VODAFONE LAUNCHES UNIQUE DEVELOPER PLATFORM

- Advantage app developers: seamless connectivity via Vodafone’s network & infrastructure, faster on-boarding, transparent settlements, standardised partnership

- Enables operator billing: customers can purchase apps/services and content through their Vodafone account

 In an industry first initiative to build a seamless plug and play eco-system for app developers and content service providers, Vodafone India, one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, has launched a unique Vodafone Developer Platform. This platform enables all local and international partners and app developers to connect seamlessly with Vodafone to offer operator billing that will allow millions of customers of Vodafone India to pay for the App or any content using their mobile phone.

The Vodafone Developer Platform facilitates a win-win proposition for both the growing community of app developers & content service providers and the several million mobile phone users, the target customers for such applications.

The Vodafone Developer Platform opens up Vodafone network resources (known and API in technical parlance) like subscriber profile, billing, location, messaging etc. for the app developers and content providers to build their offerings. Developers will also be provided with a robust facility to test their apps and services in a simulated environment. This enables them to create quality apps and services, customised to local requirement and relevance. A minimal, standard set of terms and conditions govern the commercial and others aspects of the developers relationship with Vodafone India, while providing them potential access and exposure to millions of quality customers.

Speaking about the initiative, Vivek Mathur, Chief Operating Officer, Vodafone India said, “With the growth of smartphones and mobile internet, people are increasingly showing more interest in mobile apps and content services. To strengthen the eco-system for app developers & content service providers and partner with them, we have launched the Vodafone Developer Platform. We expect the developer community to leverage this initiative of Vodafone to create locally relevant applications / content services and to monetise their ideas across Vodafone’s customer base. The Developer Platform will help in streamlining the partner on-boarding and transparent commercial settlements. This will also enable our customers use their Vodafone accounts to purchase any app or content offered by local as well international developers & content providers.”

To customers, it provides ready access to a wide range of applications with the convenience of operator billing. The limited penetration of credit cards plus the unease among credit card holders for making small value transactions via the mobile, makes this initiative a huge convenience for the customers.