Telecom vendors have had limited success helping their operator partners deliver telecom/mobile apps. But Metaswitch seems to be on a bit of a roll with its Thrutu mobile app, launching a new iPhone version today, joining an already-released Android app (CP: Metaswitch continues to push right Thrutu ‘buttons’). Besides the obvious coup of reaching millions of new iPhone users, the move sets up the app – which enables real-time, in-call content sharing between users – to span the two popular platforms.
Such cross-device interop is one reason why mobile apps have become so popular. Telcos have traditionally ensured interoperability via the network – such as with SMS – while app platform providers have made due with releasing apps on all available platforms.
SMS became popular when it became universally available across all operators. Mirroring that success in the fast-moving world of 3G/4G mobile apps has proven difficult for mobile operators, though standards efforts like Rich Communications Suite (RCS) are trying – a market Metaswitch is focused on as well (CP: Metaswitch continues to ride RCS train with new server ).
To date, Thrutu has been downloaded 250,000 times from the Android Market, according to Metaswitch. That audience could grow with the addition of the iPhone app.
Thrutu lets users share content while on the mobile phone – including user location, photos, contact information, games and more.