Allows developers to build and test small cell enabled applications using GSMA’s OneAPI
CTIA Wireless, New Orleans – 8th May 2012: The Small Cell Forum, the independent industry and operator association that supports small cell deployment worldwide, today announced the availability of its hosted small cell emulator for use by mobile developers globally as well as the inclusion of its FemtoZonal Awareness API within the GSMA’s wider OneAPI programme. This means that mobile developers anywhere in the world can build small cell enabled applications using the GSMA’s OneAPI and then test them using the Forum’s emulator which simulates a small cell environment. The emulator is designed and hosted by platform provider Aepona.
The GSMA OneAPI initiative defines a commonly supported set of lightweight and Web friendly APIs to allow mobile and other network operators to expose useful network information and capabilities to application developers. The inclusion of the Small Cell Forum’s Zonal Awareness API means operators can give developers access, with appropriate subscriber permission, to highly accurate location and presence information from small cells even deep inside buildings where GPS and macro triangulation cannot penetrate. Combined with the fact that small cells provide guaranteed high speed mobile broadband connections, developers can build a range of new applications or enhance existing services.
“The list of potential new applications is limitless. These range from simple home reminders when you walk through the door to enhanced enterprise follow-me call services and clever personalized e-commerce shopping mall apps,” said Andy Germano, Chairman of the Small Cell Forum’s Services Working Group. “The key right now is to lower the barrier to entry for developers. They need to know that they can target apps at a global market and simply build and test them without any small cell kit or knowledge of radio networks – this announcement gives them those guarantees.”
“By giving developers a simple, standard way of leveraging operators’ network information, they can build a new generation of mobile applications that incorporate capabilities such as messaging, payment systems and location-based data. The addition of small cell information can extend the reach and the attractiveness of location-based services,” said Graham Trickey, Senior Director, GSMA.
“While small cell application development has been possible for some time, the availability of the emulator delivers the missing link to enable the developer community. It is the basic toolkit that they needed to build their application. We know from experience that developers want to be able to test their applications as far as possible before moving them to production, and the emulator provides them with that capability,” said Michael Crossey, Chief Marketing Officer for Aepona.
The small cell forum sponsored emulator is developed and hosted by Aepona and is available freely to all developers. To join the community, simply send an e-mail to [email protected] or visit us atsmallcellforum.org/developers.
About The Small Cell Forum
The Small Cell Forum (www.smallcellforum.org), formerly known as the Femto Forum, supports the wide-scale adoption of small cells. Small cells are low-power wireless access points that operate in licensed spectrum, are operator-managed and feature edge-based intelligence. They provide improved cellular coverage, capacity and applications for homes and enterprises as well as metropolitan and rural public spaces. They include technologies variously described as femtocells, picocells, microcells and metrocells. The Forum has 137 members including 63 operators representing more than 1.99 billion mobile subscribers – 33% of the global total – as well as telecoms hardware and software vendors, content providers and innovative start-ups.
Contact Details:
Oliver Chapman
Oliver [a t] smallcellforum.org
+44 (0) 7713 404 571
https://www.smallcellforum.org
