Netbiscuits has announced that it is expanding its support of smartphones, integrating location-based services and starting a new partner program. Netbiscuits provides a software platform for development, publishing and advertising on the mobile web.
The expansion will include much greater support for iPhone, Nokia Series 60, BlackBerry and Android devices, amongst other high-end devices.
The location-based services will enable shop finders, geocoding and other tracing services. This will initially be offered with Google Maps, but Microsoft and Yahoo! deals are on their way.
The partner program includes a partner directory listing, newsletter advertising, beta access to new product releases and joint marketing plans.
More details will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress.
From the release:
“Our platform gives developers and designers the opportunity to fully utilize the capabilities of almost all mobile devices available across the globe,” said Michael Neidhoefer, CEO of Netbiscuits. “CSS, Scripting and AJAX are fully implemented with our software service, providing the benefits of next-generation mobile website layouts, effects, and functionalities for devices like the iPhone, G1 and the Nokia N97. With Netbiscuits the dilemma of ‘quality or coverage’ is a thing of the past. Developers no longer have to choose between wide-reaching global mobile device coverage and next-generation Web 2.0 layouts. The platform enables one high-quality, integrated global solution for the mobile web.”
What we think?
It seems that anyone who wants to stay at the front of the mobile game is putting huge smartphone support in place. Netbiscuits has shown great innovation and energy in the last year, so this push isn’t too surprising. Lower-end and Java-enabled phones may still be the most numerous market segment, but no one doubts that smartphones are going to be the dominant force in 2009. This is also the second announcement of LBS tracing services we’ve had today – since Google launched Latitude, everyone wants to get on board.
