After the chaos caused by Vodafone UK Live’s new Internet platforms and Services, Vodafone may be regretting choosing Novarra, the company behind their mobile optimising technology.
The new mobile Internet experience on Vodafone UK consists of a transcoding solution that automatically reformats websites so they can display properly on handheld devices.
While this technology is great for mobile users who want to access to virtually any website, as they would do from their desktop browser, it is totally ruining mobile content provider’s income, but also Vodafone’s own revenue sharing income. Basically, Vodafone shot itself in the foot.
In fact, anytime you want to access to a site from Vodafone Live’s portal, whether through Google, or through their embedded virtual browser, Novarra will download the requested site, reformats it, and display it in your browser. Novarra will do so even if the requested site is a mobile/WAP site, or a site perfectly suited to display content on mobile devices.
The problem is that when downloading the requested website, Novarra will mask the visitor’s User Agent, so mCommerce sites that rely on user agents to display their content will not have a correct transcoded page.
For example, if a Vodafone UK customer is using Google to search for ringtones, if he clicks on either the natural search or paid listing of a mobile ringtone Wap site, he will land on a transcoded page displaying a message saying “sorry, there’s no content for your phone”.
At this time, this technology is causing LOTS of mobile content providers in the UK to lose sales, and the mobile consumer experience is very disappointing.
It is possible to stop this transcoding thanks to Bango, a mCommerce platform, by registering your site to get it whitelisted. Due to the large number of whitelistings, only a few mobile sites have been whitelisted so far. But this is just a temporary workaround.
Novarra must make sure that mobile sites aren’t transcoded. Google itself is unhappy by the fact that Novarra is transcoding their mobile AdWords customers’s sites.
I’ve been informed by someone at Vodafone UK that they’re doing their best to quickly fix this major issue, let’s see what happens, hoping that this wrong strategy will serve as an example to other carriers.
I’ve also contacted Novarra directly but they didn’t get back to me yet.
[…] I was quite worried when I heard about the partnership, since I didn’t want to experience the same issues than with the Vodafone UK case (which is now partly solved). I then contacted Novarra to get more details. Simon Hunt immediately got back to me and replied to the questions I had. […]
Left by More Details about the Yahoo! Novarra Deal @ SEO Principle | Nadir Garouche’s Blog on SEO on August 2nd, 2007
[…] Luca Passani, the man behind WURFL, came up with a long rant about Vodafone regarding their transcoding solution used in the UK(powered by Novarra), which reformats ALL sites visited by their users, and therefore masks the User-Agent. This is causing issues for mobile sites that rely on user agent to provide the right content to the device that requests it. […]
Left by Mobile Web Community Still Angry At Vodafone @ SEO Principle | Nadir Garouche’s Blog on SEO on September 24th, 2007
I wonder if this topic is for the UK only. I live in Holland and I’m quite interested in it.
Left by Henk on February 29th, 2008
in germany in Vodafone D2 Byte Mobile is used and I can tell you I would be happy to have a Vodafone UK servive from Novarra … the service from Byte Mobile is not usable at all … have you heard about this also
Left by Matthias Franz on November 27th, 2008
we use the mobile internet service from D2 and experience since 1 year
a same problem … our websites are not good accessable from mobile phones via Vodafone D2 some times we see HTTP errors some times the D2 service is not accessible and when I have acess the web site looks horrible and we can not work with it I was told Byte Mobile is responsible for this … how can I bypass the service or what other solutions are doable …. maybe you can help us
Left by Ingo Schmidt on November 27th, 2008
Novarra did mess also in Sweden at Telia see the link below
http://mobiletech.no/index.php/blog/739-transcoding-novarra
we all hope Telia will discontinue with Novarra … it is already the second time Novarra messes around in Europe … is there another operator using Novarra with no issues ?? … We tested in the meantime also D2 in Germany using Byte and I could not see any problms service is smoth
Left by joe potter on December 31st, 2008
WOW I just found this on an US web site sites … Novarra messes also in the US … Please see the comment from Luca Passani
(Note: I am Luca Passani, the editor of the Manifesto for Responsible Reformatting mentioned in the article)
I am disgusted by Verizon’s choice to deploy a transcoder that spoofs the User-Agent string.
