Browser and widget builders Opera are joining the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC).
For those of you who don’t know. The WAC is an alliance of the leading mobile operators such as China Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Vodafone and others, that works together to define, create and deploy a common mobile application platform. And Opera is the first browser vendor to join WAC.
“WAC is being built around open Web standards, so it is valuable to have a Web browser company involved,” said Peters Suh, CEO, Wholesale Applications Community. “Opera has a proven track record in supporting Web standards. Most importantly, they have already delivered standards-compliant widget and Web application repositories to major mobile operators. Their expertise is extremely helpful as we prepare to launch the Wholesale Applications Community.”
“For years, we have said that the Web is the most important application platform there is,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. “Now we have the opportunity to collaborate with global operators to make the Web the common platform for mobile applications. This will ensure mobile applications will be available for almost everyone with a mobile phone, not limited to those with smartphones or a particular OS.”
Opera products already support the initial WAC 1.0 standard. The new standard is based on an original Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) 1.2.2 standard for mobile phone applications, which Opera previously supported.
“WAC is an important industry initiative towards making a mobile application platform that is web based, rather than locked-down, proprietary application models,” said Christen Krogh, Chief Development Officer, Opera Software. “WAC allows developers to build successful and spellbinding mobile applications designed for an open, interoperable future.”
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