OMH (Open Market Handsets) is an initiative led by the CDMA Development Group (CDG) to increase device variety and offer new channels of distribution within the CDMA ecosystem. The OMH enables the purchase and use of an OMH device for any OMH-compliant operator network. OMH requires that all operator and subscriber specific provisioning is moved from the device onto the Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM) or SIM card for CDMA devices. Supporting a wide breadth of core functionality that includes features such as voice, SMS, packet data (both 1X and EV-DO), MMS, WAP/Browser, BREW, Java, and LBS, OMH allows OEMs to develop full-featured devices that can be sold across the entire CDMA ecosystem of OMH-enabled operators rather than to a single operator.
Reduces inventory risk by enabling the same device to be sold across multiple operators / markets
Reduces time-to-market and eliminates operator specific testing
Increases amortization of higher tier device costs (via a larger addressable market)
Creates opportunities for new, OEM-hosted services
Increases brand awareness
Distribution
Creates an open distribution channel to complement the operator's current distribution model
Simplifies supply chain management
Expands volume and variety of CDMA devices
Subscribers
Widens available selection of CDMA devices
Increases customer touch-points / retail locations for CDMA devices
Special Interest Group (SIG)
The OMH Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed in January of 2008 to lead the OMH initiative. The SIG provides a venue for stakeholders such as operators, device manufacturers, R-UIM/SIM card vendors, and distributors to ensure that market needs are being fully addressed and facilitate commercialization and worldwide expansion of the initiative. Reference documents and resolutions follow a standard approval structure that allows for different levels within the CDG organization to review and approve suggested implementation guidelines and reference documents.
The OMH SIG meets face-to-face three to four times a year, in addition to holding various conference calls. As activity in the working groups increase, fewer specific work items will fall directly to the OMH SIG plenary.
The OMH Test requirements and Acceptance Group (TAG) is a technical working group under the OMH SIG tasked with the following responsibilities on behalf of the OMH ecosystem:
Manage OMH test requirements
Provide an industry forum for discussing OMH test requirements and acceptance
Accept devices and networks into the OMH ecosystem and authorize use of the OMH Logo
Maintain an ecosystem website that lists all accepted OMH devices and networks
The OMH Marketing Working Group (MWG) is a working group under the OMH SIG tasked with marketing communications (messaging, Web site, logo, etc.) to promote and to support the OMH initiative.
