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Windows Phones Launch Event Netherlands – Event Impressions

Remo Knops — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:05:22 +0000

October 6th is an important day for Microsoft and Windows Mobile in particular due to the launch of the new brand Windows Phones, the new mobile operating system Windows Mobile 6.5 and two services Microsoft MyPhone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

I was fortunate to be invited by the Windows Mobile Team in the Netherlands to attend the local launch event at the Lute Suites in Amstelveen (near Amsterdam).

In his article I would like to share some thoughts on- and impressions of this successful event on a very cool location to launch new mobile technology.

1. Welcome and short introduction

The local Windows Phones launch event in the Netherlands starts with a short welcome followed by an introduction to Windows Phones and its new (marketing) campaign. I would like to quickly share some main points of this introductary part of the day.

Sometime ago people typically talked about the business market and consumer market as two totally different- and separated entities. However the ongoing trend is that the customer needs are changing and the consumer- and business needs converge. In other words you simply want one smartphone on which you use for business and personal things as well.

On the powerpoint-slide above you further see that three key concepts listed that drive Windows Mobile 6.5: (1) connect to people, (2) get stuff done and (3) meet my needs. In these concepts, which are a little more explained in the powerpoint slide below you can cleary see an excellent balance between productivity and efficiency vs. personalization and fun.

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IMPORTANT REMARK:

During research on the three screen strategy the is currently driving Microsoft I did a Google search with the keywords: “three screen strategy windows phones” and found a valuable powerpoint presentation originally designed by Vesa-Matti Paananen, Mobile Business Group Lead & Marketplace WE Marketing @ Microsoft, and is titeled ”Mobility in Microsoft’s Three Screen Strategy & Windows Mobile 6.5“. It’s certainly interesting to read, and shows similarities with the presentations / workshop content that I was fortunate to see in real life.

Back on topic. After the general introduction you were able to attend three different workshops each covering a specific perspective of Windows Phones. I attended workshop 1 and workshop 2, since these were the workshops closest to the technical aspects of Windows Mobile.

2. Workshop: A technical look on Windows Mobile 6.5

The first workshop is hosted by Maarten Sonneveld, Business Group Lead Mobile of Microsoft Netherlands. The workshop starts with explaining the details on the Windows Phones branding inline with the outlined concepts in the previous section.

2.1 Connect to People (orange pillar)

The main message is that a Windows Phones has the best programs onboard to connect with colleagues, friends and family. For example think of excellent support of e-mailaccounts within Pocket Outlook (where all core PIM information is stored in one single application). But also Windows Live for Mobile or Microsoft Facebook for Mobile are great examples of excellent software to stay connect via Instant Messaging (IM) -and remark the voiceclips functionality- or Social Networks.

Furthermore Maarten Sonneveld, Business Group Lead Mobile of Microsoft Netherlands, discusses new Windows Mobile 6.5 features: (1) lockscreen, (2) new todayscreen, (3) new start menu. These features heavily contribue to a more optimized GUI for touch “control and on-device-navigation”. It might be interesting to compare the ”HTC Touch2 review – Windows Mobile 6.5 and TouchFLO 3D combined !” and “Windows Mobile 6.5 on the HTC Snap – Impressions and thoughts” on these features.

2.2 Get Stuff Done (blue pillar)

After a demo the workshop is continued with capturing the value of Windows (Mobile). At first Windows Mobile has the best Microsoft Exchange synchronization avaialble, ad I must admit this is the key feature why I love my Windows Phone. Furthermor on my Windows Phone I can create and edit documents with the Ofice Mobile Suite on my Windows Phone.

Windows Mobile 6.5 takes advantage of the new Internet Explorer 6 (for Mobile) resulting in a more robust browsing experience and getting more transactions done on the internet. Very cool was also the MSN Money widget, based on the Intenet Explorer Mobile framework, that fist saw appear on the HTC Touch2. You an also create your own widgets, if you like.

Microsoft did also announce the Microsoft MyPhone, a free backup and restore service, for Windows Phones. Joris Jan Goos, Product Manager Mobile Services of Microsoft Netherlands, provides us with a demo of the Microsoft MyPhone, and shows of the new premium services. Good friend and colleague Paul Willen has covered these premium services really well in an article on www.mobiltyminded.com.

