Tell me, what are On-Device Portals and why do we
need it?
On-Device Portals (ODPs), are new generation of products
which deliver content on the mobile phone through the
use of a client application instead of browsing WAP
pages. On-Device portals are the evolution of WAP, as
they leverage the handset’s capabilities to deliver a
more appealing user experience, increase service
awareness and streamline content purchasing.
ODPs make accessing mobile Internet and mobile content
easier than ever. Instead of browsing WAP sites and
searching for content, ODPs gives mobile users the
chance to access mobile data through interactive mobile
user interface which sits on their phone. For the user,
it means a better user experience and reaching
multimedia content with just few clicks on their mobile.
For mobile operators and content providers it means
providing rich mobile internet services to their
customers.
Then, what is Smartface Platform for?
Smartface Platform is the easiest way to build, deploy
and manage On-Device Portals. Because of that, we call
it “The On-Device Portal framework”.
Smartface Platform provides tools and services to mobile
providers, which they can create ODPs fastest way
possible and deploy them to the subscribers’ handsets.
Why is it so easy to design ODPs with Smartface
Platform?
Good question! Remember, ODPs are still mobile
applications which run on your handset. Why you have to
use Smartface Platform since there are many technologies
and development environments on the market which helps
you to create mobile applications?
With Smartface Designer, mobile designers publish
On-Device Portals without writing single line of code or
without making any device specific development. All they
do is dragging, dropping and selecting menu items in a
totally visual programming environment. Because of that,
they don’t have to have programming skills for
publishing ODPs! Only few clicks and here we go...
Cool isn’t it?
I have a flashy WAP site, so why do I need an
On-Device Portal?
ODP is not an alternative channel but an evolution of
WAP portals. Indeed, ODP drives WAP traffic in following
means: Firstly, It is engaging and fast, so it motivates
people to discover content and click to go WAP. Thus ODP
is such like a “shopping window” to invite people to
your store. In this sense; ODP is the first step for the
user to start browsing. Secondly, in our experience
approximately, %25 of WAP traffic is initiated by an ODP
application. It means that people who use an ODP
application goes to WAP for further discovery.
Second, ODP is always “on”. This feature makes life
easier if you are getting bored when waiting for pages
to load or videos to play and etc. It uses cache to
upload contents. It loads the changed or updated items
and each time there is no need to upload all contents.
And third, ODP is always superior to WAP in terms of
user experience such as content previews, animation,
user interaction and especially interactive menu.
Because of that, it stimulates user interest towards
trying or purchasing mobile content. It is a way to
attract subscribers to lead them to WAP for further
discovery. It is something that you show off your
friends. It has a great viral marketing power especially
for youth segment.
Simply, ODP is something which gets you closer to your
mobile subscriber.
What are the benefits of Smartface Platform for me? I
don’t want any marketing buzz; there are plenty of them
in your web site…
Ok. Simply Smartface Platform helps you to create an
interactive channel between your brand and mobile user.
The specialty of this channel is that; it sits on top of
a really valuable real estate: the mobile phone.
Then, it is up to you how to take advantage of this
channel. You can promote your services; sell mobile
content, market your brand and etc.
How long does it take to publish an ODP with
Smartface Platform?
With an experienced designer, it is possible to publish
and ODP in 2 to 4 business days. Still, it depends on
the amount of creative work you desire, the time
required is generally not more than a week.
What type of devices required for Smartface Platform
and how do you manage the complexity between different
device models?
Smartface Mobile runs on devices which have open
operating systems such as S60, UIQ, Microsoft Mobile,
J2ME MIDP 2.0 or Flash Lite compatibility.
Managing the complexity for different device features
and screen sizes is managed by Mobinex’s patent pending
“Smart Scale” technology, which enables one mobile
application to run on different devices with adapting
the user interface. This technology handles all the
differences all the complexity and differences of mobile
devices and provide designers a unified design
experience across all devices.
Let say; if you are designing and ODP with S60 smart
phone with screen sizes 176x208, the same application
will adapt automatically to a device resolution 340x208
pen-based devices, while preserving a consistent user
experience among different devices.
How do you deliver a Smartface application to
subscribers’ mobile phone and how it is updated later?
There are
many deployment scenarios for Smartface applications.
The applications can be pushed directly to the
subscriber’s handset via WAP-Push SMS (or Service
Message), the user can download application from WAP or
WEB, or the applications can be delivered in local
service stores over Bluetooth access points.
Updates are crucial for ODPs, because once it is
installed to end users’ device, it needed to be updated
to keep end-users up to date. Smartface applications are
easily updated over-the-air (OTA). Updates are granular
and updates take only a few seconds depending on the
speed of your mobile data connection.
What type of networks does Smartface Platform
supports as a DATA Carrier?
Smartface Platform runs on GSM/GPRS, EDGE, WiFi and
Bluetooth networks.
Can Smartface Platform applications be localized to
different languages?
Given our experiences, localization is one of the most
important issue of mobile applications. Thus, Smartface
Platform supports natively every language including
Latin, Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese even Hebrew.
What type of content can be served to the end users
via Smartface applications?
Smartface Platform supports all multimedia content that
the mobile device is capable to handle. Supported media
include video, MP3, streaming content, ring tones,
wallpapers, themes and pictures.
How do you sell it, I mean what is your business
model?
We have multiple business models; Licensing model: where
we license our software tools and per number of
subscribers. In Managed Service Model, we take a monthly
fixed fee for using all the platform as hosted. We also
have Revenue Sharing models, depending on type of your
business.
Please contact : sales@mobinex.biz to get more details
about our business models, specific to your business.
What kind of professional services do I need related
to Smartface Platform and how Mobinex helps?
Mobinex provides all professional services you will need
in operating Smartface Platform. These services include
solution integration, training, consulting and
operational outsourcing services.
We offer training services in Mobile Design, User
experience and Mobile Usability. Our consulting services
include project support, management support, and
creating corporate guidelines, design workshops,
storyboarding, usability evaluations and usability
reporting.
I am an operator/content provider. What are the
integration requirements for Smartface Platform for my
back-end system?
Typically, there are tow major integration points;
billing and messaging. The good new is that, Smartface
Platform provides XML Web Service APIs to integrate with
all billing systems and SMS-Cs.
How is the billing done for content purchasing in a
Smartface application?
It can be done by many ways:
-
Premium
rate SMS billing. Smartface application fires silent
SMS messages to provide billing.
-
Billing
integration through HTTP. Smartface application
connects to the operator’s billing system over HTTP
to make a secure billing transaction.
-
Credit
Card transaction: Smartface application connects to
a credit card payment provider over secure HTTPS
data connection
Can I test
and trial Smartface Platform?
Of course! In the following link, please provide your
personal info and we will send you a one month trial
version of our software.
http://www.mobinex.biz/download.asp
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