 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).[5]
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 Google.[6] 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 Market
- Research In Motion Application store BlackBerry App World
- Betavine is an application store from Vodafone R&D which predates most of mobile operators application stores.
- Microsoft Application store Marketplace
External links
References
- ^ Tanner, John (11 March 2010). "Cellcos get WAC on OS fragmentation". Telecomasia. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ Ray, Bill (5 May 2010). "Operator gang gunning for iTunes". The Register. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ "Wholesale Applications Community Grows as 32 New Members Join the Open Applications Initiative". 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
- ^ "WAC post".
- ^ "WAC, Meego, eStore: Three Big Moves in Mobile Platform Consolidation". 4 March 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ Kincaid, Jason (15 February 2010). "The Wholesale Applications Community Sounds Like A Disaster In The Making". TechCrunch. Retrieved 8 May 2010.