Nokia

Streamezzo intros Skinnable Application Suite

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:06:51 -0400

Mobile media solutions and platforms provider Streamezzo announced the first four elements of its Skinnable Application Suite, which the firm says offers independent software developers, system integrators and mobile agencies an alternative environment for developing mobile services like websites, news portals and multimedia portals. The four skinnable applications--Music Player, VoD Player, RSS Reader and Photo Gallery--can be deployed across all mobile operating systems as well as branded and customized with full skins. In addition, two or more applications can be combined, and all apps promise efficient integration with existing mobile services. Streamezzo adds it will soon make available to developers a series of premium components to complement the Skinnable Application Suite.

For more on Skinnable Application Suite:
- read this release

Related articles:
Streamezzo releases Rich Media Workbench
Nokia, Streamezzo team for MyNSeries

Developers install Android on Nokia N810

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:08:49 -0400

With official Google-sanctioned devices operating on the Android OS still weeks or even months away, an enterprising member of the Internet Tablet Talk forum who goes by the username "penguinbait" posts that he has successfully installed Android on the open-source Nokia N810 device. According to penguinbait, the installer instructions are as follows:

Put android.img.bz2 on your memory card.
After putting the file on the memory card (either one), make sure 110MB free space is available on the card holding the android.img.bz2 image.
Download the file from either http://tablethacker.com/software/android.img.bz2 or http://penguinbait.com/android.img.bz2.
Install the .deb from either http://tablethacker.com/software/android-installer.deb
or http://penguinbait.com/adroid-installer.deb.
Reboot.
Launch Android from the extras menu.

For more on the Android installation:
- read this Internet Tablet Talk forum thread

Related articles:
Android is not delayed. But who cares if it is?
Google demonstrates Android applications
Verizon Wireless spurns Android for LiMo

Forum Nokia embraces WidSets

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:58:09 -0400

Nokia's global developer program Forum Nokia announced its support for the WidSets mobile content consumption, creation and sharing service. WidSets widget downloads operate across more than 300 mobile device models supporting MIDP 2.0 (including roughly 500 million Series 40 and S60 devices worldwide), delivering consumers access to Web content optimized for the mobile platform. Forum Nokia's developer offering promises tools and technologies including WidSets documentation, the WidSets SDK and widget examples alongside articles and feedback from the Nokia mobile developer community.

For more on Nokia's WidSets support:
- read this release

Related article:
Forum Nokia introduces Launchpad

Global smartphone sales grow 29 percent in Q1

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:01:13 -0400

Worldwide smartphone sales totaled 32.2 million units in the first quarter of 2008, a 29.3 percent increase over the year-ago quarter, according to a new report issued by market research firm Gartner. North American smartphone sales totaled 7.3 million units in Q1, a 106.2 percent year-over-year increase, while smartphone sales in Europe, Middle East, and Africa totaled 11.7 million units, a 38.7 percent leap. Nokia remains ahead of the vendor pack, commanding over 45 percent of the global smartphone market and notching a year-over-year sales increase of 25 percent--Research In Motion held on to second place, improving its worldwide market share to 13.4 percent and continuing to dominate the U.S. market at 42 percent. Apple moved into the number three slot, with 5.3 percent of the global smartphone market and jumping to number two in the U.S. with 20 percent. Gartner anticipates touchscreens, usability and application integration will continue to drive smartphone growth, especially as vendors and operators expand their portfolios to include open-platform devices.

For more on the Gartner smartphone report:
- read this release

Related articles:
Study: Smartphones driving mobile browser growth
Study: Smartphones dominating mobile game play

U.S. mobile device shipments decline in Q1

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

First-quarter mobile handset shipments in the U.S. slipped to 31 million units, down 28 percent year-over-year, according to a new report issued by market research firm The NPD Group. Overall handset sales revenues in the U.S. fell to $2.7 billion, a 7 percent slide from Q1 2007--according to NPD, with the nation's economic forecast grim and belts tightening, many consumers may be holding back on purchasing new devices. Motorola maintained its lead in U.S. market share, although unit sales declined from 35 percent in the first quarter of 2007 to 27 percent this year, followed by Samsung (18 percent), LG (17 percent), Nokia (8 percent) and RIM (5 percent). NPD adds that first-quarter sales favored more feature-rich devices than those sold a year ago, with smartphones representing 17 percent of all Q1 2008 purchases, up 10 percent year-over-year. During the quarter, almost 80 percent of phones sold boasted Bluetooth technology (up from 65 percent a year ago) and 60 percent of phones were music-enabled (up from just 41 percent a year ago).

