skyfire - horizon solution brief 2014

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Horizon Browser Extension Platform 2014

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Horizon is a browser extension platform that adds value and ease of use to the mobile internet for consumers, and creates key opportunities for incremental revenue for operators. Learn how it works right here.

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Page 1: Skyfire - Horizon Solution Brief 2014

HorizonBrowser ExtensionPlatform

2014

Page 2: Skyfire - Horizon Solution Brief 2014

Horizon Browser Extension Platform | 2014 Page 2

Keep in touch

Horizon Browser Extension Platform

Key HighlightsA History of Mobile Browsing InnovationSkyfire’s carrier-grade Horizon browser extension platform and cloud-based CMS is based on the technology honed via Skyfire’s award-winning consumer apps, which have been downloaded by over 20 million users across multiple platforms.

Skyfire pioneered the optimization and rendering of Flash and other forms of video on mobile devices, and Horizon’s innovative set of extensions and elegant design was born from years of observation of what users want from a mobile browsing experience. The Horizon browser extension platform was integrated into Skyfire’s iPad app in late 2012 and deployed to 2 million users, and to its award-winning iPhone app in 2013.

Easy Integration with Native Browser

Horizon has been designed to be extremely easy for an OEM to integrate into the default browser, while appearing to users as a natural and seamlessly integrated extension to the browser. No brand name needs to be used, nor seen, by the consumer – the toolbar can be simply invoked, and easily hidden during a user’s browsing session. Horizon can now be configured to work with non-native browsers like Chrome as well.

Mobile Browsing RedefinedOver the years, mobile browsing has evolved from its primitive “WAP” beginnings to a near desktop-quality experience on today’s most powerful smartphones and tablets. Despite the much-publicized rise in App usage, the browser remains the most popular “app” on mobile devices. ComScore data shows that US mobile subscribers use their browsers almost as often as they do all other apps combined, particularly when native games are excluded, and that browser-based mobile media consumption grew 30% in Europe and the US over the last year (ComScore 2012). With the spread of HTML5 in coming years, the browser will provide the runtime for growing numbers of “web apps” as well.

Skyfire’s innovative Horizon browser extension platform enables the next evolution for the mobile web: a more personal, contextual and social browsing experience. For example, while browsing their favorite site, a user can check the most ‘Liked’ content on that website, quickly share content they like on Facebook or tweet about it, download applications related to the topics on the page, and more. In short, Skyfire’s browser toolbar enables addictive one-click access to recommendations tailored for the user as they browse, and makes browsing social.

Revitalizing Strategic Real EstateAs the mobile landscape has shifted towards “Over the Top” (OTT) content, there is a strategic value to operators in finding ways to get back in front of their subscribers in a relevant, positive way. The mobile marketplace has transformed from a walled-garden to an open garden in which OTT content and services co-exist with what mobile operators offer. Skyfire offers a new and powerful way for mobile operators to establish their brand presence and monetize the mobile web activity on the device while enhancing user experience.

Operators report that while once the vast majority of subscribers visited the operator “deck” or “portal” each month, on smartphones this activity has effectively vanished. The Horizon browser extension platform and accompanying CMS give operators new tools to re-imagine the operator deck for an OTT, social media-friendly world, going with users to their favorite destinations, while giving users control in personalizing their toolbar to make it their own, and making relevant recommendations for app discovery, services and more. In effect, Horizon provides “beach front real estate” to operators in the most popular app on mobile devices, and restores an interaction with users beyond simply providing the proverbial “pipe.”

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Horizon Browser Extension Platform

Key HighlightsPersonal Browsing AssistantHorizon enables an extensive array of browser extensions that enhance user experience: contextual browsing, content discovery, social applications, and browser utilities. The extensions can be targeted based on web page context, social graph recommendations, and each user’s individual browsing history. New personalization filters can be added to further refine the targeting.

Expand Engagement and RevenueHorizon creates “beach front” property for mobile operators. The platform includes a robust ad-serving and yield optimization platform that operators can use for ad inventory, and to promote carrier services or app recommendations.

The platform is integrated with numerous commercial ad networks, and can be integrated with any mobile operator’s advertising provider of choice.