2.3 Meet My Needs (green pillar)

The last pillar covers the possible personalization aspects of Windows Phones. Back at CTIA Wireless 2009 not only Windows Marketplace for Mobile was announced, but also a number of partnerships with leading designers -like Mizrahi- that create cool (background) themes for Windows Phones.

Furthermore you can enhance your Windows Phone to your personal needs and demands with your favourite third party applications that make your Windows Phone even more powerfull. Windows Marketplace for Mobile makes the search for-and installation off these applications easier than ever before. In the next workshop the Windows Marketplace for Mobile will be covered a little more extensively.

Windows Phones are available from different brands, in different formfactors, and in different types of devices. This diversity in Windows Phones provides the end-users an optimal choice to choose a Windows Phone that best fits their personal needs and -demands.

3. Workshop: The world of applications for Windows Mobile and Windows Marketplace (for Mobile)

The second workshop is hosted by Peter Broekroelofs, CTO and co-founder of application developer Service2Media.

Peter starts with a short introduction about Service2Media and its customers, and remarkable is the fact that Microsoft is one of their top technology partners. On the company website you can read that Service2Media was the first with Windows Mobile applicatons in the “Dutch” Windows Marketplace for Mobile:

“De Telegraaf – a dutch newspaper- news application is the first Windows 6.5 app in the Dutch Windows Marketplace app store. Other applications that will be developed for Windows Phones are Buienradar, NS Reisplanner Xtra and Rabobank CashMS.”

The concepts of these applications are discussed during the workhop, but more interesting is the discussion about the main drivers for the development of mobie applications. At first it is the technology that enables new opportunities.

For example alsmost every Windows Phone today in the Netherlands is sold with a flafree data subscription, that makes it possible to stay connected as long as yo have cellular coverage. Furhermore smartphones are becoming more and more powerful with different connectivity options (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), a GPS-receiver and even accelorometers.

Another driver is the availability of application stores like Windows Marketplace (for Mobile) to provide visibility to reach the masses, easy on-device installation and easy secure payment. I was able to cover these aspects for Windows Marketplace for Mobile in a few articles: “Windows Marketplace for Mobile coming to Windows Mobile 6.1 and 6.0” and “Windows Marketplace for Mobile – Payments and Operators“

Finally Service2Media and Windows Phones triggered the people who attended the workshop to be creative and think about an application concept. The best concept would be awarded with development of the application and a place in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, which is quite an opportunity especially if you are creative or have a background in software development.

4. Workshop: Organize your life with a Windows Phone – Tips from a professional lifestyle coach

The third workshop was hosted by Lorraine Simoons, professional organizer and life-style coach from SO Organized.

The title of the workshop is “private and work in balance with 12 simple tips“, and Lorraine shows that despite you are working hard on your personal carreer you can still have sufficient time for to spend with the people or things that are valuable to you.

The method is based on 12 tips framework, and one of the key approaches in the workshop is that technology -like Windows Phones- is a must-have partner for organizing and balancing your life !

If you are interested you should spent some time reading on the SO Organized website or Loraaine Simoons’ blog !

5. Launching partners show off new Windows Phones

It was very cool to have these workshops with theoretical approaches, interesting and flashy demo’s, but also good questions and open discussions.

In addition there are four launching oem partners present at the Windows Phones launch event, to show their latest Windows Mobile 6.5 powered devices to the mobile tech-community in the Netherlands.

5.1 HTC (Benelux)

The first Windows Phone on the Dutch market with Windows Mobile 6.5 pre-loaded on the device is the HTC Touch2. Despite that the HTC Touch2 is positioned in the middle segment it is very powerfull and packed with technology and features.

At a very competitive pricepoint this is certainly an interesting device to ”push” the Windows Mobile 6.5 market. If you are interested, you should check out the review of the HTC Touch2 on www.mobilityminded.com.

