Myriad Dynamic Homescreen is a new solution designed to enabled graphical web-based widgets on the world’s most affordable mobile phones, even those selling for as little as $10 or $15 in emerging markets. It’s an AJAX-based solution, using web-based standards most developers are familiar with, and it’s well optimized, requiring less than 500Kb ROM and 500Kb RAM to work.
From the press release:
A key component of Myriad Dynamic Homescreen is that its widgets can be dynamically updated through a range of data connections, including 3G, GPRS, SMS, and USSD – a basic data service that is compatible with all GSM phones. The ability to receive data via USSD and SMS means that entry-level data services can be delivered to users without data contracts or in regions with poor coverage.
The way I see it, Myriad may be onto something. Increasing ARPU is what every carrier wants, and in that sense I can see this flying in countries of Latin America, India, China, etc. Moreover, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some smart carrier or handset manufacturer acquiring Myriad. After all, at the end of the day, it will be software and services that will make all the difference. LG, Samsung are you reading this? (Nokia already has a strong software and services division).