Social Engagement MultiplierHorizon browser extension platform offers one-click sharing of content via Facebook™, Twitter™ and other communities. This feature increases content engagement - which the mobile operator can monetize via ad placement or merchandising of context-specific products and services

Personal, Contextual & Social EngagementHorizon enables an extensive array of new browser extensions that enhance user experience: contextual recommendations, App discovery, social applications, and browser utilities. The extensions can be added or deleted from what is essentially an extension marketplace or library, and recommended extensions can be targeted based on webpage context and user browsing history. From extensive field testing, the most popular features of Horizon deeply

integrate the Social Graph into browsing, such as buttons to one-click check the user’s News Feeds or share their favorite content via Facebook™, Twitter™ and email. Further, the Horizon engine utilizes the social graph for community-based and friend-based recommendations on fresh content around the Web. The unique aspect to all browsing extension activity within Horizon is that it is contextual to the sites and topics the user is browsing, and thereby highly relevant and filtered for the user’s interests during any given browsing session.

New Revenue OpportunityMobile operators can enable new revenue streams by being at the center of the most common user behavior on the smartphone: mobile browsing. The toolbar acts as a personal assistant to the user. Mobile operators can use the toolbar to promote their own content, advertise and recommend products and services. The premium “beach front” real estate creates a highly targeted ad inventory that can garner high CPMs. The toolbar platform includes a world-class ad server and works with multiple ad networks.

Fully Customizable and ExtensibleHorizon is fully customizable and extensible by both the mobile operator and the consumer. The mobile operator can define different templates for target devices. Users can discover and install more extensions with ease and personalize the toolbar to their taste. Users can also reorder the buttons as they prefer. The toolbar scrolls with a flick, allowing multiple screens of extension buttons, and is expandable as users take advantage of the “Add More” feature.

Self-Managed and LightweightThe Horizon solution comprises a lightweight client component that integrates with the native browser. The client is a simple addition to the OEM’s own (generally WebKit based) browser, and is extensible to virtually any smartphone or tablet. The browser extension platform is managed via a cloud-based secure Content Management System (CMS). Marketing managers can conveniently update the already-deployed toolbar, even across millions of devices in the field.

If an operator wishes to change where a given button directs users – if, for instance, a preferred content partner

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Keep in touch

Horizon Browser Extension Platform

Key Highlights has shifted - a marketing manager can update millions of devices via the CMS control panel in minutes. The cloud CMS also allows for the addition of new buttons. Once the updates are ready and tested, they can be pushed to live devices using over-the-air protocol, and the changes are effective the next time the user opens their browser.

The OTA update mechanism enables an automated and self-managed toolbar, one in which consumers don’t have to worry about downloading new software nor installing special firmware on their devices.

Fast Time to MarketHorizon offers a turnkey system, including a cloud-based CMS and a small client-side extension added to any native WebKit browser. The solution is pretested with the native browser on a variety of major OEM devices and form factors, including smartphones and tablets. The solution is pre-packaged with a variety of fully functional quick-start toolbar templates, and includes monetization modules such as ad insertion, content sharing and contextual eCommerce.

Aside from the toolbar integration on the device, all other functional components are hosted in the cloud, allowing for a fast launch.

About Skyfire Skyfire, an Opera Software company, is dedicated to leveraging the power of cloud computing to radically improve the mobile Internet experience for both operators and their consumers.

Skyfire’s innovative, next-generation carrier cloud approach to mobile video and data optimization provides wireless operators with huge cost savings, elastic capacity, and the ability to surgically enhance quality of experience on a per-stream level. The company has also introduced the first mobile browser extension platform to enable robust contextual & social browsing, as well as enhanced monetization opportunities for operators.

The company currently counts 4 of the largest mobile operators in the world as customers for its Rocket Optimizer™ and Horizon™ solutions.

Skyfire was founded in 2007, and is located in Mountain View, CA, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

We welcome customer inquiries at [email protected]

Visit us at www.skyfire.com for more information.

© 2014 Skyfire, Inc. All rights reserved. Skyfire, the Skyfire logo and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of Skyfire and its subsidiaries in the USA and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

Fully CustomizableHorizon can be fully customized to meet mobile operator requirements. The toolbar can be configured with different extensions targeting particular classes of devices. Once deployed, users can also easily customize the toolbar to best fit their own browsing behavior.

Speed and FlexibilitySkyfire’s patent-pending hybrid UI technology provides the best of both worlds – Native and Web App. Horizon extensions have the speed and efficiency exhibited by native apps, along with the flexibility of web apps. Enhancements or changes to existing extensions, as well as brand new extensions can be deployed instantly, instead of months.

Cloud-Based ManagementThe Horizon browser extension platform is hosted in a secure cloud. The platform provides a convenient management portal, allowing for both pre- and post-deployment changes to the toolbar via over-the-air updates, just as web applications do. The management portal supports interactive changes that can be tested and deployed rapidly.