In addition there was a nice surprise, which is shown in the picture above: the local announcement of the latest powerhouse HTC HD2 by Mark Moons country manager HTC Benelux. This is certainly a device that makes the heartbeat of every geek rise immediately, and I was fortunate to have a short hands-on.

5.2 Samsung Mobile

The second OEM is Samsung Mobile, who announced a free Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade for the Samsung Omnia II and the Samsung Omnia QWERTY.

Samsung Mobile had also a special new device in their suite, which is shown in the picture below. It is the Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 which will be a Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard device, and honestly I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

5.3 Sony Ericsson

Early september Sony Ericsson announced the Sony Ericsson Xperia X2, and at the Windows Phones launch event I was able to have a short demo of this Windows Phone.

5.4 LG Electronics

The final OEM partner present at the Windows Phones launch event is LG Electronics, with their latest Windows Mobile 6.5 device the LG GM750 with the S-Class interface. This device will be exclusively available via Vodafone only.

5.5 Other launching parters

While the previous launching partners are the device manufacturers there are also other partners involved in the local Windows Phones launch. I mut compliment Microsoft Netherlands for this approach since it provides the whole porfolio of partners involved (which reflects the underlying business model to some extent).

Mobile operator KPN provided a short workshop on their latest developments, while also the largest retailer of Windows Phones – Belcompany- was present at the Windows Phones launch.

In addition various application developers were there as well, and for example I talked with one of the founders of the Buienradar application.

6. Concluding thoughts on this event

At first I’m very grateful that the Windows Mobile team of Microsoft Netherlands invited me to attend the Windows Phones launch event in Amstelveen. Furthermore I would like to thank Weber Shandwick for the exceptional organization, communication and willingness to help.

It was also great to see such a diverse portfolio of launching partners, and I would like to thank each one of them for the excellent device demo’s and takng the time and patience to answer my questions. The presented or announced devices show the potential of Windows Mobile, and the richness of the platform is for example reflected in the different GUI’s developed by the OEM.

Finally I would like to recommend a video (in DUTCH) of Mobilyz.com website, who attended the event with a professional video crew. I think the video is a nice summary and wrap-up of this article that reflects a succesful Windows Phones launch on October 6th.

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CTIA 2009: Microsoft announces partners in Windows Marketplace for Mobile and more.

Remo Knops — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:55:48 +0000

During the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Windows Mobile 6.5 was announced, however not much information was revealed about the second service: Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Just befor the start of CTIA 2009 Microsoft has a lot of new things to announce:

More details on Windows Marketplace for Mobile,
Individual customization of the Windows Phone,
New ways to connect with friends and family (social networking).

This article looks at al the three key topics in more detail, complemented with some early thoughts.

1. Windows Marketplace for Mobile

The screenshots above provide a good idea how the Windows Marketplace for Mobile will look like. The press release provides a list a of top application developers who commited to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile program. Personally it is good to see such an extensive list, and there are really great developers on this list, which means quality on-board !!

“Companies representing the top-selling categories of mobile applications today signed on to be among the first to offer applications through Windows Marketplace for Mobile. They include AccuWeather.com., The Associated Press, CNBC, Developer One Mobile Software, EA Mobile, Facebook, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handmark, Ilium Software Inc., Jeyo Inc., Kinoma, LiteScape, Magmic Games, Melodis Corp., MySpace, Namco Networks, Netflix, Pandora, PhatWare Corp., Resco s.r.o., ShoZu Inc., Sling Media Inc., SBSH Mobile Software, Spb Software, Web Information Solutions Inc. and Zagat Survey.” [ref01]

However the Windows Marketplace for Mobile seems to be announced -at leat according to the press release- for the next generation of Windows Phone, which simply means Windows Mobile 6.5 devices. Personally I think this is the wrong decision, because the Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 userbase is large, while Windows Mobile 6.5 will be on relative few devices by the end of the year. Windows Marketplace for Mobile should be a downloadable application, that is backwards compatible with Windows Mobile 6.

