Social networks and mobile devices : The next generation mobile phonebook with social networking widgets

Abstract: Social networking services on the Internet are growing and increasing numbers of people are using these new ways to communicate and share information. Many users are communicating with both friends from outside the service as well as with people they have only been in contact with through a social networking service. At the same time mobile phones are becoming more powerful and increasingly offer high speed Internet connectivity. Because of this people expect these social networking services to be available on their mobile device, as well as on their personal computer. Given the capabilities of today’s mobile devices, it is possible to extend the existing phonebook with capabilities to support a variety of social networking services in addition to the existing communication options. By integrating the contacts gained from the social networking service into the mobile phonebook the user can reach these contacts easily. Communication in online social networks via a mobile phone is expected to grow in popularity in the near future [1]. Several operators are simplifying access to these networks for their customers by offering different ways to connect to social networks [2][3]. However, access to these networks is often done via web sites or dedicated applications. These solutions are not optimal since browsing the web using a mobile browser can be bothersome and dedicated applications require installation of the application as well as any subsequent updates. Widgets on the other hand solve these problems in a convenient way. They can enable access to a device’s full functionality, just like dedicated applications, and provide a platform for easy development using web technologies. Furthermore, widgets are highly flexible for example, updates do not require reinstallation, and when new social networks become popular new widgets that connect to them can easily be developed and distributed. The goal of this thesis is to expand the mobile phonebook with functionality to enable communication on online social networks. To reach this goal I have created a new widget platform, where hybrid widgets run partly in a Java ME application and partly in the mobile web browser. This solution has the potential to significantly enhance the ways we communicate and interact with people. The users are therefore likely to have a larger number of people whom they interact with – rather than a smaller number; hence increasing the overall communication between people. This thesis project was performed at Ericsson Research in Kista. Any opinions stated in the thesis are strictly my own. Similarly any technology selections made are my own and do not necessarily reflect any official position(s) of Ericsson.