The only reason to change the User-Agent string is to extort web-only content from publishers who might have a carefully designed mobile experience ready for users. How can this be acceptable?
Verizon and Novarra have chosen to disrespect the neutrality of the web and to appropriate web content they have no rights to for their own illegitimate interests. To me, this is an abuse of gigantic proportions. I firmly believe (and so do thousands of mobile developers around the planet) that nobody should have the right to interfere with the content and the applications that companies have built with great use of time and resources.
We Fully support this view ==>>
nobody should have the right to interfere with the content and the applications that companies have built with great use of time and resources
read the full article:
http://wapreview.com/blog/?p=1837
Left by joe potter on December 31st, 2008
* we are not alone please see the long list of persons and companies affected by the Novarra transcoding :
http://wurfl.sourceforge.net/vodafonerant/
Left by Carl Hogset on January 3rd, 2009
Vodafone Italy decided against Novarra because Novarra is not MSP compliant
Left by Stefano on February 16th, 2009
very funny and intersting:
wait, am i getting this right ?? novarra takes out content (compresses) then injects branding (adds content) and adds targeted advertising, presumably using flash crap and javascript and pages load quicker on mobile, beeeeeeeeeeeeejeeeeeeeeeezus its a furkin miracle O_O
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/11/novarra_laptops/comments/
Left by Stefano on February 22nd, 2009
Novarra transcoding madness a never ending story :
http://harper.wirelessink.com/category/novarra/
Left by SteveFerguson on February 23rd, 2009
https://www.rei.com/pwr/product-reviews/Cycling/Women-s-Cycling-Clothes/Cycling-Jackets/Novara/p/724362-Novara-Stratos-Bike-Jacket-Women-s.html
Left by cameo on March 16th, 2009
http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13840
Left by cameo on March 16th, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB_7U2RbnOg
Left by cameo on March 16th, 2009
I’ll say it again: Verizon are in the wrong here. We all agree on that……………………………………………….. c here http://wapreview.com/blog/?p=1837
Left by tom h. on March 23rd, 2009
hi,
the novarra stuff is really incredible. Did you know that, if they see an rss feed, they transform it to html? So, you can’t use any rss reader apps on vodafone.
Then, if a web site uses http authentication, they turn this to 200 ok and show html form. This breaks a lot of things too as the browser would normally pop up a dialog.
I don’t think there are many phones that need transcoding at all. Why is vodafone paying to get their traffic damaged?
Left by ubuuntu on May 27th, 2009
We had a discussion with the sales manager Ian McWilliams from Novarra the most arrogant person I have ever met
and no business sense !!!
Left by van Hummel on June 24th, 2009
I AGREE
WE SELECTED OPENWAVE OPEN WEB
http://www.openwave.com/us/products/mobile_internet_services/openweb/
WATCH VIDEO
Left by Antonio on July 23rd, 2009
NOVARRA IS FIREING STAFF IN USA AND EUROPE ALSO THEY LOWERED THE SALARY BY OVER 30%
!!! WHAT A GREAT COMPANY !!!
whatch the video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03PnU27cWDs
Left by van Hummel on August 6th, 2009
six months later - STILL NO SERVICE AT TIM in ITALY -
what a great company
see the original PRESS NEWS from Novarra here :
http://www.novarra.com/news/press-releases/novarra-powers-mobile-web-browsing-service-for-tim-customers/
I was in Italy for vacation and tested TiM mobile internet services no Novarra mmmhhhh WHY ??? no comment
Left by van Hummel on August 20th, 2009
John Dellaney, a top mobile analyst reported that Vodafone UK is in the process to replace Novarra soon
Wireless carriers seem to have little faith in Novarra anymore, maybe Novarra had seen its best times already. The investment of over 100 Million US dollars in Novarra seems to be a negative write off project for the financial community. A Novarra investor Qualcomm Ventures did not comment how they plan to continue with Novarra
http://ir.nyse.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=129145&p=irol-irhome
Left by FRANK BACKER on September 18th, 2009
Ian McWilliams a sales manager fom Novarra told me Novarra is not expandng anymore in Europe because all operators in Europe are not interessted in transcoding solutions ?