“Resulting applications will provide new and unique gaming, social networking, media, utility and personal productivity experiences for the next generation of Windows phones.” [ref01]

Finally an interesting option is that Mobile Operators can partner with Microsoft on the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. The operator can get access to a specific (branded) set of software titels from the whole population of titels on the Marketplace. Although I live in the Netherlands I won a Samsung BlackJack II, which is fully loaded with AT&T custom software. I hope that throught partnering the amount of this specific software is limited so that end-users can add their own prefered software titles.

2. Customized Themes for Windows Mobile 6.5

On the current Windows Mobile devices it is sometimes tricky to personalize the device in terms graphics. Apple iPhone, Google Android, Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile all serve a specific set of customers. The buying process of a mobile device is becoming more and more comperable with buying a car: “an emotional purchase”. Microsoft takes the personal representation, customization and individualization of a Windows Phone to the next level !

“Through new partnerships with the Design Museum London and Council of Fashion Designers of America, Microsoft will offer a variety of free* designer themes to help people express their personal style on Windows phones. Microsoft today announced Mizrahi as the first in a series of designers to create exclusive themes, including color palettes and wallpaper.” [ref01]

The Mizrahi designs are shown in the screenshots above.

“In addition, the new Theme Generator will provide people with yet another way to personalize their Windows phone. The Theme Generator, available at http://www.windowsmobile.com later this year, will enable Windows phone users to select pictures from their PC to set as background images, as well as choose colors to personalize their navigation bar, scroll bar and highlighted text. Once finished, their personal theme will be sent to their phone.” [ref01]

This theme generator is a very cool tool to easily personalize your device, and could be combined with the MyPhone Service I wrote about earlier this year, or other services. However currently it seems like the Theme Generator will only support Windows Mobile Professional devices, and not Windows Mobile Standard devices. It’s a fair decision since the whole process of customizing a skinning is totally different, which means two different products and two different development cycles.

3. Social networking and more

I think the booming of social networking doesn’t need any further explenation. Screenshots of the new Facebook application are shown above. Microsoft did also three announcements in the social networking area:

“Windows Mobile users will be able to engage and experience some of the most popular global social networks right from their Windows phone, including Facebook, MySpace and Windows Live.
Microsoft has created a new Facebook application, available for Windows phones for free* in April, that makes it easy for people to capture video on their phone and upload it to Facebook.
A new MySpace application, available for free* this summer, gives Windowsphone customers real-time access to their global MySpace network. LG Electronics Inc. will preload the MySpace application on its Windows phones.
Microsoft also announced that Windows Live for Mobile will be available for free download this week for customers in 25 languages. Windows Live for Mobile is the company’s mobile suite of Internet services designed specifically to take advantage of the Windows Mobile platform. It includes mobile versions of Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Contacts, Windows Live Spaces, Microsoft Live Search and enhanced photo upload capabilities.” [ref01]

The Facebook application will be compatible with Windows Mobile 6.1 and higher. Within the Live services there is some additional good news on the Hotmail-front.

“The company also will launch a new beta version of Windows Live Hotmail available through a mobile Web browser. The release includes a new and improved user interface, navigation enhancements for touch-screen devices, the ability to see full HTML pages within e-mail messages and a new search feature that enables people to find important e-mail messages more easily.” [ref01]

Some personal thoughts

At first I simply CAN’T understand the business reasoning why the Windows Marketplace for Mobile isn’t Windows Mobile 6.0 (and higher) compatible. I had the chance to use the Google Android G1 with the linked Android Marketplace. There I became aware how easy and convenient it is to search for, download and install top applications from one central place without accessing each developers website. This ease of use is also applicable to the CURRENT userbase, since not everyone is an early-adopter or geek buying the latest device.

It is a cool trend to see large companies hooking up with designers from the fashion sector, like HP did for the Vivienne Tam edition of the HP Mini 1000 netbook. The theme generator can become a very cool feature, since sometimes it is not easy to create a theme for your Windows Mobile device. Furthermore it is a unique service, which no other mobile platform offers (to my knowledge).

