Swedish start-up Clayster used an open API from Ericsson Labs to create its own innovative application platform, focusing on the connected home segment. Clayster believes that opening up the telecom world to developers is the right thing for vendors, such as Ericsson, to do.

Stockholm-based Clayster began operations under its current name in August 2009.  But the company has a nearly 30-year-long history working in automation products and solutions for real estate companies.

Rikard Strid, CEO of Clayster, says that the company’s business is to help developers create applications that focus on the connected home segment and telecom operators. Clayster is already working with several Swedish application providers and hopes to release its first application store within sixth months.

“Our platform is device independent, operator independent, and supports real time services,” Strid says. “And our business model is very simple, the developers can use our platform free of charge and we take a cut of the application fee.”

Clayster even supports hobby developers through its Application Studio, a simple drag-and-drop, XML-based application development tool.

Recently, Clayster integrated a location API from Ericsson Labs into its development platform. It used it, together with Google Maps and OpenStreetMaps, to make a mashup, proof-of-concept application where users can share their position with selected contacts.

Strid says that Ericsson’s strong support of openness and collaboration is very positive. “We really like what Ericsson is doing in this area and believe that opening up the telecom world to developers is the right way to go,” he says.

It is also a bonus that Clayster’s headquarters are in Kista, the Swedish “capital” of mobile technology. Strid says the environment in Kista is excellent for start-ups. “Basically all the players we want to work with are represented here,” he says. “And the Kista Mobile and Multimedia Network, whose main purpose is to create growth opportunities for mobile start-ups, provides valuable support.”

By Benny Ritzén

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