Vodafone India launches developer platform

Vodafone India has launched a developer platform that enables application developers and content providers to develop and sell their software.

Vodafone said this industry-first initiative would permit both local and international developers, and help buyers pay for these through mobile bills.

The Vodafone Developer Platform facilitates a ''win-win'' proposition for both the growing community of application developers and content service providers and the mobile phone users, the company said in a statement.

The platform opens up Vodafone network resources such as subscriber profile, billing, location and messaging among others to application developers to build their offerings. They will also be provided with a facility to test their applications and services in a simulated environment.

This enables them to create quality applications and services, customised to local requirement and relevance. A minimal, standard set of terms and conditions govern the commercial and others aspects of the developers relationship with Vodafone India, while providing them potential access and exposure to millions of quality customers.

''With the growth of smartphones and mobile internet, people are increasingly showing more interest in mobile application and content services. To strengthen the eco-system for app developers and content service providers and partner with them, we have launched the Vodafone Developer Platform,'' said Vivek Mathur, Chief Operating Officer, Vodafone India.

''We expect the developer community to leverage this initiative to create locally relevant applications and content and monetize their ideas across Vodafone's customer base. The platform will help in streamlining the partner on-boarding and transparent commercial settlements. This will also enable our customers use their Vodafone accounts to purchase any app or content offered by local as well international developers and content providers,'' he added.

To customers, it provides ready access to a wide range of applications with the convenience of operator billing. The limited penetration of credit cards plus the unease among credit card holders for making small value transactions via the mobile,  makes this initiative a huge convenience for the customers, the statement added.