EC research project to documents issues and encourage open approaches to help developers build mobile internet apps that support as many devices as possible
BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 4th, 2010 – The European Commission today announced the launch of MOSQUITO (Mobile software and services, Standardisation, Quality, Interoperability, Testing, Open source), a €700,000 research project to develop a better understanding of the issues and consequences of mobile app fragmentation.
MOSQUITO was conceived by the 7th Framework Programme, a European Union initiative that is responsible for research and technological development, and falls under the ICT theme of future internet experimental research. MOSQUITO is a collaborative project comprised of six companies, inno, ETSI, France Telecom, Telecommunication Metrology Center of MIIT, Funambol and IBBT. It will undertake a two year programme to document fragmentation issues that prevent the development of mobile internet apps and services.
Fabrizio Capobianco, Funambol CEO, said: “Fragmentation is a serious issue that is currently affecting the mobile industry. Due to the rapid proliferation of phone and non-phone devices, this issue is likely to get worse before it gets better. We are pleased to participate in the MOSQUITO research project because it endorses an open standards approach, including open source, to address mobile fragmentation.”
“Fragmentation has led to developers needing to build multiple versions of the same app so it is compatible with different mobile devices. A key goal of MOSQUITO is to clearly identify and document fragmentation issues. The project team will work together to look at the extent of fragmentation in the industry and its causes, and to develop market solutions.”
Mobile apps and services are critical components of the future of the wireless industry. The consumer demand for mobile broadband and data services is increasing and mobile access to the internet has become much more widespread. Internet-based services, mobile devices and applications need to be optimised to support this growing trend.
Mobile internet services used to be largely determined by mobile operators, but this has been fundamentally changed by third party platforms that support an influx of smartphones and connected devices into the market. The future of internet services increasingly depends on the development of mobile apps.
The MOSQUITO project will organise a programme of workshops and ‘interop’ events to attract the interest of large audiences and encourage participation from third parties, including smaller developers and SMEs. Competitions will be held at the event inviting developers to build apps that are compatible with as many mobile platforms as possible.
Project Outcomes
· Provide comprehensive documentation on fragmentation to help developers understand its issues and consequences
· Define roadmap for reducing mobile internet application fragmentation
· Support actions that improve the working environment to develop mobile internet services and demonstrate the way forward on convergence
· Provide major contributions to the future internet
· Lower barriers for service providers, in particular SMEs, to develop mobile internet services through standardised open (source) platforms and interfaces
About MOSQUITO
MOSQUITO is co-financed by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Program for RTD. Started in September, 2010, it will last 2 years. Consisting of six organisations from Europe, the MOSQUITO project addresses all issues related to fragmentation of mobile services which would prevent full development of mobile internet applications and services. For more information, please visit www.mosquito-fp7.eu.
