DotMobi, the consortium behind the .mobi domain, has allied with Mobile Complete Inc. to allow thousands of members of the dotMobi Developer Forum to create and test handset applications from their desktops.

The partnership will provide registered dotMobi developers five hours free access to Mobile Complete's Device Anywhere remote handset testing service.

"One of our primary goals is to help Web developers put up content easily and effectively at a low cost," said Vance Hedderel, director of PR and communications for the dotMobi consortium, Reston, VA.

DotMobi is backed by leading mobile operators, network and device manufacturers and Internet content providers. Their ranks include Ericsson, the GSM Association, Microsoft, Nokia, Orascom Telecom, Samsung Electronics, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

Registered developers can download the Mobile Complete software from the company's Web site. They can test mobile applications and services on more than 750 live foreign and domestic handsets and networks through a virtual development lab.

"We are providing dotMobi site developers a true end-to-end solution to collaborate and streamline processes associated with the mobile applications lifecycle," said Faraz Syed, and cofounder/CEO of Mobile Complete, San Francisco, CA.

"DotMobi has revolutionized the use of the Web on mobile devices," he said. "By partnering with them on projects like this, we can help ensure that applications developed around .mobi are optimized for use by mobile devices."

Complete solution
The Mobile Complete technology provides mobile content and application developers with complete virtual access to all interfaces of a mobile handset, similar to having that device in their hands.

Using the service, developers can remotely press device buttons, view LCD displays, listen to ringtones and speakers, connect and disconnect batteries and play videos directly from a desktop computer.

As a result, developers are able to bring mobile applications to market faster, more easily and at lower costs than previously possible, Mr. Hedderel said.

Mobile Complete's Device Anywhere is free for registered users of the dotMobi developer Forum. A credit card validation is required to secure against premium content being accessed via Device Anywhere devices. In the case that premium content is accessed, the associated charges are passed onto the credit card.

Unique among domain name providers, the dotMobi consortium ensures that services and sites developed on the .mobi domain are optimized for use by mobile phones.

For developers, dotMobi is preparing to launch a mobile device database early next year and a mobile directory, which was initially announced at the 2007 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Mr. Hedderel said.

In addition to the developer site, dotMobi has launched free services such as a mobile site analysis tool (http://ready.mobi) and a free site building tool (http://site.mobi).

"We also launched a mobile Web developer certification program which gives developers a competitive advantage in the marketplace by delivering a level of trust to their clients and employers," Mr. Hedderel said. "Over the past six months, we've been creating a variety of tools for mobile Web developers to use."