A group of wireless carriers unveiled a new initiative known as Bondi to encourage the development of mobile applications across all major mobile devices, networks and operating systems without compromising customer security.

Supported by Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) members including 3 Group, AT&T, T-Mobile, Telenor, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Vodafone, the goal of Bondi is to provide a consistent and secure Web services interface that can be used by Web developers across multiple device platforms. This is designed to give Web developers the opportunity to target a mass market of consumers and drive the use of data services on mobile.

"Some of these Web 2.0 applications are very specific to a particular phone or a particular operating system platform, for example, those on the iPhone," said Tim Haysom, chief marketing officer of OMTP, London. "OMTP is working to let developers create mobile applications that would work on all platforms.

"We want it to happen in a consistent way across all brands, carriers and platforms," he said. "Right now, different players are doing slightly different things, so there's the risk of fragmentation in the industry. To combat that, we want to enable Web services that are allowed access to the local capabilities of each mobile device."

Bondi is a worldwide effort. AT&T is spearheading OMTP's push in the U.S. market.

OMTP will make recommendations this fall and intends to influence implementations throughout the latter half of this year and into 2009.

The main goal of the effort is to prevent fragmentation in the implementation of mobile Web 2.0 interfaces on different platforms and different browsers.

"A service provider in the U.S. would be able to address all devices around the world, no matter what operating system or carrier it's associated with," Mr. Haysom said. "The operator gets revenue and a considerable amount of information about its customers, which can be used by service providers to provide better service.

"They can address any specific market without having to tailor it to each one, although they can if they want to," he said. "The point is they have an opportunity to address the mass market with a single mobile Web application."

Bondi will synchronize the various open and proprietary ongoing initiatives. This cooperative work is designed to minimize the potential for technology fragmentation in this area.

Bondi will expose key handset features to Web developers to help them develop more function-rich, user-friendly and relevant mobile Web applications.

The new handset software will be engineered in such a way as to prevent fraudulent and malicious activity through unauthorized access to functions or sensitive personal information.

"Developers who are creating applications for the mobile Web want access, and the operators want to open up those capabilities to Web developers to let them take off on mobile just like they have online," Mr. Haysom said. "We want to provide access for those developers of Web services, while protecting the users.

"If you have fragmentation, then that reduces innovation, because rather than spending time developing good services, they have to port their services for each different platform and operator," he said. "Bondi will stimulate the creation of new mobile applications and speed up the route to market for these devices and applications."

Mr. Haysom envisions a wide range of applications promoted by carriers and service providers around the world. A new search-oriented method of finding new mobile applications may emerge.

For example, many different versions of Google Maps are currently required for different mobile devices, and the program requires a native or Java application to be installed on each mobile device. On the computer, however, Google Maps operates on any browser which supports Web 2.0 JavaScript APIs.

OMTP is trying to move that model to the mobile device, so the browser that sits on any compliant platform would enable Google Maps to operate.

In addition, Google Maps would be able to access the location of the device itself and automatically provide a local map to users without their input.

The Bondi effort will allow for this type of service. But carrier partners stress the need to protect the users in case they visit another mobile Web site that might access and misuse that same location information.

"The mobile Web will happen," Mr. Haysom said. "It's not a pipe dream and it will have a major impact. This is a fantastic opportunity that we have to open up services to the mass market in a big way.

"I don't know what services will come, I don't want to predict the future, but it will open up innovation and development on a grand scale," he said. "We're enabling capabilities for the developers of the mobile services to come. Time will tell which succeed and which don't."