Novarra Inc.
Itasca, IL, United States | |
Key people | Jayanthi Rangarajan, Bruce Simpson, President and CEO |
---|---|
Website | Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archived 2011-07-14) |
Novarra was a mobile internet software company founded in 2000 and based in Itasca, Illinois, United States. It created web-based services such as web internet access, portals, videos, widgets and advertising for mobile devices. Novarra provided access to the internet and other services through wireless handsets, PDAs and laptops and sold directly to operators,[1] mobile handset manufacturers and internet brand companies. In 2010, Nokia acquired 100% of Novarra's shares.[2]
History
Novarra started in 2000 and launched its first wireless web software application in 2002 to enable mobile workforce users with Palm (PDA), BlackBerry, Symbol and Windows Mobile devices to securely access and customize corporate applications through wireless networks.
In 2002, Novarra’s received the first handset manufacturer contract to supply a full browser to
In 2004, Novarra’s first mobile network operator deployment with
In 2005, the company deployed its J2ME version of the
in Hong Kong. The company's main competitor Opera emerged, by releasing its first version of a Java-based client called Opera-mini.In 2007 Novarra secured venture capital
In 2008, Novarra took steps to provide guidance for mobile developers
In 2009 Novarra's Jayanthi Rangarajan steps down to COO and the firm cuts 20% of manpower.[16][17] The company also began reporting mobile internet usage statistics from deployments.[18]
In 2010, Novarra was acquired by
In 2014, the bulk of Novarra's team was acquired by BMW Technology Group to develop its BMW Connected and Open Mobility Cloud services.
Novarra customers used some or all elements of its Vision(tm) Mobile Internet & Multimedia Platform which included:
Vision Mobile Client for feature phones & smartphones Vision Cloud Platform for Content Transformation On-device Portal Customization Toolkits Video & Multimedia Server Widgets Mobile Broadband Optimization Advertising and Analytics
Products
Novarra Vision Mobile Internet & Multimedia Platform may include any of the components below:
- Vision Mobile Browser for feature phones, smartphones, or emerging market phones
- On-device Portal
- Content Transformation Server
- Video & Multimedia Transcoding
- Widgets
- Mobile Broadband Optimization
- Advertising and Analytics
Criticism
Together with Vodafone UK, Novarra has been heavily criticized [22] by mobile web developers in the UK and elsewhere for its disputable practice of removing key device information from the HTTP headers of requests from mobile devices.[23] While this practice makes viewing of sites with no mobile version possible on devices with limited or no HTML capabilities, it can also hinder developers' efforts to deliver a user-experience tailored to the capabilities of the requesting mobile device.
Market Adoption
Mobile internet access services based upon the Novarra Vision mobile internet and multimedia platform have been deployed in the US, Europe and Asia by service providers including
References
- ^ Furchgott, Roy (8 June 2009), "A Flood of Softrware in Reaction to Apple" http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/app-roundup/ NY Times (retrieved 25 June 2009)
- ^ "Nokia Acquires Novarra". PR Newswire. March 26, 2010.
- ^ Handango, Palm Web Pro by palmOne http://www.handango.com/catalog/ProductDetails.jsp?storeId=2218&productId=88625 (retrieved 13 May 2009)
- ^ U.S. Cellular, easyedge Mobile Browser http://easyedge.uscc.com/easyedge/GameDetail.do?2155 Archived 2009-06-24 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 6 May 2009)
- ^ "One Tier 2 Carrier Opens the Internet | Wireless Week". archive.ph. 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ "Offerte telefonia mobile, fibra, Smartphone, luce e gas | WINDTRE". www.windtre.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ Three Hong Kong, X-Series 3Xplorer http://xseries.three.com.hk/website/english/features_3xplorer_overview.shtml# Archived 2009-05-10 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 6 May 2009)
- ^ (31 July 2007), "Novarra Raises $50M from Qualcomm, Others" http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/novarra-raises-50m-qualcomm-others/2007-07-31 Fierce Wireless (retrieved 25 June 2009)
- ^ Three Hong Kong, 3Xplorer Video Streaming http://xseries.three.com.hk/website/english/features_3xplorer2.0_overview.shtml (retrieved 6 May 2009)
- ^ Meyer, David (6 June 2007), "Vodafone Advances Website Rendering for Mobiles" http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39287413,00.htm ZDNet UK (retrieved 6 May 2009)
- ^ "Vodafone in mobile web storm". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ Verizon Wireless Developer ZON, "Optimized View for Mobile Website Developers Guide" http://www.vzwdevelopers.com/aims/downloads/wapoptout/Optimized_View_for_Mobile_Website_Developers_Guide.pdf (retrieved 6 May 2009)
- ^ Duryee, Tricia (15 February 2009) "Verizon Wireless Subscribers Can Browse the Web More Easily" http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-verizon-wireless-makes-it-easy-to-watch-youtube-new-mobile-browser-incl/ mocoNews (retrieved 6 May 2009)
- ^ "Verizon Using Novarra's Transcoder | Wap Review". Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ "Mobile Web Best Practices Working Group". www.w3.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ Novarra's Jayanthi Rangarajan steps down, firm cuts 20% http://www.windybits.com/the-may-report-remix?tmrUrl=http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/e3092cf237ce5b7386256921005cf436/5ddb0d10010ae9128625753900142742!OpenDocument
- ^ Jayanthi Rangarajan steps down and the firm cuts 20% of manpower http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/e3092cf237ce5b7386256921005cf436/5ddb0d10010ae9128625753900142742!OpenDocument
- ^ Nusca, Andrew (18 June 2009) "Multitasking Parents Out-surf Business Pros 3 to 1 on Mobile Internet" http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=19944 ZDNet (retrieved 7 October 2009)
- ^ (26 March 2010) "Nokia Acquires Novarra" http://press.nokia.com/2010/03/26/nokia-acquires-novarra/ (retrieved 19 June 2013)
- ^ "Ovi Browser for Series40 based on Novarra technology" http://nokiaviews.com/ovi-browser-for-series40-based-on-novarra-technology.html (retrieved 19 June 2013)
- ^ "Nokia unit joins tech collection downtown, brings 250 jobs". Crain's Chicago Business. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ "Mobile web wranscoding: Problem solved?" http://www.mobile-ent.biz/features/176/Mobile-web-transcoding-Problem-solved Mobile Entertainment Magazine (retrieved August 10, 2009)
- ^ "VodafoneUK abusing its position" http://wurfl.sourceforge.net/vodafonerant/ (retrieved August 10, 2009)
External links
- transcoding issues
- Criticism of VodafoneUK and Novarra by the developer community
- Archived site: "Novarra – Mobile Internet Enhancement – Mobile Browser and Server - Mobile Web Browsing". 2011-04-26. Archived from the original on 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2020-01-30.