CaRoL ReaLini
mobile is the
hardest kind of
computing i’ve
experienced
because it is a
fragmented and
rapidly changing
device market.
You have at least
18 platforms or
operating systems,
and they’re in
constant flux.

tion on the phone or on its STK (SIM application toolkit) where the carrier distributes the application as part of its SIM chip.

CReeGeR: You have several different ways to develop applications. How do you make those kinds of decisions?

ReaLini: You have to look at things early and often because this is a moving target. We use the 80/20 rule, with 80% of the devices providing a good to great user experience and the other 20% providing adequate user experience.

to Y: The key is to have a tiered strategy and not go for the silver bullet. Don’t say which device is the right one. While all devices could probably be supported, you have to ask, “What is the right functionality to have on each platform, and what is the minimum functionality required for any device?”

ReaLini: The CTO of my company puts things in three buckets:

˲ ˲ I know it works because I’ve certified it.

˲ ˲ I think it works because the device manufacturer said it’s totally compatible with earlier implementations.

˲ ˲ I have no idea if it works because multiple changes have happened.

This is important because your con-
sumers and/or employees have to be
able to make a decision from the thou-
sand or so devices that could be pur-
chased. You have to help them identify
the 200 or so devices that will probably
work well and the 50 or so devices that
have been certified.