Group Formed to Promote Femtocell Applications

Industry association, Femto Forum has created a Special Interest Group (SIG) within the Forum, tasked to develop a framework that will simplify the development and deployment of femtocell applications. Example applications include music synchronisation with the home PC when a customer returns home, and virtual "fridge notes" where a message is delivered when the recipient returns home.

The Services SIG has a number of objectives, which include the development of a common application environment across multiple vendors and operators for the simple, quick and cheap development of femtocell applications and their deployment. The group will also work in partnership with the appropriate standards bodies on the standardisation of key APIs and interfaces, required to support femtocell applications. Creating a common femtocell interface for application developers will ensure applications work across all femtocells, regardless of manufacturer, operator or radio technology, so maximising the market opportunity for developers.

Additionally, the SIG will be responsible for promoting the potential of femtocell applications and their significance to the operator, femtocell vendor and application developer communities. The group will also build a community of interest with those organisations wishing to design, implement and operate femtocell applications.

"The recent success of iPhone software and the appstore launches from operators and handset manufacturers is testament to how important applications are becoming to the mobile industry," said Simon Saunders, Chairman of the Femto Forum. "Femtocells add a new dimension to application development, removing many of the constraints currently faced by mobile developers. By adding the potential to build high bandwidth and location-aware applications, they allow the creation of a wide range of innovative and differentiated services."

Posted to the site on 23rd June 2009