Providing support to mobile subscribers was always a challenge. The devices’ complexity was not a problem but most users did not know how to solve the problems with their devices and had to go to a service center in order to fix settings related issues with their device. Operators created self-service websites but still it was too complicated for the average user to use.

Smartphones are even more complex with the versatility of installed applications and made the self-service initiatives of the operators almost redundant. the smartphones also present an opportunity to support the device by remote control over the air. Operator’s representatives can take control over the device wherever the subscriber is (so they do not need to go to a service center) and fix the problems with the device.

OTA (over the air) remote control is a good solution to evaluate and maybe even fix problems with the device but raise questions about privacy.

Communitake has solved this problem by letting the operators to pre-installed Communitake’s client on the devices and remote control them when needed.
Comunitake has raised 1 million dollars and it has about 15 employees.
Today it disclosed a deal with the fast growing operator Pelephone that has recently upgraded to a GSM infrastructure.

We have no information how the process is handled to prevent privacy problems. With the iPhone coming to all 3 big operators in Israel in a matter of weeks, and the obligations of the operators to Apple to sell a big amount of devices, there is no room for too many devices. Unless something in the agreement with Apple changes or something dramatic happens, we see a stagnation in the Israeli mobile devices market. So unless Pelephone and Communitake aim to offer the service for iPhone, there is a good chance not too many devices will have the client installed.

Fortunately, Israel’s situation with the choking of the device market doesn’t represent what happens in the world and Communitake’s solution seems on paper as a good way to try and tackle the problem of problems and settings errors in smartphones.

When Google was building its mobile operating system, I am sure it wanted that unfamiliar or small device manufacturers will adopt its OS.
Modu, the Israeli mobile device manufacturer, launched their first device with a closed simple OS. It was in part due to development resources and time constrains and of course because of the poor processing capabilities of the device that could not run heavier and more sophisticated OS. Frankly, from day one I did not understand why Modu is  investing resources to build an operating system, it is not its strength and there are good OS in the market that can be licensed just like the Android.
After struggling with launching the first device and getting rejected in developed countries Modu aimed to, Modu understood that they need to aim higher and introduce a better more modern device if they want a chance to hit deals with European and US operators. Because of the nature of the device, dramatic modification needed to be done but it is worth it. Modu will be using a versatile, more advanced OS with rapid development and constant updates and upgrades.
Secondly the eco-system that is being built alongside the OS (the application store) will contribute to the offer of Modu and will make it a more lucrative device than it could be if they decided to provide only J2ME application support.
Dov Moran told Techradar in an interview that an Android based jacket is being developed and that Modu2 “will be a touchscreen, a very unique concept, and will justify its label of being innovative. It will be a 3.5G product, but will also have a number of other features”.

Modu2 looked like a specially built device for the Android OS, therefore I bet that Modu will abandon its OS and will use the core of the Android operation system from now on until they have other options.
For dessert Modu mentioned that an Android based Netbook will also be released. Nokia watch out you are not alone anymore.

Developers, Developers, Developers, is the famous quote Joshua Topolsky the editor of Engadget chose to start on the new Engadget Show.

Mobile developers get a lot of attention from many sources including phone manufacturers (Nokia, Apple) and mobile OS companies (Symbian, Microsoft, Sun for J2ME, Apple, Google etc).

Apple’s iPhone is a unique device as it has an OS that supports only one device so compatibility is not an issue. In all other cases, developers face problems due to the fragmented nature of the device market. Every device has its attributes that deffer from one device to another (even when they have the same OS) thus applications need to be tested and adjusted per device. Developers that created an application in J2ME, for example, are usually required by the operators to support at least 10 devices and even more. In order to test the applications and adjust them to all relevant devices, and to keep up with the new models that are released to the market, developers need to get all the devices or to use a service that provides them a remote testing service that holds all the relevant devices.

Perfecto Mobile provides web access to real mobile handsets. Such a service enables developers to access devices and test their applications on them without the need to physically have them near them. Another company that offers such a service is Device Anywhere that was founded in 2003.
PerfectoMobile have recently raised 7 million dollars for its QA service.
PerfectoMobile completed raising funds just in time, time when developers get more attention and resources from the different companies to try and attract them to use their platform and their devices.

When writing these lines, we entered Perfecto Moibile’s website and found that the service is very unstable at the moment with error 503 on every landing (update: it is now back online).

We are glad we are not developers who need the service immediately and hope that some of the money raised will be used to eliminate denial of service situations.

Since Modu’s soft-launch in Israel Modu kept its cards very close the the chest. We only know that about 500 devices were sold (actually it was given free because users had to provide feedback about the product). Modu did not share information about its future deals, about expected launch time of the modu2, and of course no real details about the soft launch in Israel at all. Modu did share with us that users’ feedback claimed it is “the real thing” somehow i find it very hard to imagine people’s reaction to a very poor featured but small device is that this is the real thing. especially if the demographics of these users is youngsters who have no money. And how much can you appreciate a feedback you get from someone who got something for free and is obliged to provide you with a feedback?!
Today we are informed that Globe Telecom, the second largest operator in the Philippines is about to launch the Modu. It is said that the company will run an ad campaign of 1 million dollars. In an interview to Pocket-Lint, Modu’s CEO, Dov Moran stated that “The device just isn’t good enough for demanding Brits and Americans who like to surf the internet and stay connected”. Moran forgot to mention that the launch in Israel is more a friendly gesture than a public demand for the device.

In other words in most countries a device which lacks 3G connectivity is not welcome, that is not the situation in developing countries and this is why Modu will launch there.

[via Calcalist]