Aricent, a global private communications software provider, has announced the worldwide availability of Celltop, a mobile client framework that enables the delivery of next-generation content, commerce and communication services across GSM and CDMA networks. Celltop allows mobile service providers to transform the user experience by providing easy access to data services and applications.

In addition, the Celltop software development kit (SDK) for both BREW uiOne and J2ME handset platforms will now be available for third party developers, content providers and aggregators to create future cells for the Celltop platform.

Celltop is similar to the personalised short-cuts on the desktop of a personal computer and is based on the widget concept. Celltop solves the problem of content discovery by giving users the ability to personalise and manage content in cells. This functionality dramatically reduces the obstacle of multiple click-throughs and allows users to easily reach their desired content faster and easier than before.

"With Celltop, a greater range of consumers can now easily interact with handheld data while harnessing the data capabilities of CDMA and the global reach of GSM technology," says Sanjay Dhawan, president and chief operating officer, Aricent. "Now, mobile service providers worldwide can enrich the user experience and increase the adoption of existing data networks and new revenue-generating services."

The Celltop mobile client framework is available to network operators delivering new services and products. The framework includes ready-to-run cells such as inbox, stocks, weather, news, call-log and ring-tones, and can be customised by network operators to offer a consistent and branded user experience to encourage use of data and value-added services. Consumers also have access to a whole host of subscription-based cells including a cheap fuel locator, music downloads and streaming radio.

Cells currently in development offer multilingual capabilities (including Spanish, Portuguese and Hindi.) Additionally, Celltop incorporates watermark technology allowing advertisements to be superimposed on the base screen or wallpaper of the mobile handset. Network operators can offer customers the choice of 'opt-in/opt-out' for delivery of this targeted content.