Sony Ericsson seeks to provide a wide range of latest applications to its mobile content service through the PlayNow arena. This poses to be the next version of the PlayNow content and service platform. With this concept consumers are presented with a fully integrated marketplace for their mobile phones and providing third-party developers access to an established mobile content market.
This store which includes the application catalogue will mainly concentrate on high quality applications. Thus providing best possible user experience on Sony Ericsson mobile phones. The company envisages partnership with GetJar ascertaining a wide application offering. It would then provide a one-click access from PlayNow arena to their far-reaching market channel.
“Sony Ericsson is delighted to introduce applications as the latest evolution of PlayNow arena, offering an established market place to our developer and partner community. By bringing high-quality applications into PlayNow arena, consumers are only one click away from the world-wide creativity of innovative application developers.” marked Bjorn Ahlberg, Head of Content & Services at Sony Ericsson.
With the introduction of applications, the PlayNow arena now offers a host of services including ring tones, games, themes, wall papers, movies and hottest music. The online sale happens via Fun & Downloads, which can be accessed in around 69 countries. Both, the store and the online content offering provide consumers with premium content. Together they maintain well established billing methods that can be carried out by SMS transactions, credit card or operator billing.
Acceptance of application submissions will begin from July 1, 2009. Developers can put forth premium mobile applications to the PlayNow and to the online application service. No fee is charged for both these services.
“We recognise that it needs to be simple and attractive for developers to reach consumers and that there is a need for established content channels to push creative applications. Our new application submission process gives developers easy-to-use access to the Sony Ericsson PlayNow arena market place,” quoted Christopher David, Head of Developer and Partner Engagement at Sony Ericsson.
Applications that presently support the PlayNow arena can be obtained across 13 countries. The service platform, which is compatible with 38 Sony Ericsson phone models, will move out to more markets and models.
The submission process will involve little effort and provides speedy time-to-market. At the onset, it will be open for Java ME and Symbian OS applications. The plans are of expansion to cover other platforms as well.
The application submission site will open on July 1, 2009.