Cross Platform

Microsoft inks Silverlight deal with Nokia

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

Microsoft announced it will create of a version of its Silverlight cross-platform browser plug-in for the Symbian OS, enabling video and interactive web application services for Nokia Series 60 smartphones and Series 40 devices. Microsoft and Nokia are scheduled to announce the agreement today at Microsoft's MIX08 conference. Microsoft is positioning the integrated rich-media Silverlight solution as an alternative to Adobe's Flash Player, and already boasts content partnerships with NBC and Major League Baseball. Microsoft will release a Windows Mobile-based version of Silverlight later this year, according to John Case, general manager of Microsoft's developer division: "The whole Silverlight strategy is to provide one programming model and ubiquity," Case told CNET.

For more on the Microsoft/Nokia deal:
-read this CNET article

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Microsoft mulling Windows/Zune convergence
Sony Ericsson debuts Windows Mobile device
NTT DoCoMo intros Windows Mobile smartphones
Microsoft releases Windows Mobile 6.0

Developers hamstrung by Vodafone software changes

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Mobile developers are up in arms over changes initiated by British operator Vodafone that threaten to hamper the quality of their services and applications while also limiting premium content sales. PCWorld reports that Vodafone recently implemented software created by adaptive content delivery service provider Novarra designed to reformat website content for improved display on mobile screens--however, some firms contend that in the process, Vodafone also removed user agent applications that enable their websites to detect the model and capabilities of handsets viewing their content, in turn optimizing content for that particular phone. Without the user agent, premium content sites also cannot determine which ringtones, wallpapers and related downloads are compatible with a particular phone.

According to PCWorld, Vodafone-approved firms on the operator's so-called "white list" were notified of the changes, and the user agent is so far working correctly in relation to their services. But other developers complain it is difficult and time-consuming to gain white-list access, and that Vodafone requires companies to make certain changes to their site behaviors in order to gain the carrier's seal of approval. At present it is unknown whether Vodafone's removal of the user agent capability was deliberate--on a developers' forum hosted by the operator, one user posting as a Vodafone employee defended the move and said customer feedback is so far mostly positive. But in a blog post on the issue, mobile services developer Lucca Passani writes "The great majority of consumers won't realize that they have been deprived of a service and will not complain."

For more on the Vodafone controversy:
- read this PCWorld article

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Radvision debuts SIP Developer Suite 5.0

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Next-generation video infrastructure and development tools provider Radvision announced the release of its SIP Developer Suite version 5.0, a tool the company says is designed for building IMS and non-IMS SIP applications ranging from high-end infrastructure SIP systems to compact embedded devices. The SIP Developer Suite includes a set of toolkits, add-ons, and packages all supporting the latest 3GPP and TISPAN IMS SIP standards, among them signaling compression, security agreement, IMS registration, OMA standard-compliant presence and IM capabilities, XML support and STUN standard NAT Traversal capabilities.

The SIP Developer Suite is coded in ANSI C and cross-platform compatible and is available for all common operating systems, providing multiple API layers and promising extensive functionality and complete flexibility. "With the release of the SIP Developer Suite, Radvision opens the door to the next stage in the evolution of converged, next-generation IMS networks," said Radvision's Technology Business Unit product manager Sagi Subocki in a prepared statement. "The SIP Developer Suite offers many new opportunities for IMS mobile and fixed terminal vendors."

For more on the SIP Developer Suite:
- read this release

QUICKLINKS: Motorola closes Modulus acquisition; Is Nokia taking N-Gage games cross-platform? and much more...

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:59:55 -0400

Motorola closes Modulus acquisition. Article

Is Nokia taking N-Gage games cross-platform? Article

Sybase iAnywhere intros mobile forms for field inspection and survey applications toolkit. Release

uiActive closes New Zealand offices, retrenches to Australia. Article

Qualcomm debuts consumer portal via Ntelos. FierceMobileContent

GSM Association launches Mobile Innovation Program. Article

CMP Game Group issues Game Developer Census 2007. Release

Driving multiplayer games with BREW

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:02:59 -0400

Exit Games USA's CEO Tom Sperry believes in the future of multiplayer mobile gaming. His company launched BREW Extension in 2005--the only public BREW multiplayer API for game developers and publishers to create cross-platform multiplayer games. Sperry says that tool sets like BREW help enable multiplayer games and community features. "BREW has distinct advantages over its competitors like more direct access to hardware which allows for much faster response times," he says. "Plus Qualcomm's focus on quality, like the NSTL [National Software Testing Labs] certification process, and their developer support makes BREW the language of choice for high quality games that drive revenue for all parties---carrier, publishers and developers."