Left by Stefano on September 19th, 2009
I am considering switching my phone service and after some extensive research, I became very interested in Novarra and learning more about its services it offers to users. I want to share this article below which had been posted just after this blog was written:
It describes its services and outlines Vodafone’s enthusiasm for partnering with Novarra. While I think that Novarra has received a bad rep by some, I think that its services are paramount above the rest and I have decided that a service that uses Novarra server and browser is the best option for me considering the high level of mobile internet I will be using.
Left by Jenny on September 22nd, 2009
Dear Jenny, nice to see that at least one user - and I hope you not a Novarra employe - is happy with the Novarra solution … BUT there are thousands out in this world who dislike Novarra for many reasons … they can not be wrong … have a look what Opera is doing … maybe this helps to better understand what REAL mobile internet means
http://www.youtube.com/user/operasoftware
http://www.opera.com/
feel free to comment
Yours Frank
Left by FRANK BACKER on November 3rd, 2009
one more link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novarra_Inc.#Criticism
Left by FRANK BACKER on November 4th, 2009
I agree Novarra is not usefull enough …
Left by Carl on November 11th, 2009
http://harper.wirelessink.com/category/novarra/
Left by Carl on November 23rd, 2009
more to read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_Mini
http://www.infogin.com/
http://www.openwave.com/us/products/mobile_internet_services/
Left by JENNY on December 11th, 2009
Hello, I follow this site since several months — very interesting informations — in the beginning I think I was astonised what the people say abot Novarra but I muts admit that after 1 year working or talkting to Novarra I must agree that they have nothing great to offer. Over 1 year it is the same product and the same story we have to listen to — especially when we want a customization Novarra tells us that this is already in the product but we can not find it — always Novarra tells us another story so taht at the end we are not shure what we have what the want to sell to us a– Our team drives mobile internet for LatinAmerica and Europe decided not to continue with Novarra
Left by Paulo Jorge Negro on January 3rd, 2010
have a look in OPERA MOBILE 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBUmiDLRcNs&feature=player_embedded
Left by Stefano on January 7th, 2010
see this NEXUS VIDEO I like it a real mobile internet phone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6COwgigJ-g
Left by Stefano on January 22nd, 2010
This is a great reading. Thanks for sharing this information.We have few readers who would like to read this stuff. We will pass it on to our readers for more feedback. We are dealing with seo firms
and would like to get feedback from you too.This is a nice postings indeed. Thanking You. united kingdom seo
Left by united kingdom seo on January 28th, 2010
the new browser from BOLT is available now.
Have a look here:
http://boltbrowser.com/home.html
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/68912.html
Left by Stefano on February 4th, 2010
a new product from novarra maybe they show it in barcelona?
http://oneweb.net/unleash?sid=novarra
Left by Stefano on February 8th, 2010
spoke to them at 3GSM
amazing they are still alive
+++ no new product
+++ same stuff but different color
Left by Garry on February 17th, 2010
Don’t know if you’re interested, but Novarra has had a few changes lately. Jayanthi Rangarajan, a long time CEO and a subject of a few debates in TMR back in 2002, has stepped down and was replaced by COO Bruce Simpson. The company has laid off 35 people, about 20% of the staff…
Left by Ben Willer on February 26th, 2010
[…] Interestingly, Novarra is the company that has been criticized in 2007 for providing its browsing solution to Vodafone UK and “totally ruining mobile content provider’s income, but also Vodafone’s own revenue sharing income”. You can read more on that here. […]
Left by Nokia buys Novarra hoping to improve browsing on its phones » Unwired View on March 26th, 2010
[…] Interestingly, Novarra is the company that has been criticized in 2007 for providing its browsing solution to Vodafone UK and “totally ruining mobile content provider’s income, but also Vodafone’s own revenue sharing income”. You can read more on that here. […]
Left by Nokia buys Novarra hoping to improve browsing on its phones : Cellphone News and Review on May 7th, 2010
Thanks for the interesting read and the comment by Ben Willer was amazing.
Don’t know if you’re interested, but Novarra has had a few changes lately. Jayanthi Rangarajan, a long time CEO and a subject of a few debates in TMR back in 2002, has stepped down and was replaced by COO Bruce Simpson. The company has laid off 35 people, about 20% of the staff…
Left by Chicago mover on August 18th, 2010