For more on the NPD Group report:
-read this release

Related article:
Worldwide handset shipments slow in Q1

Nokia releases SNAP Mobile SDK 2.0

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Handset giant Nokia released the SNAP Mobile Software Development Kit 2.0, updating its end-to-end solution for Java-based mobile gaming. Promising more intuitive mobile game development aided by a simpler API, faster emulation and testing tools, the free SNAP Mobile SDK 2.0 enables creation of connected Java ME mobile games for a broad range of Nokia and non-Nokia devices in compliance with Mobile Information Device Profile 2.0 and Connected Limited Device Configuration 1.1. It includes the SNAP Mobile Client API libraries, an Emulation Environment app, a device and network compatibility test tool, and sample apps and documentation accessible via any Java Integrated Developer Environment.

According to Nokia, SNAP Mobile SDK 2.0 makes it easier for developers and publishers to create game titles boasting online community functionality like in-game user registration and log-in, unique user identification, multiplayer and massively multiplayer competition (complete with opponent matchmaking and player rankings), instant messaging and contact list building. In addition, the SDK cuts down on API calls to the server and reduces compliance testing from approximately two hours to one.

For more on the SNAP Mobile SDK 2.0:
-read this release

Related articles:
Nokia launches Mobile Games Innovation Challenge
Microsoft inks Silverlight deal with Nokia
Nokia to reintroduce N-Gage

QUICKLINKS: Top Five Converged Devices; Microsoft walks away from Yahoo bid;

Tue, 06 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Top Five Converged Devices
No longer just voice-centric phones, mobile devices now come in a variety of different form factors and sport a slew of new capabilities. Check out FierceBroadbandWireless' list of the top converged devices so far this year.

> Microsoft walks away from Yahoo bid.

> Nokia promises new phones for U.S.

> Research In Motion inks distribution deal with Brightpoint.

> AT&T to offer Garmin phone for $500?

QUICKLINKS: Android Watch; Neonode N2 unboxing;

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Android Watch: Tracking Google's mobile progress
Since formally announcing its much-anticipated Android open-source mobile operating system late last year, web services giant Google has played its cards tight to the vest. Even with the first Android-based devices slated to hit the market within the next few months, myriad developmental questions remain. Click here for a FierceDeveloper web exclusive spotlighting what we do know about Android, six months on.

> Neonode N2 unboxing. FierceWireless

> Motorola reorganizes handset business. FierceWireless

> Microsoft completes Danger acquisition, restructures. FierceWireless

> Tough going for iPhone in Europe. FierceWireless

> Nokia introduces mobile wallet phone. FierceMobileContent

Nokia launches Mobile Games Innovation Challenge

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Nokia launched its worldwide Mobile Games Innovation Challenge, a global competition encouraging development of new game concepts that exploit the features and functionalities of the handset giant's N-Gage-compatible devices as well as its Java-and Symbian-based Series 40 or S60 devices. According to Nokia, the three most innovative game concepts will receive Nokia Publishing pre-production contract offers, with the first-place winner also awarded $40,000, second place earning $20,000 and third place given $10,000 to further develop the concept. Entries will be judged by an external panel of mobile gaming experts based on criteria including innovation, fun, feasibility of execution, and market potential--Nokia encourages contestants to enter more than one mobile game concept, and will accept submissions here through August 20, 2008. Winners will be announced at the Nokia Games Summit, taking place in Rome in October.

For more on the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge:
-read this release

Related articles:
Microsoft inks Silverlight deal with Nokia
Nokia to reintroduce N-Gage

QUICKLINKS: Nokia previews iPhone-killer named Tube; News Corp. may join Microsoft in Yahoo bid;

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Nokia previews iPhone-killer named Tube. FierceWireless

> News Corp. may join Microsoft in Yahoo bid. FierceMobileContent

> Report: Phone makers need to target diversity. FierceWireless

> Hands-on with Sony Ericsson's Xperia. FierceWireless