Mobiwire announces Surface UX interface for Android devices

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY FIRM Mobiwire has announced an overlay user interface called Surface UX for Android devices, which will be available from June.

Formerly Sagem Wireless, Mobiwire said the idea behind the interface is to bring all the most used applications and functions to the front, or surface, of the phone's interface. The aim is to eliminate the need for simple shortcuts to apps and minimise use of a menu or list of apps.

Surface UX is similar to HTC Sense and Mobiwire has created its own home screen structure, status bar, main menu and a series of patented "Surface Apps" which make up the overlay. Jerome Nadel, EVP of Mobiwire told The INQUIRER that "we want to make the interface easy to use straight out the box"

These 'surface apps' are better described as complex or advanced widgets that provide as much usability as possible for the task at hand. These consist of Stream, Post, Music and Web. The main one is Stream which aims to incorporate as much as possible such as phone calls, text messages, social networking updates and RSS feeds.

The Post surface app is designed to share posts on forums like Facebook and Twitter in one go. The Music and Web - which will be called Shop - surface apps are fairly self explanatory and there are plans for more beyond these initial four.

Switcher is possibly the most interesting feature of the interface, which is designed for multi-tasking. The user can swipe between a maximum of 9 different panes for running applications.

Nadel said that the first device with the interface embedded should arrive in June but was unable to disclose what manufacturer or handset it will appear on or whether it will carry Mobiwire branding as the company no longer makes its own hardware. Surface UX will need Android 2.2 at minimum and Nadel said that a processor running at 800HMz or better will be needed to run it.

There is also the possibility that the interface could be loaded onto a device that doesn't come with Surface UX such as the Nexus S which has no overlay. Nadel said that a Honeycomb tablet version will be available in the fourth quarter.

We didn't see the interface in action today but Nadel has promised a live demo on a handset in the coming weeks. µ