S60 Open to new features

As we all know, devices are constantly becoming more advanced, packed with new features and capabilities.
At the same time, some things do not change considerably: We still have (and we still WANT) reasonably sized devices (with reasonably sized screens and keypads, etc.). In almost all areas of activities, performance and usabililty are (and must continue to be), top-of-mind areas - the mobile industry strives to make the mobile the preferred device not only for voice, but also for data. Mikko already wrote about the new S60 browser, which is taking mobile browsing to a totally new level; application interworking is being developed to further ease the usage of the device; active idle is enhancing usability, and so on. But also access to portals and protected websites can be made easier. Industry standards such as the Liberty Alliance's ID-FF/ID-WSF/ID-SIS specifications are good news also for mobile users, since they enable very secure and very easy access to services. The idea is that you only need to log on once to access a number of password-protected sites (the so-called Circle of Trust). Also, the services that you are offered can be personalized according to your personal profile, in a highly automated way. This development is of course good news for the mobile device users, as it helps us users to focus on the actual usage of services rather than trying to access them with multiple user names and passwords. Win-win for everybody! These Single Sign-On implementations are going to become more widespread in the next years to come, and several mobile operators are looking into this area as a method to offer smoother access to applications and content.

-BWi
(For more about Liberty Alliance, check www.projectliberty.org or send me a note.)