IBM and the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC), a global alliance of telecommunications companies to simplify application development, have introduced a new cloud-based "white label" mobile app store.
The cloud-based store is designed to enable mobile operators to build their own online application stores and offer subscribers new applications and widgets for consumer and business use.
IBM and WAC are jointly working to enable communications service providers and developers to address the mobile app market and commercialise apps using a customisable device client and mobile app store that is pre-integrated with WAC’s wholesale application warehouse.
The app store and client offering give subscribers the ability to browse, shop, download, install and rate WAC widgets and native applications, IBM said.
The new app store is built on IBM WebSphere Commerce software, which gives WAC members the ability to enhance customers’ shopping experience by promoting apps and automatically providing discounts based on customer preferences and buying behaviors.
Further, the app store is populated with WAC’s catalog of approximately 12,000 apps.
The new store front is available to WAC members via a cloud-based service so they can begin offering and selling new applications.
IBM said that the client for the app store integrates with the Opera WAC Runtime that implements WAC 1.0 specifications, and provides developers with a tool to create, test and execute their apps.
Moreover, for service providers, the WAC offers an open industry platform that benefits the entire ecosystem and will speed up the development of apps so that operators, developers and customers can benefit.
IBM global telecommunications industry general manager Scott Stainken said the intersection of cloud computing, IBM’s expertise in building portals with integrated commerce, merchandising and promotions, combined with WAC’s set of global applications creates an opportunity for mobile operators to expand and grow their business.
