ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – In an apparent snub of Apple’s app store, wireless companies HTC, Huawei Device, Lenovo and ZTE have thrown their collective support behind the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) Widget Initiative.
JIL has developed a platform for mobile widgets centred on mobile operators’ unique capabilities, which enable the developer community to create applications for a growing number of handsets as well as give customers access to a range of richer mobile applications and Internet services. Future handsets from these manufacturers will be capable of running JIL apps.
"The decision from HTC, Huawei Device, Lenovo and ZTE to include the JIL widget runtime in their future devices demonstrates the strength of JIL’s efforts to establish an open mobile development environment," said JIL CEO Peters Suh, in a statement. "The decision by HTC, Huawei Device, Lenovo and ZTE to deliver JIL compliant handsets will ensure that customers are in line for an even better experience on their devices."
Established in 2008, JIL has also drawn support from handset manufacturers LG, RIM, Samsung and Sharp. The combination of these companies has a customer base of more than 1 billion people across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
