Mobile widgets

That’s actually the first time I see widgets promoted as a key benefit to sell a mobile phone. You probably can’t see it on this ad but the 3 key features are presented in that order:

- 8 megapixels camera phone with autofocus
- connected widgets
- touchscreen

I would be curious to know how many people really know the term “widget”.

Orange Autumn/Winter Collection

I recently had the opportunity to discover innovations/new services to be launched soon by Orange. I won’t describe them all (it included the bold launch of Orange Cinema Series) but only those I found the most interesting:

- Widgets made available both on the PC and the mobile under the Djinngo name. Check out here.
Interestingly, Orange views wome widgets as a way to acquire new clients. Indeed, some widgets generate up to hundreds of thousands of unique visitors and can be made available on any homescreen. I haven’ t tested the mobile version yet but would be curious to hear your thoughts on it. Many operators have started embracing this trend. I saw some demos from Telecom Italia a while ago while Bouygues Telecom just announced a deal with Goojet.

- customized mobile handsets with Orange Wizard. This is based on pre-installed apps that simplify access to content from the homescreen: it can be anything from news to easy access to e-mails, to EPG TV guides, calendar and tasks….but also to your social communities’ hub. This sounds like a widget-like approach to promote Orange tools and offerings on the Orange signature programm. To be launched first on 2 devices in France with specific contracts: LG Renoir and Nokia N85.

- launch of TV HD on the Unik offering: it requires a 3G UMA phone (most Unik phones used to be 2G only). To be launched on 2 devices LG KF757 and SE G705u

- a new Livebox: with Wifi-n, it will be easier to use. I am not a tech guy but I think it means thanks to a new protocol you won’t have to manually enter a complex code (WEP key). You can connect up to 4 PCs/consoles or other home equipments. In addition it is compatbile with UPnP and DLNA standards which paves the way for a real digital home multimedia solution. To be launched in January 2009 (for the FTTH version and in April 2009 for ADSL)

- a USB TV key to transform your PC into a TV screen

- simultaneous calls on your busy VoIP line…and many other stuff coming along in 2009.