Get Started with Mobile Development

So, you’ve decided to start developing applications, content, or services for Nokia devices. Good thinking!

Whether you’re pursuing this for personal pleasure or because you want to take your business into the mobile space, Forum Nokia offers a wealth of resources to help you design, build, test, certify, market, and sell or promote your creations to mobile users. Many in the business of mobile development have found that Nokia devices can give them access to hundreds of millions of users whose appetite for mobile applications, content, services, and websites continues to grow.

This page provides links to the resources you’ll need to start taking your development skills mobile.

Let’s get started:

• Are you a professional developer who wants to create applications that run on Nokia devices?
• Are you a web developer who wants to present your website or webservice on Nokia devices?
• Are you a content developer who wants to create audio, video, or multimedia content for Nokia devices?
• Are you a mobile device user who wants to get the most from your Nokia device?
• Are you looking for information about Forum Nokia services?

Do you already have good background knowledge of your chosen mobile development technology? If so, consider jumping straight to the e-learning section of the Forum Nokia website. There you can find a wealth of training presentations and screencasts that go beyond the basics.

Getting started: professional development of mobile applications

Nokia’s platforms offer a wealth of runtime environments for creating every type of application imaginable. To find out more about getting started, select your preferred development technology below:

	Qt Simplify the development of power applications for Symbian and the Maemo platform. Get the advantage of cross platform development.
	C++ on Symbian Unleash the full power of Symbian, the world’s most popular smartphone platform.
	Linux C for the Maemo™ platform Create applications for the Maemo platform, Nokia’s Linux-based platform for Internet Tablets and smartphones.
	Java™ technology Create applications for the Java ME environment, the world’s most widely deployed mobile runtime.
	Adobe Flash Lite Create games, web-aware applications, and more — in a flash.

Getting started: bringing web content and web services to Nokia devices

Generating traffic is key to your website’s success. The number of users who browse the web on mobile devices is growing all the time, so you need to make sure that those users can easily navigate your site. To find out more, select the way you want to deliver your mobile web content:

	Ovi for developers Develop easily powerful mobile applications that use Ovi APIs and services.
	S60 Browser and Web Browser for Series 40 Take advantage of the web-browsing capabilities of the WebKit-based web browsers for Symbian and the Series 40 platform.
	Lite mobile browsing Make your website available to hundreds of millions of Series 40 device users.
	Web Runtime widgets Deliver your website to Symbian as if it were a native or Java™ application, with Web Runtime (WRT) widgets. Add web information to the home screen on Symbian OS, S60 5.0 devices from Nokia.
	Adobe Flash Lite Add powerful animations to your mobile website with Adobe Flash Lite.

You can also use any of the Nokia runtime environments to create on-device mobile applications that access your website or web service.

Getting started: developing content for Nokia devices

Today’s consumers use their mobile devices to play music, watch video, listen to podcasts, and more. If you’re an artist, a multimedia developer, a musician, or a filmmaker, you should know that now is the time to start delivering your content in mobile-friendly formats. To find out more, select your chosen medium:

Mobile multimedia
Deliver audio and video to mobile devices as downloads or streams.

Themes
Get your artwork and photographs to mobile consumers with themes.

Adobe Flash Lite
Create animated and interactive mobile content for devices and websites.

Getting started: for device users who want more

Your mobile device has so much more to offer than its out-of-the-box functionality. You may want to start building applications or simply find out what you can achieve with your phone without having to get technical. Here are some things you can do, along with links to the essential information you’ll need to get started:

Jazz up your device’s UI
Grab your favourite images and sounds and, using Carbide.ui, combine them to give your device a brand-new look.

Idle device? No way
An animated GIF can enliven your idle screen. Be adventurous: Use Adobe Flash Lite, animated Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), or Symbian C++ screen savers.

Do more with applications and content
To find professional content and applications, check out the Ovi Store or Download! on your device.

Create your own mobile applications
For an easy introduction to mobile development, try Python for S60. If you have a website, consider Web Runtime (WRT) widgets. Or get ambitious with Java™ technology and Symbian C++.

Don’t forget that you can also get a wealth of information from My Nokia.

Forum Nokia services

Whether you’re looking for answers to technical questions or want to explore how to accelerate the growth of your business, Forum Nokia has services that can help. To find out more, select from these options:

	Technical Support Get answers to your technical questions from Forum Nokia experts who provide per-incident technical support.
	Forum Nokia Launchpad Get extra help from Forum Nokia. Forum Nokia Launchpad offers excellent opportunities to developers who are serious about mobile development.
	Forum Nokia PRO Get premium help from Forum Nokia. If you really want to make your mobile business fly, turn to Forum Nokia PRO, which offers developers Forum Nokia’s highest level of technical and business assistance.
	Forum Nokia Champion Forum Nokia Champion honours top mobile developers from around the world, recognising them for their outstanding skills and dedication to the Forum Nokia community.
	Forum Nokia Wiki Check out the Forum Nokia Wiki for a wealth of information from experienced independent developers and from the Forum Nokia technical-support team.
	Discussion Boards The Forum Nokia Discussion Boards enable you to ask questions and tap into the experience of members of the Forum Nokia Developer Community.
	Blogs The Forum Nokia Blogs are written by Forum Nokia staff and Forum Nokia Champions. Find out what’s happening and what’s hot in mobile development.