This Android is a chameleon

By Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 12:03

Strategy

Canadian software house Intrinsyc has teamed up with Femtocell developer Ubiquisys to create an Android application that completely changes the user interface when the phone moves from a public mobile network area into a home or other location covered by a femtocell.
Femtocells are tiny 3G mobile access points that plug in to a standard broadband connection in homes and businesses. They provide improved mobile coverage indoors with very fast low cost data connections and relieve the traffic load on the cellular network.

The application, UX-Zone, enhances the standard Android user interface by switching themes to reflect the phone's location. According to Intrinsyc "The home theme does not just look different; it has new icons for high bandwidth entertainment services like video streaming, social networking and home network integration, taking advantage of the fast low-cost data provided by the femtocell."

It adds: "On leaving home, the interface returns to normal, and the icons for high bandwidth applications that may not be suitable for the outside network, disappear. On arrival at the office, an entire new range of enterprise application icons appear on a new 'Office' interface designed specifically for business productivity. Accordingly, one flexible Android device can be simultaneously tuned for home, mobile and work."
This article first appeared in ExchangeDaily, iTWire's daily newsletter for telecommunications professionals. Register here for your free trial.