Finally social networking is becoming more and more important. And in line with the strategy of using software or services on your pc, in the cloud and on you mobile device, it’s good to see Microsoft developing on this front. Special interest has the Facebook application, as well as the Windows Live Messenger. I like the idea that these programs are offered via download, and can be installed on any device (if compatible of course). This concept should also be applied to IE6 for Mobile, which currently only is available pre-loaded in the Palm Treo Pro ROM. To get your applications out to the large public, your business model needs to outperform competition …

I’m looking forward to the keynote of Mobile Entertainment & Devices President Robbie Bach @ CTIA 2009. Hopefully we can see some very nice live demo’s of the applications and services addressed in this article.

Reference list

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MWC 2009: Windows Mobile 6.5 announcement & screenshots

Remo Knops — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:00:07 +0000

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Steve Balmer and Andrew Lees announced Windows Mobile 6.5, together with two additional services: (1) MyPhone and (2) Windows Marketplace for Mobile. This article will focus on the main changes in Windows Mobile 6.5 and provide some background information together with screenshots.

“Windows phones bring together the best of the Web, the PC and the phone so you can connect instantly to the experiences you care about, no matter where you are,” Ballmer said. “We’re working with partners across the industry to deliver a new generation of Windows phones that break down the barriers between people, information and applications and provide great end-to-end experiences that span your entire life, at work and at home.” [ref01]

The first remarkable fact is the naming: “Windows Phones”. Since a phone running the Windows Mobile platform is per definition a MOBILE device, the term Mobile is absolete. It’s al in the simplicity of the word choice: A phone running Windows. In slightly different words Clinton Fitch’s describes Balmer’s idea’s above:

“Microsoft is working on the concept that people and information are the center of your personal universe, not necessarily a phone, pc or other digital device. Accessing those people and that information is really what is key – on what you use to access them is somewhat secondary. To that end you will see with Windows Mobile 6.5 a focus on getting to the information you want to access quicker. Further, you will see more of this information being available in different locations. You can see some of that now with Live Mesh and with the introduction of My Phone, you will see this vision further develop.” [ref03]

The essence however is to connect the different platforms (PC, Cloud & Phone) and to get quicker acces to your information With this essence in mind I will guide you through the main area’s of change, and focus on the different aspects shown in the accompanied screenshots. After that I will provide a summary an some initial thoughts about the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system.

1. LOCKSCREEN

The first major area of change is the lockscreen, which is shown in the screenshots above ! Research has shown that people want to know three things on the first screen they see on a mobile device: (1) the time, (2) the next appointment, (3) the status of their phone. The latter means the notifications about missed calls, voicemails, new text messages etc. This lockscreen is shown when the device is touched or turned on. If you have enhanced security enabled on your Windows Phone, you probably need to enter the code AFTER this screen. The next appointment and the time are more or less obvious (remark the homescreen of SPB Mobile Shell and the background information I provided in the review of version 2.0). However the phone is locked and the blue box shows the total number of notifications. If you tap or click on the blue notification box, the notifications are split up per type. As an example you have a missed call, than you simple make a sliding gesture to the left or right, which results in the automated action of opening the dailer and calling the “missed call” number.

2. HOMESCREEN

The second major area of change is the homescreen. I will start to lookback at (1) the sliding panels which were introduced with Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, and (2) the interface of a Zune Player. It looks like bits of both interfaces have com together in the new Windows Mobile 6.5 homescreen design. While the sliding panels were only available on Windows Mobile Standard, this homescreen is rolled out both on Standard and Professional devices.

“The order of the items on the home screen are not movable but you will be able to add web widgets for things like weather. These widgets will automatically update so you don’t have to tap around to update them, improving the information feed to you.” [ref03]

For the readers among you who hooked up to the livestream of the keynote already saw this homescreen in action during one of the demo’s. Personally I was pleasantly surprised by the speed of the interface on the HTC Touch Pro2 device (Windows Mobile Professional). At this point in time it’s not clear to me if and how this new homescreen will interact with custom userinterfaces like TouchFLO 3D.

