O2 & Orange Join Consortium To Create Rival To iPhone Platform

In an attempt to compete with Apple's popular online App store for the iPhone and iPod Touch, several major network service providers, including O2 and Orange, have decided to combine their resources to create an online platform which will offer smartphone owners with a plethora of games and other applications. 

The companies hope to develop a platform that will be able to deliver applications and other services to a wide range of mobile devices across the globe and are not restricted to specific handsets.  

With the increasing popularity of iPhone and Android specific applications, many of these companies feel cheated as only the application developers and online app store owners are reaping the monetary benefits from the sales. 

The consortium will aim at providing more extensive features and services than the Open API (Application Programming Interface) platform, which allows developers to create programmes that can be paid for by consumers on their mobile phone bills. 

The exact details of the plan will be revealed at the trade show but several industry sources claim that the consortium will have members from across the globe including Japan's Softbank and Verizon Wireless of the US.