Handset graphics
Next generation rich media services for mobile: Java, Flash … but how about mobile Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)? Samuel Sweet says SVG address reaches areas that Flash Lite can’t.
The need for mobile devices that can handle rich media and ubiquitous graphical content has become a key enabler and requirement for mobile device manufacturers and operators vying to raise ARPU. Java, although currently experiencing teething problems, will undoubtedly prove successful but there are some misconceptions about mobile Flash (Flash Lite) that need to be addressed.
The reality today is that there are very few devices supporting Flash Lite outside of Asia and DoCoMo’s proprietary ecosystem; with high upfront fees and royalty costs for manufacturers and operators and a larger than average memory footprint, one can appreciate why.
In Europe for example, Flash has only really been implemented in high end smart phones. One can assume that the higher margin returns on smart phones make the Flash Lite Player justifiable, but for the low and mid device segment, the business case must be more difficult. Moreover, the smart phone market only represents approximately 3-4% of the total mobile phone market so don’t hold your breath for Flash to be available amongst the mass market soon.
So what next for Operators wishing to leverage rich media mobile data services?
Well, little has been said about arguably the most exciting and widely available graphical format to appear in the mobile industry, SVG. The SVG specification itself is regulated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and includes members from leading companies such as Adobe, Apple, Canon, Ericsson, HP, Nokia, Sun and Ikivo. The mobile subset of the SVG specification, called SVGT or SVG Tiny, has been adopted by the 3GPP, OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) and other leading mobile-standardisation bodies.
SVG is an XML-based graphic language that leverages other standards such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), Synchronised Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), Java (JSR226) and the Document Object Model to provide a powerful common platform able to span everything from desktop web applications to embedded devices as well as mobile phones.
Since SVG is based on XML, it is particularly useful for data driven graphics where the data is delivered in XML from the backend. Weather services, stock quotes, and statistical data are examples that are ideal for this form of distribution. Another advantage is that an SVG image is searchable, which opens up new possibilities for search engines (e.g. Google), and makes SVG particularly appropriate for maps.
Although both SVG and Flash are very similar in that they are vector graphic formats SVG Tiny given its mobile industry support can support a richer, more diverse and deeper mobile service/product mix. Mobile uses such as person to person messaging, browsing, personalisation, business document viewing, advertising, operator broadcast, live TV as well as operator and handset UI customisation are all possible.
So when can I use it? Well thanks partly to its heavy endorsement by Vodafone, manufacturers such as Nokia, Motorola, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, TCL & Alcatel, Sagem, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp, NEC, Sanyo have already implemented SVG Tiny into their feature phones.
Furthermore leading mobile browser vendors such as Opera and Access have made it part of the their micro browser offering, and application framework providers such as Teleca and Openwave and leading chipset and platform vendors such as Infineon and Qualcomm have implemented it as part of their core offering. In fact SVG Tiny has now surpassed Flash as the preferred, most implemented and widely available graphical format in the world in the space of just over 12 months with well over 100 million handsets projected by the end of 2005 according to some industry analysts.
But where are the services and what of tools? Well, SVG Tiny enabled handsets only started to hit the market just over 12 months ago and with a lack of tools until now, its no surprise that services have been slow.
Nonetheless today Sony Ericsson consumers can download SVG themes and animations, KDDI has arguably the most successful mapping service in the world using SVG, and one of the largest operators is launching the most exciting Broadcast services also using SVG. With the availability of Adobe CS1 and native mobile SVG support included in Adobe CS2, combined with the unique animation capabilities of Ikivo’s Animator, the publishing, wireless developer, design house and content industry, can now easily and intuitively, create and deliver compelling graphical content to a large array of feature phones.