Novarra Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile internet software |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Fate | Acquired by Nokia in 2010 |
| Headquarters | Itasca, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Vision Mobile Internet & Multimedia Platform, including Vision Mobile Browser, On-device Portal, Content Transformation Server, Video & Multimedia Transcoding, Widgets, Mobile Broadband Optimization, Advertising and Analytics |
Novarra was a company specializing in mobile internet software, established in 2000 and headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, USA. The firm focused on creating web-based solutions including internet access, portals, video streaming, widgets, and advertising tailored for mobile gadgets. Novarra enabled internet connectivity via wireless phones, PDAs, and laptops, marketing its services directly to carriers, device manufacturers, and online brands. In 2010, the company was acquired by Nokia.
History
In 2002, Novarra introduced its inaugural wireless web software designed to allow mobile professionals using Palm (PDA), BlackBerry, Symbol, and Windows Mobile devices to securely connect to corporate applications over wireless networks.
That same year, Novarra secured its initial handset manufacturer deal by providing a complete browser solution to Palm, Inc. for their Tungsten (handheld) PDAs, marketed under the name WebPro.
By 2004, Novarra's collaboration with U.S. Cellular launched the BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) browser platform—marking the first instance globally where a mobile operator offered unrestricted internet access on all handsets. This replaced the previously restrictive "walled garden" approach dominated by operator-controlled WAP portals.
In 2005, Novarra deployed its J2ME browser client, which was adopted by several Hutchison 3G Group affiliates and branded as www3 in Italy and 3Xplorer in Hong Kong. Opera Mini served as its primary competitor during this period.
The company secured $50 million in funding from Qualcomm and other investors in 2007 to support expansion into Asian markets. That year also saw Novarra introduce streaming video capabilities with 3 Hong Kong and revamp Vodafone Live! in the UK by integrating a portal, search functionality, and open internet access across all handsets—although this update drew criticism from some developers.
In 2008, Novarra offered support to mobile developers during the rollout of a comparable service at Verizon Wireless, which similarly faced developer backlash. The company was also an active participant in the World Wide Web Consortium Mobile Web Best Practices Working Group.
In 2009, Jayanthi Rangarajan transitioned from CEO to COO amid a workforce reduction of approximately 20%. Additionally, Novarra began publishing mobile internet usage data derived from their service deployments.
Following its acquisition by Nokia in 2010, Novarra’s browser was introduced on Series 40 devices. The cloud-based platform was rebranded as Nokia Xpress for Nokia’s Asha Platform handsets and made available as an alternative browser for Nokia Lumia smartphones through the Windows Phone Store.
In 2014, the majority of Novarra’s personnel were acquired by BMW Technology Group to contribute to the development of BMW Connected and Open Mobility Cloud solutions.
Novarra’s Vision™ Mobile Internet & Multimedia Platform comprised:
- Vision Mobile Client compatible with feature phones and smartphones
- Vision Cloud Platform for dynamic content transformation
- On-device Portal interface
- Customization Toolkits
- Video & Multimedia Server capabilities
- Widgets collection
- Mobile Broadband Optimization technologies
- Advertising and Analytics modules
Products
The Novarra Vision Mobile Internet & Multimedia Platform featured several key components such as:
- Vision Mobile Browser, designed for feature phones, smartphones, and devices targeting emerging markets
- On-device Portal system
- Content Transformation Server infrastructure
- Video & Multimedia Transcoding services
- Widget integration
- Mobile Broadband Optimization solutions
- Advertising and Analytics tools
Criticism
Novarra, together with Vodafone UK, encountered backlash from mobile web developers due to the removal of essential device details from HTTP headers in mobile requests. Although this approach allows access to websites lacking dedicated mobile versions on constrained devices, it can restrict developers' capacity to customize user experiences according to the unique features of each device.
Market Adoption
The mobile internet services powered by Novarra Vision have been implemented worldwide by carriers such as Yahoo, Vodafone, Verizon Wireless, Turkcell, Hutchison 3G, Sprint Nextel, and US Cellular. The range of supported devices includes models from manufacturers like Nokia, LG Group, Samsung Mobile, Motorola Mobile Devices, Palm (PDA), Research In Motion, ZTE Corporation, Sony Ericsson, and Kyocera Wireless.
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