3. START

The third main area of change, and probably the most dramatic is the honeycomb-style start menu. Let’s have a look at a current professional device where you have a folder with programs and a folder with settings. If you install third party applications some get their link in the programs folder, others in the settings folder. With the new Windows Mobile 6.5 start menu both the settings and programs are merged into one single honeycomb-style menu, which is fully customizable. The end-user can manipulate the icons where-ever he or she wants to have it in the list. If you look at the darkened sides of the screen, and not showing additional honey-combs to the left and right a user knows that he cannot scroll to the left or right (and the same applies for scrolling up in the screenshots above). The start menu isn’t a single-level list, but consists of more levels:

“If, for example, you were to tap on Settings, you would see the Settings menu in this same honeycomb layout with thinks like Bluetooth, Owner Information and so forth occupying the cells of the menu.” [ref03]

The question may remain: “Why a honey-comb and not a box or a circle ?” There are two arguments which favor for use of the honey-comb design, which came out of Microsofts Research groups. (1) The honey-comb is the optimal area to tap on with your fingerprint (not a box or a circle), in short finger-friendlyness, and (2) The honey-comb design makes it possible to pack relative a large amount of links / icons into the screenspace. The combination of these two arguments results in this easy to use, simple start menu.

4. BROWSER

The fourth main area of change is the browser: Internet Explorer 6 (for Mobile). This browser supports flash lite, and is optimized for finger use like you can see in the screenshot above. Cool but very functional features are the zoombar and the breadcrumb, which shows up in the corner during panning accros a webpage. Furthermore Microsoft claims that it’s possible to complete more online transactions on this mobile browser (than on any other mobile browser). Furthermore this browser is based on the (desktop version) Internet Explorer 6, and now brought to the mobile platform.

“One of the questions that many of us MVPs asked was why the version was based on IE 6 when Internet Explorer 8 is near release. The answer, which makes good sense, is that the vast majority of website were built to the IE 6 standard. This will make sure the browsing experience more robust for users.” [ref03]

5. SERVICES

The last area of change is not directly ON the Windows Mobile platform, but consists of the services which INTERACT with the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform. Recently the Microsoft Live Mesh service was introduced, which easily connects and let you share files on the PC, in the cloud and on your phone. This only supports the fact that Microsoft will explore the service domain a little further. During the Micrsoft Mobile World Congress keynote of Steve Balmer and Andrew Lees two additional services were announced: (1) Microsoft MyPhone, and (2) Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

The MyPhone service was also shown in a demo, and if you are interested you can read more in my article about the MyPhone service. The second service Windows Marketplace wasn’t shown in a demo, nor in any screenshots, so we have to be a little patient to see more on this service.

WRAP UP & FINAL THOUGHTS

This article highlights the main changes that will come to the Windows Mobile platform in the next upcoming release called Windows Mobile 6.5. While there are changes in five main area’s I assume that Microsoft will do a lot more tweaking and finetuning under the hood, for example to increase batterylife. Overall I do think that this is a step in teh right direction, where both the Professional and the Standard platform get the same look and feel, resulting in a more unified platform. Furthermore Microsoft tries to simplify the use, and make it more easer to use (fingerfriendlyness), and for all to get quicker acces to your information. Also the addtional services are good signs, since I think that there is a bright future for services (compared to applications).

A first question might be: Is my phone compatible ?”

HTC’s Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2, announced today, will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5. New enhanced contact integration combined with new Internet capabilities deliver a people-centric approach to mobile communication. HTC’s Touch Diamond 2 features TouchFLO 3D, a sleek and compact design with a large 3.2″ high-resolution wide-screen display, while HTC Touch Pro 2 introduces one of the best-ever mobile productivity experiences on a phone highlighted by HTC’s new Straight Talk technology, an integrated E-Mail, voice and speakerphone experience.
The LG-GM7300 is a stylish, user-friendly phone with features such as one-click E-Mail set up to help people stay connected to the information they care about most. Available first on Windows Mobile 6.1, LG will add a Windows Mobile 6.5 version to the family, complementing an expanded alliance to dramatically increase the number of LG phones running Windows.” [ref01]

A second question could be: When will it be available ?

“The new Windows phones are expected to be available in the second half of 2009.”

While during the keynote we already saw some first impressions during the demo’s. I would like to finalize by asking your opinion about the changes, the direction Windows Mobile is heading, the services and the time frame of the whole development.

Reference list:

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