Opera Software has introduced a widget runtime platform for Google’s Android operating system. The runtime will support the new Wholesale Applications Community (WAC) 1.0 Specification.
WAC is an alliance of the world’s leading mobile operators and OEMs, such as Vodafone, Verizon, China Mobile, Telenor, Telefonica, AT&T, Samsung, Huawei and others, working together to define, create and deploy a common mobile application platform.
This alpha release of Opera’s widget runtime for Android allows developers to get a head start in developing the next step in applications for smartphones. At the same time, the WAC implementation serves as a platform for distribution.
“It is a great pleasure for us to present our public implementation of the WAC 1.0 specification and to get developers going,” said Christen Krogh, Chief Developer Officer, Opera Software. “Opera is participating in WAC and remains committed to take the WAC platform to the masses.”
With the Widget runtime for Android, Opera enters a natural arena for its popular widget system. Currently, Opera has implemented cross-device widgets on the Opera desktop browser, Opera Mobile and Opera for devices.
“We are delighted that Opera is supporting WAC 1.0 with its new widget runtime” commented Peters Suh, CEO, WAC, “In the year since WAC was announced at Mobile World Congress in 2010 we have consistently hit our deadlines, and this announcement underlines that we are on schedule to launch WAC 1.0 devices and storefronts at Mobile World Congress 2011.”
To start developing widgets and begin implementing the WAC APIs, simply go download the runtime here.
Instructions can be found at: http://labs.opera.com/docs/wac/installation_instructions/ This runtime is provided for evaluation and demo purposes and is free of charge for all developers.
Read more about the WAC specifications here: http://www.wacapps.net/