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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Mobile firms unite to offer apps | Mobile firms unite to offer apps |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Twenty-four of the largest phone operators have banded together to challenge the dominance of mobile app stores, such as that operated by Apple. | Twenty-four of the largest phone operators have banded together to challenge the dominance of mobile app stores, such as that operated by Apple. |
| The Wholesale Applications Community, as it is known, aims to make it easier for developers to build and sell apps "irrespective of device or technology". | The Wholesale Applications Community, as it is known, aims to make it easier for developers to build and sell apps "irrespective of device or technology". |
| The alliance, which includes Vodafone, China Mobile and Sprint, has access to more than three billion customers. | The alliance, which includes Vodafone, China Mobile and Sprint, has access to more than three billion customers. |
| Analysts said it was an attempt by operators to "regain control of apps". | Analysts said it was an attempt by operators to "regain control of apps". |
| However, research firm CCS Insight warned that operators "have a poor track record with this type of industry consortium". | However, research firm CCS Insight warned that operators "have a poor track record with this type of industry consortium". |
| The app market is currently a lucrative business for mobile firms. | The app market is currently a lucrative business for mobile firms. |
| Analysts at Gartner have predicted that spending on the specialist pieces of software will hit $6.2bn (£4bn) this year with the number of downloads rising to 4.5 billion from 2.5 billion last year. | Analysts at Gartner have predicted that spending on the specialist pieces of software will hit $6.2bn (£4bn) this year with the number of downloads rising to 4.5 billion from 2.5 billion last year. |
| It predicts that downloads will top 21 billion by 2013, yielding almost $30bn. | It predicts that downloads will top 21 billion by 2013, yielding almost $30bn. |
| Simple approach | Simple approach |
| Apple currently dominates the app market, with more than 3 billion downloaded from its app store in 18 months. | Apple currently dominates the app market, with more than 3 billion downloaded from its app store in 18 months. |
| Blackberry, Google, Nokia, Symbian and Microsoft all offer their own app stores. | Blackberry, Google, Nokia, Symbian and Microsoft all offer their own app stores. |
| The mood this year should be grim after a 2009 that this industry like many others will want to forget Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology correspondent, Barcelona Read Rory's thoughts in full | |
| As a result, developers often have to create different versions of apps and go through separate approval processes for each individual store. | As a result, developers often have to create different versions of apps and go through separate approval processes for each individual store. |
| The Wholesale Applications Community aims to overcome this fragmentation by offering a single "open platform that delivers applications to all mobile phone users". | The Wholesale Applications Community aims to overcome this fragmentation by offering a single "open platform that delivers applications to all mobile phone users". |
| It aims to develop a common standard for applications in the next 12 months. | It aims to develop a common standard for applications in the next 12 months. |
| As well as the 24 network operators, the work is also supported by hardware manufacturers such as LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, as well as industry body the GSM association. | As well as the 24 network operators, the work is also supported by hardware manufacturers such as LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, as well as industry body the GSM association. |
| The consortium's approach to simplify application development and distribution is echoed by software firm Adobe. | The consortium's approach to simplify application development and distribution is echoed by software firm Adobe. |
| The company has announced that it will begin to offer its AIR platform on mobile devices, starting with phones running Google's Android operating system. | The company has announced that it will begin to offer its AIR platform on mobile devices, starting with phones running Google's Android operating system. |
| AIR is currently available on desktops and allows developers to build desktop applications for services that are more commonly found in the browser. | AIR is currently available on desktops and allows developers to build desktop applications for services that are more commonly found in the browser. |
| For example, there are a number of Twitter applications that use AIR. | For example, there are a number of Twitter applications that use AIR. |
| Until now it has been unavailable on smart phones. | Until now it has been unavailable on smart phones. |
| The technology could make it easier for developers to create and publish apps that can run on many different platforms at the same time. | The technology could make it easier for developers to create and publish apps that can run on many different platforms at the same time. |
| Apple has traditionally spurned some Adobe software - such as Flash - on its iPhone. | Apple has traditionally spurned some Adobe software - such as Flash - on its iPhone. |
| However, Adobe has now built a tool that allows developers to build an app for phone running AIR and easily publish a slightly different version which should also run on the iPhone. | However, Adobe has now built a tool that allows developers to build an app for phone running AIR and easily publish a slightly different version which should also run on the iPhone. |
| "We enable developers and content publishers to deliver to any screen," said David Wadhwani of Adobe. | "We enable developers and content publishers to deliver to any screen," said David Wadhwani of Adobe. |
| The announcements were made at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which runs from 15-18 February. | The announcements were made at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which runs from 15-18 February. |