New drive sees operator open its billing and LBS APIs to developers for speedier app deployment.
Vodafone is to open up its micropayments system and other aspects of network functionality on a global basis to selected partners in an effort to reduce time to market for mobile content, and increase ease of purchase.
The initiative is borne out of the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL), which was established last year by Vodafone, China Mobile and Softbank with a view to creating a single global platform for mobile app developers.
It's also part of a wider shake-up of Vodafone's internet services strategy being masterminded by Pieter Knook, which we first brought you news of almost 12 months ago.
Vodafone says that in addition to billing, developers will also be able to get access to location-based APIs, with more to follow. The system uses a new layer of technology called Service Oriented Architecture.
However, the operator has stressed that it is working on a parallel project to provide end-users with transparency and control over how their information is accessed and used by developers.
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Vodafone says it and its partners will benefit from any uplift in sales under a revenue-share model, though it has yet to detail what this is (Nokia's Ovi Store will offer developers 70 per cent on credit cards/50 per cent on operator billing, while Apple's App Store is 70 per cent).
Vodafone will start to offer API access to selected 'network enablers' through the (JIL) initiative, which is due to release a website and a Software Developer Kit in the summer.
Vodafone says it will reveal more details about the initiative in a conference call at 1500 GMT today.
