GreenHouse helps MS get transparent

BANGALORE: Microsoft Corp is betting high on India for development activities. Apart from setting up a development center in Hyderabad and technology lab in Bangalore, the Windows maker is trying out something unique in the country, which is a first time, exercise for the company. If it succeeds, Microsoft plans to replicate it across the world.

Software GreenHouse is a joint effort of Microsoft India and Cynapse aimed at developers who want to develop mobile and embedded applications using the latest Microsoft Mobile technologies and platforms. Very similar to any reality show on television, this will span the entire life cycle of a "real" world product being developed by us specifically for this purpose. This unique concept will be used as a platform for an online demonstration on how mobile and embedded applications are developed.

"We are testing this exercise to an extent, to see whether it would help other developers learn from the development process and things like that. It's like a demonstration house of how a product is developed, using Microsoft platforms. Since it is transparent, the name GreenHouse," said Sheila Gulati, Director - Developer and Platform Evangelism, Microsoft India.

One of the first projects under the Software GreeHouse umbrella is 'BlueJab'. The technology revolves around the popular concept called "Toothing". Toothing by definition is the concept wherein individuals can send anonymous messages to others in close proximity by using bluetooth technology.

"BlueJab is a bluetooth technology on a mobile phone which would help identify a user at a location through an instant messaging application. It is community based, so you should have a Blue Jab enabled mobile to get connected with other members. So it is like if you are in a public place and want to connect with somebody, BlueJab is the next generation's best device for networking," added Gulati.