The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an industry standards-setting organization founded in October 1994 by Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the Web, with a mission to develop common protocols and interoperable technologies (specifications, guidelines, software and tools) to lead the Web to its full potential. MobileAware is represented within W3C by Dr Rotan Hanrahan, our Chief Innovations Architect, who is an active member of the W3C Advisory Committee and lead participant in the recently re-chartered Device Independent Working Group (DIWG). Through our involvement with DIWG, we regularly work in conjunction with other W3C groups, including HTML, CSS, XForms, Scalable Vector Graphics, Multi-Modal Interaction, Semantic Web and Web Accessibility Initiative.

MobileAware has contributed to several W3C documents as part of its work with the DIWG. These include:

• Device Independence Principles
• Authoring Challenges for Device Independence
• Authoring Techniques for Device Independence (co-editor)
• Delivery Context Overview for Device Independence
• Core Presentation Characteristics
• Content Selection for Device Independence

In October 2004, MobileAware hosted the International W3C Workshop on Metadata for Content Adaptation, which was the first-ever WC3 meeting to take place in Ireland. Notes and presentations from the Workshop can be viewed here.

Mobile Web Initiative

MobileAware is a founding sponsor of W3C’s Mobile Web Initiative (MWI), which aims to make Web access from a mobile device as simple, easy, and convenient as Web access from a desktop device. Launched in May 2005, MWI brings together leading technology companies including software vendors, content providers, handset manufacturers, browser vendors and mobile phone operators, to develop industry best practices and guidelines for refining the mobile Web experience. Dr Rotan Hanrahan has joined the MWI Steering Committee to lead the Initiative's work in recommending standards for Device Descriptions.

SDP Alliance

MobileAware is a founding member of the the SDP Alliance. The SDP Alliance is the collaboration of seven telecoms software providers that together provide pre-integrated components of a Service Delivery Platform. SDP Alliance members include Aepona, ChangingWorlds, Cibenix, MobileAware, Mobile Cohesion, Openet and Xiam. www.thesdpalliance.com

Mobile Data Association (MDA)

The Mobile Data Association (MDA) was established in 1994 to increase awareness of mobile data amongst users and their advisers.Over the past ten years, the Association has grown to become the forum for the international mobile data community. As well as providing a focal point for industry participants to meet and share information on technical and business issues, the MDA actively works to promote the uses and benefits of wireless value added services through industry and business press, conferences, seminars and the maintenance of a web site.

Open Mobile Alliance

The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) was formed in June 2002 to facilitate global user adoption of mobile data services by specifying market driven mobile service enablers that ensure service interoperability across devices, geographies, service providers, operators, and networks, while allowing businesses to compete through innovation and differentiation. Since its inception, the OMA has grown to more than 300 companies representing mobile operators, device and network suppliers, information technology companies, and content providers.