Nokia invites developers to meet Mobile Challenge

 

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Posted on 27 Nov 2001 at 12:55

Fancy getting your mug shot on advertising hoardings across the land? This is the possible treat awaiting winners of the latest coding challenge.

Nokia has joined the ranks of other companies concentrating on 'developers, developers, developers'. Its 'Mobile Challenge' consists of a number of contests to build applications using MIDP Java and also the Symbian OS.

Targeting such models as the new Nokia 7650 imaging phone and the 9210 Communicator, application categories include 'communications', 'entertainment' and 'productivity enhancers'.

MIDP (Mobile Information Device Profile) Java is a particular subset of Java that - along with the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) - provides a Java environment suitable for small devices.

Competition criteria and registry information can be found at www.forum.nokia.com. While the MIDP Java contest is open now, the one for Symbian OS-based apps begins 10 December. Winners will be announced in March next year and as well as receiving Nokia handsets they are promised (threatened with?) an appearance in future Nokia print and online advertising...

Other similar recent moves include Palm's 'Powered Up' awards, a sort of Oscars for the handheld community, and Microsoft's .Net Best Awards 2001, which involves a large cash prize for a new application that takes advantage of .Net Web services.

These share the aim of encouraging - whether by peer-recognition or cash prizes - the development of applications for the respective platforms. As the companies well know, applications in particular, and content in general, will always serve to attract to attract new users...

A lowdown on... Java

Author: Alun Williams