Telmap, a specialist in mobile location solutions, has today announced the introduction of Telmap Active Interface – a new Graphical User Interface (GUI) engine that works across all mobile operating systems currently available on the market. The development, which is claimed to be the first of its kind, sees Telmap using a Lightweight User Interface Toolkit (LWUIT) from Sun Microsystems as the base technology for the GUI's core elements. This in turn offers users a cross platform GUI engine.
All future product developments from Telmap will use this new GUI engine as standard. This consistent high standard is said to ensure easy porting of graphic elements amongst different platforms, allowing also weaker mobile platforms to still provide rich user experience.
"Operators are fast acknowledging the importance of a consistency in user experience across all devices and services they offer", said Oren Nissim, CEO of Telmap. "Telmap recognised the importance of developing such a framework that will easily allow porting of graphic components across multiple mobile platforms in a standardised manner. Essentially Telmap aims to raise the bar in mobile user experience with an appreciation of those specific requirements needed for location based applications.
According to Telmap, users will have a 'high quality and advance experience' from the animation and animated transition screens to the on-map transparent floating menus. Users will also see a configurable screen layout for menus, tabs and dropdown lists as well as a cleaner, more flexible font effects and screen transitions. The overall effect will create a cleaner, sharper offering for users, says the company.
Telmap's service is already available to consumers globally and is available in Europe (Orange FT Group, Vodafone, SFR, The Carphone Warehouse and O2), in North America (AOL MapQuest, Sprint, ATT), and in Africa (Vodacom).