Novarra Inc.

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Novarra, Inc.
Type Private
Founded 2000
Headquarters United States Itasca, IL, USA
Key people Bruce Simpson, President and CEO
Industry Wireless Services, Mobile Internet Services
Website www.novarra.com

Novarra is a mobile internet software company founded in 2000 and based in Itasca, IL, USA. It creates web-based services such as web internet access, portals, videos, widgets and advertising for mobile devices. Novarra provides access to the internet and other services through wireless handsets, PDAs and laptops and sells directly to operators,[1] mobile handset manufacturers and internet brand companies.

History

Novarra started in 2000 and launched its first wireless web software application in 2002 to enable mobile workforce users with Palm (PDA), BlackBerry, Symbol and Windows Mobile devices to access corporate applications through carriers’ wireless networks.

In 2002, Novarra’s first handset manufacturer contract was to supply a browser to Palm, Inc. for Tungsten (handheld) PDAs (branded WebPro).[2]

In 2004, Novarra’s first mobile network operator deployment with U.S. Cellular[3] marked the launch of the BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) version of its browser platform and the first US mobile operator to allow open internet access on all handsets.[4]

In 2005, the company released its first Java Platform, Micro Edition browser which was later adopted by several of Hutchison 3G Group's operating companies. It was branded as www3[5] in Italy and 3Xplorer[6] in Hong Kong.

In 2007 Novarra secured venture capital[7] from Qualcomm and other investors to expand into Asia. Also, their streaming internet video service was launched with 3 Hong Kong[8] and Vodafone United Kingdom utilized Novarra for an update to Vodafone Live! that included an integrated portal, search and open internet access service for all phones.[9] As a first of its kind, this service received much criticism from mobile developers.[10]

In 2008, Novarra took steps to provide guidance for mobile developers[11] when deploying a similar service at Verizon Wireless[12] (also this deployment caused criticism by the community of mobile developers[13]) and is a member of the World Wide Web Consortium Mobile Web Best Practices Working Group.[14]

In 2009 Novarra's Jayanthi Rangarajan steps down and the firm cuts 20% of man power.[15][16] The company also began reporting mobile internet usage statistics from deployments.[17]

Products

Novarra Vision Mobile Internet & Multimedia Platform may include any of the components below:

  • Vision Mobile Browser (web browser) for feature phones, smartphones, or emerging market phones
  • On-device Portal
  • Content Transformation Server
  • Video & Multimedia Transcoding
  • Widgets
  • Mobile Broadband Optimization
  • Advertising and Analytics

Criticism

Together with Vodafone UK, Novarra has been heavily criticized [18] by mobile web developers in the UK and elsewhere for its disputable practice of removing key device information from the HTTP headers of requests from mobile devices [19]. While this practice makes viewing of sites with no mobile version possible on devices with limited or no HTML capabilities, it can also hinder developers' efforts to deliver a user-experience tailored to the capabilities of the requesting mobile device.

Market Adoption

Mobile internet access services based upon the Novarra Vision mobile internet and multimedia platform have been deployed in the US, Europe and Asia by service providers including Yahoo, Vodafone, Verizon Wireless, Turkcell, Hutchison 3G, Sprint Nextel, US Cellular and others on mobile phones, smartphones and PDAs from Nokia, LG Group, Samsung Mobile, Motorola Mobile Devices, Palm (PDA), Research In Motion, ZTE Corporation, Sony Ericsson, Kyocera Wireless, and other manufacturers.

References

  1. Furchgott, Roy (8 June, 2009), "A Flood of Softrware in Reaction to Apple" http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/app-roundup/ NY Times (retrieved 25 June, 2009)
  2. Handango, Palm Web Pro by palmOne http://www.handango.com/catalog/ProductDetails.jsp?storeId=2218&productId=88625 (retrieved 13 May, 2009)
  3. U.S. Cellular, easyedge Mobile Browser http://easyedge.uscc.com/easyedge/GameDetail.do?2155 (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  4. Smith, Brad (15 April, 2005), “One Tier 2 Carrier Opens the Internet” http://www.wirelessweek.com/one-tier-2-carrier-opens-the-internet.aspx Wireless Week (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  5. Tre Italia, www3 http://www.tre.it/public/servizi.php (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  6. Three Hong Kong, X-Series 3Xplorer http://xseries.three.com.hk/website/english/features_3xplorer_overview.shtml# (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  7. (31 July, 2007), "Novarra Raises $50M from Qualcomm, Others" http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/novarra-raises-50m-qualcomm-others/2007-07-31 Fierce Wireless (retrieved 25 June, 2009)
  8. Three Hong Kong, 3Xplorer Video Streaming http://xseries.three.com.hk/website/english/features_3xplorer2.0_overview.shtml (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  9. Meyer, David (6 June, 2007), “Vodafone Advances Website Rendering for Mobiles” http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39287413,00.htm ZDNet UK (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  10. Butcher, Mike (21 September, 2007), “Vodafone in Mobile Web Storm” http://uk.techcrunch.com/2007/09/21/vodafone-in-mobile-web-storm/ TechCrunch (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  11. Verizon Wireless Developer ZON, “Optimized View for Mobile Website Developers Guide” http://www.vzwdevelopers.com/aims/downloads/wapoptout/Optimized_View_for_Mobile_Website_Developers_Guide.pdf (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  12. Duryee, Tricia (15 February, 2009) “Verizon Wireless Subscribers Can Browse the Web More Easily” http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-verizon-wireless-makes-it-easy-to-watch-youtube-new-mobile-browser-incl/ mocoNews (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  13. "Verizon Using Novarra's Transcoder" http://wapreview.com/blog/?p=1837 (retrieved on August 20, 2009
  14. W3C, “Mobile Web Best Practices Working Group” http://www.w3.org/2000/09/dbwg/details?group=37584&public=1&order=org (retrieved 6 May, 2009)
  15. Novarra's Jayanthi Rangarajan steps down, firm cuts 20% http://www.windybits.com/the-may-report-remix?tmrUrl=http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/e3092cf237ce5b7386256921005cf436/5ddb0d10010ae9128625753900142742!OpenDocument
  16. Jayanthi Rangarajan steps down and the firm cuts 20% of man power http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/e3092cf237ce5b7386256921005cf436/5ddb0d10010ae9128625753900142742!OpenDocument
  17. Nusca, Andrew (18 June, 2009) “Multitasking Parents Out-surf Business Pros 3 to 1 on Mobile Internet” http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=19944 ZDNet (retrieved 7 October, 2009)
  18. "Mobile web wranscoding: Problem solved?" http://www.mobile-ent.biz/features/176/Mobile-web-transcoding-Problem-solved Mobile Entertainment Magazine (retrieved August 10, 2009)
  19. "VodafoneUK abusing its position" http://wurfl.sourceforge.net/vodafonerant/ (retrieved August 10, 2009)

External links

Novarra official web site

transcoding issues

Criticism of VodafoneUK and Novarra by the developer community

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