Voda Launches Widget Manager

Vodafone has launched the Vodafone Widget Manager Beta, a custom-made application designed to enable users to download mobile widgets. Downloadable free of charge from Vodafone live! Vodafone Widget Manager Beta has been built on Opera run-time for the S60 platform and is initially available in the UK on the Nokia N96, N95 8GB, N78 and the 6210.
Once installed, the Vodafone Widget Manager Beta can be accessed via the applications folder on the phone. Both Vodafone Widget Manager Beta and individual widgets are available for free, excluding data charges. Vodafone UK customers with data bundles can download all widgets and access all content as part of their bundle.
Vodafone says the application will enhance the content that users are able to access via their handsets. Some of the most popular widgets available from the start include: Live Scores, Fresh Games, RSS Reader, Weatherbug, Egg Timer, Train Times, Lottery, Sccope, Currency Converter and FHM Hot Babes, with BBC News, BBC Sport and Vue Cinema widgets coming soon.
Vodafone has also revealed that Betavine, a Vodafone R&D Lab, is launching a dedicated Widget Zone to give its community of mobile web developers access to tools and support focused specifically on mobile widget technology.
The Widget Zone is accessible here, and enables mobile developers to explore emerging widget technologies and experiment with ideas and concepts for their use. In keeping with Betavines open approach to mobile development, users of the new Widget Zone are also able to interact with a community of peers to further enhance their widget offering.
From February 2009, developers will be able to publish widgets created through Betavines Widget Zone via the Vodafone Widget Manager Beta, subject to them meeting the outline guidelines for appropriate content. Through using the Vodafone Widget Manager Beta, customers will be able to try out the new ideas being developed by the Betavine community, giving mobile developers access to a sizeable audience throughout the beta launch.
To help mobile developers better understand how to create popular widgets, Vodafone has also researched and developed a best practice guide, which is freely available to members of the Betavine community. Mobile developers will also be able to access open forums to share and exchange their knowledge and experiences of widget technology.