Android gets femtocell 'chameleon phone' app

Today, Intrinsyc Software announced an Android app called UX-Zone that detects when the user has entered a particular femtocell coverage area, and switches to a new home screen with appropriate apps for that area.

Femtocell is a relatively young technology, which acts as an indoor miniature cell tower, giving users additional wireless coverage with the help of their home or office broadband connection. With UX-Zone, a user's Android home screen automatically changes to "Home" and "Office" modes when femtocell presence is detected.

Intrinsyc today said the possible uses extend much further than just Home and Office, though. For example, when a user enters a museum or particular retail store, the phone interface could change automatically to provide an optimized experience there.

The use of Android is only natural, as UX-Zone is part of the Femtoapps initiative from Ubiquisys Ltd, the femtocell company in which Google invested more than $42 million nearly two years ago.