Qualcomm Launches Plaza Internet Service Widget Platform

Qualcomm In announced Plaza, a platform-agnostic wireless Internet service that provides a common framework for the development and support of widgets that will enable operators to provide their end users with quick and personalized access to the mobile Internet. After the introduction of Plaza, operators and developers can produce and deliver Internet-based content across their devices, in order to drive the usage of wireless data services, improve subscriber stickiness and ultimately increase operator ARPU.

Plaza is focused on enabling operators to bring more simplicity and personalization to their subscribers' mobile Internet experiences. When combined with subscriber intelligence and available device real estate, Plaza's end-to-end widget framework and user experience provides operators with a solution to drive use of the mobile Internet. An integrated marketing platform also plays a role in driving additional revenue to Plaza operators by allowing for targeted campaigns within the widget ecosystem.

Plaza extends benefits to content providers by allowing them to easily create useful widgets that drive users to their service offerings. Whether it is traditional Web sites, information services or other content stores, Plaza will enable a host of indirect discovery benefits and increased product and/or service monetization. Plaza's use of open standards for widget development will allow the existing Web development community to create widgets for the mobile Internet, while not excluding traditional mobile application developers, and even allowing for user-generated widgets. Qualcomm is actively working with operators to define and refine the full Plaza experience prior to commercialization.