Common widget platforms have been a hot topic among global carriers over the past year or so, with AT&T (among several other major players) coming out and saying that they're actively pursuing standardized OS-agnostic frameworks like the OMTP's BONDI initiative. Vodafone also happens to be a member of the OMTP, and the massive multinational operator has laid down the law this week by announcing that it will be creating a single clearinghouse for internet app developers looking to expose their wares to Voda customers around the world. In addition, there'll be a single set of APIs for location awareness, direct operator billing, and other goodies that should take some of the pain out of developing apps that can work across multiple devices. An SDK will be available to some partners starting in the summer, with broader release following on after that.

There's a new push purveyor on the mobile scene, come to show the competition what's what -- despite being completely dependent on that competition, at least for the moment. Hot on the heels of RIM adding a push API, Google is enabling some BlackBerry users to get their Gmail and Google Calendar goodies shoved straight to their handsets. However, there are a number of shortcomings here that make this addition somewhat limited in usefulness. For one thing users have to be connecting to BlackBerry Enterprise Server instances, and furthermore those instances have to be backed by Microsoft Exchange. Additionally, only 250 users per Enterprise Server instance can get their mobile Gmail on, changes made to appointments on a handsets cannot be pushed back to Google Calendar, and to top it all off searching for Gmail messages still requires a separate app. Updates and improvements are coming, but until then it's caveat emailor.

RIM has announced the availability of a new push API framework for BlackBerry devices that'll allow developers to push up to 8 kilobytes of data at a time -- just enough for a glanceable update, we figure -- to handsets. Though the full API is just now being announced, it's actually based on technology culled from RIM's Web Signals tech announced last year that allows users to subscribe to push updates over the web. True push available to third-party developers is a long time in coming for every platform -- and for devices as connected as BlackBerrys (and their users), we're thinking that an official solution for this should play pretty well. The API's available now to members of RIM's Alliance Program.

Okay, any talk that consistency in Apple's approval process for the App Store has improved definitely has to be put on hold at this point; first we had that BdEmailer situation that duplicates functionality (albeit shoddily) of the iPhone's own email capabilities, and now we have official confirmation that Google did a no-no when it slipped its voice-powered search through the checkpoint. The problem is that enabling the automatic voice detection requires use of an undocumented API call for the proximity sensor that Apple neither guarantees nor approves use of, meaning firmware updates can break it at will. In and of itself, that's not a huge indiscretion on Google's part since they're probably committed to keeping it up-to-date, but the real issue is that this violates an explicit rule of the App Store that bans the use of undocumented calls. Apple, guys, seriously: if you want to be jerks about what gets through and what doesn't, fine -- but at least do it consistently so it doesn't look like you're favoring companies run by members of your own executive board (or in the case of BdEmailer, companies that are doing a bang-up job of making your own products look better).

[Via mocoNews]

Pretty much everyone's saying that location-based services for phones are the Next Big Thing -- thing is, they've been saying that for three or four Things back now. Integrated GPS, AGPS, and comprehensive, highly accurate cell databases are finally making trackdowns a reality these days, but finding decent software to take advantage of the capability can still be a challenge thanks to some of the same issues that have been plaguing mobile platforms for years: platform dependence, slow uptake on downloads, bugginess, the list goes on. Wouldn't it be great if you could just hit up your favorite mobile-optimized site and get a location lock, no app required? That's what Google's hoping to do with its new Gears Geolocation API, which third parties can plug into their sites and automatically take advantage of both tower and GPS-based positioning. It only works on Internet Explorer on WinMo pieces at the moment, but naturally, they're looking to spread it far and wide over time.

[Via Phone Scoop]

You have to be one of the cool kids to get it, but Apple has apparently pushed out another beta of iPhone firmware 2.1 (along with the SDK) to a few devs that for the first time contains a "rough" implementation of Cupertino's arguably overengineered solution for dancing around the contentious background app issue. The Push Notification Service routes real-time notifications through an Apple server, which in turn tosses those notifications onto iPhones around the globe -- a service Apple intends to make available to a general audience in September. There's apparently no actual hardware running on Apple's end yet, though, so the chosen few included in the early seed will just have to close their eyes and make believe as they enjoy the fruits of a new ROM a few days before their equally qualified, equally worthy counterparts.

[Via Gearfuse]

Well, we heard it was on the way, and it's here. Danger's Sidekick LX recording live action video. Unfortunately, the results are far from exhilarating; truthfully, they're downright embarrassing. The first preview we've seen shows a stamp-sized (read: 176 x 144 pixels) video with less-than-stellar quality, but hey, it's a Sidekick LX recording video. So, still eager to see this rolled out en masse? (Wait 'til you check the sample in the read link before answering that.)

[Thanks, Oscar]

Take your focus off of that forthcoming Tony Hawk hiptop a minute and key in on that image above -- looks like Danger's Sidekick LX may be getting video after all. After questioning whether this very device could indeed support video late last year, it looks like the answer could be just around the corner. Unfortunately, the shot above along with one other in the read link is about it for details; we're still waiting to hear whether YouTube / H.264 will be supported, and beyond that, when the update will be made available. Still worried sick over Mr. Hawk? Yeah, we reckoned not.

In the process of spelunking through Danger's latest software development kit for the Sidekick, one enterprising developer discovered a handful of dormant functions for controlling video playback. That got us to thinking: on the Sidekick LX's glorious widescreen display, isn't video support a totally obvious feature? Can't you just imagine perusing YouTube clip after YouTube clip -- or better yet, dropping a movie on the microSD card? We're being told that the specific functions aren't usable yet, but it's pretty reasonable to think that a future update could grace the LX with full support. And hey, Danger, if that wasn't in your plans, may we suggest you consider it?

[Thanks, Mr. P]