Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary.. 6
2 Definition of a Mobile Widget.. 7
2.1 What Separates a Widget From a Bundled Device Feature?. 7
2.2 Examples of Current Mobile Widgets. 7
3 History of Mobile Platform Programming.. 8
3.1 The First Widget. 8
3.2 Hardware Widgets?. 8
3.3 Hardware and Software Evolution.. 9
3.3.1 Hardware evolution. 10
3.3.1.1 The Smartphone revolution. 10
3.3.2 Development platform evolution. 11
3.3.2.1 Palm.. 11
3.3.2.2 WAP, WML, and HTML. 12
3.3.2.2.1 HTML and Mini Browsers. 13
3.3.2.2.2 Adobe, Flash, and Director13
3.3.2.2.3 JavaScript13
3.3.2.2.4 AJAX.. 14
3.3.3 Development future. 14
4 Platform Architectures. 15
4.1 Platform Specific Development. 15
4.1.1 Symbian. 15
4.1.2 Windows Mobile. 16
4.1.3 Blackberry OS. 16
4.1.4 iPhone OSX.. 17
4.1.5 Linux. 18
4.1.6 Palm OS. 19
4.1.7 Danger Hiptop, SideKick. 19
4.1.8 Android. 20
4.2 Portable Widget Development. 21
4.2.1 J2ME Platform.. 21
4.3 Web Based Widgets. 21
4.3.1 WAP/WML/XML. 21
4.3.2 HTML. 22
4.3.2.1 Browser Constraints by Platform.. 22
5 Key Development Concepts. 22
5.1 Size Constraints. 23
5.1.1 Compact Code. 23
5.1.2 Compact File Space. 23
5.2 Display Constraints. 24
5.2.1 Display Sizes and Standards. 24
5.2.2 Multiple Displays. 24
5.3 Input and Controls. 25
5.3.1 Input device types. 25
5.3.1.1 Keypad. 25
5.3.1.2 Keyboard. 26
5.3.1.3 Touch Screen. 26
5.3.1.4 Scroll Wheel26
5.3.1.5 Thumb Sticks, Roller Balls, and Direction Pads.27
5.3.2 Environmental Controls. 27
5.3.2.1 Motion and Orientation Sensors. 27
5.3.2.2 Light Sensors. 27
5.3.3 Peripheral Access. 27
5.3.3.1 GPS onboard and off28
5.3.3.2 Bluetooth. 28
5.3.3.3 Infrared. 28
5.4 Network Access. 28
5.4.1 Connection Persistence. 28
5.4.1.1 Dial on Demand. 29
5.4.1.2 Always On. 29
5.4.2 Connection Types and Limitations. 29
5.4.2.1 Cellular Data. 29
5.4.2.2 WiFi30
5.4.2.3 WiMax. 30
5.4.2.4 Bluetooth. 31
5.5 Processing.. 31
5.5.1 Platforms and Speeds. 31
5.6 Web Widget development. 32
5.6.1 Limitations of Web Based Applications. 33
5.6.2 A note about WAP/WML translators, compression gateways, and proxies. 33
5.7 Licensing.. 34
5.7.1 License Model Table by Platform.. 34
6 Markets. 34
6.1 Mobile Advertising.. 35
6.1.1 The Advertising Double Edged Sword. 35
6.2 Market Summary.. 35
6.2.1 Case Study RIM... 36
6.2.2 Case Study Apple. 36
6.2.3 Case Study PopCap Games. 37
6.2.4 Platform Market Share. 37
6.3 Market Sizing.. 38
6.3.1 Predicted Mobile Sales. 38
6.3.2 Predicted Smart Phone Sales. 38
6.3.3 Predicted Mobile Application Sales and Revenue. 39
6.3.4 Recent Market Developments as Growth Indicators. 39
7 Mobile Application Examples. 40
7.1 SalesForce. 40
7.2 Dexterra.. 41
7.3 America's Emergency Network.. 42
8 Carrier and Vendor Adaptations. 43
8.1 Topology and Network Changes. 43
8.2 Policy Changes. 44
8.2.1 Open Network Movements. 44
8.2.2 Billing Plan Changes. 44
8.3 Infrastructure Hardware Changes. 45
8.3.1 Location Based Services. 45
8.3.2 WiFi Localized Service Hosting. 45
8.3.3 Network Monitoring Changes and Effects. 45
8.4 Handset Manufacturer Changes. 46
8.4.1 Integrating New Handset Features. 46
8.4.2 Evolving the Handset46
8.5 Software Changes. 46
8.5.1 Mobile Browser Evolution. 47
8.5.2 Multiple Platform Mobile Operating Systems. 47
9 The Future of Widgets. 47
9.1 Innovative Solutions on the Horizon.. 47
9.1.1 Context and Location Sensitive Applications. 47
9.1.2 Pay Point Solutions. 48
9.1.3 Swarm Data Mining. 48
9.2 Predictions for the Next Generation.. 49
9.2.1 Obsolescence of the Wallet49
9.2.1.1 Digital ID.. 49
9.2.1.2 Electronic Signature. 50
9.2.2 Convergence of Portable Devices. 50
9.2.2.1 Geo Tagging Multimedia. 50
9.2.2.2 Geocasting, Personal Broadcasting. 51
9.2.3 Breaking the Phone Mold. 51
9.2.3.1 Unlocking and Starting Your Car51
9.2.3.2 Authentication on a Computer and Elsewhere. 52
9.2.3.3 Remote Control52
10 Summary.. 53
11 Index of Tables. 54
12 Image Credits. 55
13 References. 58