Expect to hear more about BREW's role in multiplayer games. Sperry will be speaking about multiplayer games at the "Multiplayer Mobile Gaming and Community on the BREW Platform" panel at the BREW conference on Friday at 3 p.m.

Editor's Corner

Eli Dickinson — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

What's new with Mobile AJAX?
One interesting effect of Apple's strange stance on third-party iPhone software is that many developers are looking into mobile AJAX again. After all, doesn't have Flash or Java, but it does have a fancy AJAX-capable browser.

Opera's Platform is still considered the primary AJAX platform, but it requires an extended version of the Opera browser and few consumer devices already have the client. Another option is Pocket IE, which supports the XMLHTTP object, but it's hardly cross-platform.

One new option is Mojax, a new AJAX-like development platform from mFoundry. Mojax has been generating a lot of buzz even though it's still in private beta. The catch is that it doesn't actually run through a Web browser; Mojax scripts ("moblets") actually consist of a Java ME interpreter applet that ties together JavaScript, XML and other tools. Critics say Mojax isn't a true AJAX platform and mFoundry CTO Rodney Aiglstorfer insists that it is, but the truth is it doesn't really matter. The point is that developers can (theoretically) use Mojax to create cross-platform applets without writing a single line of Java. However I'm wary of any system that is supposed to make programming easy (especially on mobile devices).

Ever since Open Gardens published an essay on the "disruptive potential" of mobile AJAX in March 2006, mobile AJAX has been constantly "just around the corner," but in the past month or two there have actually been some interesting developments. I wrote that 2007 will see the first round of real mobile AJAX apps. I still think that this is true and my money is still on Opera Platform, but Mojax is definitely worth watching, especially once it hits 1.0. - Eli

Editor's Corner

Eli Dickinson — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:01:39 -0500

Flash Lite
This isn't the first time I've written about Flash Lite, and from the looks of things it won't be the last either. The platform, which is already huge in Korea and Japan, is making serious new headway in the U.S.

I'm talking, of course, about the Verizon-Adobe initiative to bring Flash Lite for BREW to Verizon phones. The deal is apparently an extension of a pact Adobe signed with Verizon back in April, just after Adobe acquired Flash Lite creator Macromedia. The initial plan is to pre-install Flash Lite on four high-end Verizon phones and provide free OTA updates for existing owners of those phones. Presumably Flash Lite will eventually be deployed more compatible Verizon phones.

By its nature, Flash Lite is unlikely to power complex games or any sort of enterprise applications, but for simple, cross-platform mobile content it's hard to beat. As part of the deal, Verizon is offering Flash Lite content on its Get It Now service, which has spurred several well-known developers to create new Flash Lite apps and update existing titles. The Weather Channel has already created a Flash Lite version of its popular weather forecasting app, and India Games is offering special content from NBC's "The Office." - Eli

BlackBerry development with Crossfire and Visual Studio

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:01:36 -0400

DevX has a new tutorial on using AppForge's Crossfire development suite to create BlackBerry apps. Crossfire is not without its faults, but I like it because I think it represents the future of mobile development: An attractive IDE and cross-platform environment that abstracts away as much of the drudge work as possible. Article

Editor's Corner: Flash Lite, platform of the future?

Eli Dickinson — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:01:40 -0400

Adobe (formerly Macromedia) has a pretty simple strategy for Flash Lite: aggressively push the Flash platform as a cross-platform alternative to BREW, Java, .NET and other "real" languages. Nokia has begun bundling Flash Lite with its latest S60 (3rd Edition) phones and the recently announced Nokia Content Discoverer promises to offer Flash content along with the usual ringtones, games and apps. Similarly, at BREW 2006 Verizon VP John Stratton urged developers to consider building Flash Lite apps for Verizon's Get It Now service and Adobe commissioned Rocket Mobile to create a proof-of-concept Flash Lite screensaver that integrates with its existing BREW wallpaper application.

For years now there's been buzz about using Flash Lite to deliver mobile marketing. It's no surprise: Marketing efforts need a slick UI and, above all, wide device compatibility. However, many other types of mobile applications could benefit from a dynamic UI and better compatibility. Stephanie Rieger details some use cases for Flash-based mobile enterprise apps on her blog.

Adobe is clearly trying to repeat the success of Flash on the desktop, which grew from little more than a set of UI widgets into a legitimate cross-platform Web environment. I wish them the best of luck: Breaking down the compatibility barriers between devices and platforms is always good news for developers and consumers. - Eli

Handango debuts new billing models

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Handango has (finally!) opened up a new cross-platform API that allows developers to bills users for software in new ways. Developers can create try-before-you-buy mobile apps, subscription-based apps, pay-per-use apps and declining balance apps. Handango was previously limited to one-time purchase apps and free trial versions. Website