Question: Vodafone/Ericsson - the case continues

Today, Vodafone is a global telecommunications company and as such sees innovation in products and services as critical to its strategy. As part of this they have set up the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) with Verizon Wireless, China Mobile and Softbank Mobile. Together, these operators have access to over 1.1 billion customers around the world. The four companies will use the JIL as a platform to develop mobile services and drive innovation. The purpose of the JIL is to launch projects based on emerging technologies and market demand and will focus on the rapidly growing areas of mobile internet services.

JIL's first project is to develop a widget (interactive virtual tool) ecosystem that will allow developers to benefit from access to the combined customer base of the four JIL operators. Consumers will get access to the innovation and creativity of a global developer community and operators benefit by providing great content to their customers. This is an example of a mechanism to help users become part of the innovation process by, in effect, combining technology ‘push' and need ‘pull'.