Tuesday, October 21, 2008

ACCESS NetFront Browser Widgets Community Site Officially Open

Mobile version of widget download site launched

Tokyo, Japan, – ACCESS ACCESS CO., LTD., a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets, announced the official opening of its NetFront™ Browser Widgets Community Site, a comprehensive widget solution for mobile handsets and consumer electronics. NetFront Browser Widgets Community Site is available in both English and Japanese, and includes widgets, developer tools, widget players and news. A mobile version of the site has been launched in conjunction with the official opening.

Widgets are small applications displayed in small GUI windows on the screen of a handset or consumer electronic device. Widgets are appealing to users because they can be accessed without having to open the handset’s browser, automatically acquiring and displaying the latest information from the Web. The NetFront Browser Widgets Community Site provides a variety of widget applications such as maps, weather forecasts and games.

In the connected digital lifestyle of the future, the Internet will be used to connect PCs and other devices, such as mobile handsets, automotive navigation systems, digital TVs and set-top boxes. Now that Internet access via mobile handsets and consumer electronics is increasing, widgets are attracting considerable attention.

“Opening the official NetFront Browser Widgets Community Site is another step forward in realizing ACCESS’ vision of connecting every device to the Internet,” said Toru Arakawa, CEO, president and co-founder of ACCESS. “By stepping up the development of leading-edge technologies and solutions for new mobile and integrated device markets, ACCESS will help to create fulfilling digital lifestyles for users around the world.”

A beta version of the NetFront Browser Widgets Community Site was launched in July 2008; the official site expands on the beta version with the following features:

Widget content development tools
ACCESS has released its widget content development tools for the purpose of promoting an open widget community. The tools are available free of charge to all registered users, enabling people who develop widget content to distribute it to the world.

The widget content development tools include the following:

NetFront™ Browser Widgets Packaging Tool v.2.0.0
NetFront™ Browser Widgets Viewer v.2.0.0
Documentation including specifications and widget content creation tutorials


New widget players
In addition to widget players for Windows Mobile 5.0 (Pocket PC / Pocket PC Phone) and Windows Mobile 6, 6.1 (Classic / Professional), which were released in July and subsequently upgraded, the following players are now available:

Widget player for Windows Mobile 5.0 (Smartphone) and Windows Mobile 6, 6.1 (Standard)
Widget player for S60


All players now feature widget content update and harmful content filtering functions, enabling users to enjoy widgets in a secure environment.

New widget content distributed by ACCESS, content providers
ACCESS is collaborating with content providers – including search engines, social networking services and e-commerce sites – to distribute new widget content. ACCESS looks forward to expanding its partnerships with a range of on-line businesses in the months to come.

Mobile version of widget download site
Complementing and commemorating the official opening of the community site, ACCESS has launched a mobile version that allows for downloading of widgets and widget players directly from mobile devices. This site is available in English and Japanese.

The NetFront Browser Widgets community site is available in English and Japanese at the following URLs:

www.access.co.jp/nfbwc/jp/ PC site (Japanese)
www.access.co.jp/nfbwc/en/ PC site (English)
www.access.co.jp/nfbwc/mobile/jp/ Mobile site (Japanese)
www.access.co.jp/nfbwc/mobile/en/ Mobile site (English)

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