LG, RIM and Samsung joint mobile widget initiative

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 14:00

Business IT - Technology

The Joint Innovation Lab (JIL), which is developing a widget specification in future mobile handsets has announced support from LG Electronics (LG), Research In Motion (RIM) and Samsung Electronics Co.

JIL claims that launch of a wide range of JIL widget compliant handsets will enable developers to create applications that can be rolled out to customers across the JIL member companies of China Mobile, Softbank, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, who have a combined user base of more than one billion across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

According to JIL, while JIL compliant handsets have launched in some European countries and China, this is the first time that major handset manufacturers have committed to global adoption of the JIL widget standard across devices.

"The decision of LG, RIM, Samsung and Sharp to incorporate the JIL widget specifications in their future product roadmap is proof of the tremendous potential that JIL offers both to developers and customers," said Peters Suh, JIL CEO.

JIL is a joint venture between China Mobile, Softbank, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone established in 2008 to promote the development of new mobile technologies, applications and services. Its focus has been to create a single global platform for developers to encourage the creation of a wide range of innovative and useful mobile widgets.

It aims for these mobile widgets to be capable of enhancing the mobile Internet experience for customers on a variety of smartphones as well as mid- and low-cost handsets across several operating systems and distributed through JIL operators' applications stores.