The No Show of the Year for 2013 - Vodafone not opening up its API to developers after an announcement in April - is the first big telco move of 2014. The telecom operator has finally, finally, finally launched its "Vodafone Developer Platform", which allows local and international developers to offer operator billing that will allow developers to charge customers for content on mobile, as well as customize services according to subscriber profile, location, and also use the Vodafone messaging API. A brief overview of billing terms, API, revenue shares and penalties: 1. Registration: Register here, and not at the global Vodafone Developer website. 2. OneAPI: Vodafone is using the GSM Association supported OneAPI (details), which allows application developers to exploit mobile network capabilities such as messaging, authentication, payments and location-finding across global telecom operators. If you develop for the OneAPI, you can (theoretically) deploy your app with T-Mobile, Orange, Rogers, Vodafone (globally), AT&T, Bell, Telus.. The GSMA also has the OneAPI Exchange (pdf), for cross-operator capability. According to the GSMA, as of November 2013, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and Vodafone were a part of the OneAPI exchange. 3. Revenue Shares: According to agreements available on the developer website, Vodafone has two levels of partners for this platform - aggregators and non-aggregators. Aggregators get paid nothing if revenues are up to Rs 10 lakh; between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5 crores, they get 60% of the net revenues (after taxes have been deducted), and beyond Rs 50 crores, they get 70% of net revenues.…
