Nokia provides two different sets of SDKs: 1) SDKs and 2) Prototype SDKs. SDKs emulate the phone behavior of Nokia devices as closely as possible, because their emulators are based on the same software as the specified Nokia devices. The emulators of a prototype SDK are based on the reference implementation of the Java™ APIs of the corresponding Platform. The main benefits of prototype SDKs are early availability and fast performance. Each prototype SDK package contains several Platform emulators to create and compile an application and verify its functionality for different Platforms and devices.

Nokia Prototype SDK for Java™ ME enables developers to quickly and efficiently run and test applications for devices compatible with the Series 40 Platform, the S60 Platform and the Series 80 Platform, as well as for the Nokia 7710 widescreen multimedia smartphone, before the final SDKs become available. The SDK is based on reference implementations of the Java™ APIs, providing early availability and fast performance. The tool consists of emulators, APIs, documentation, and examples. Applications are created, compiled, and packaged using a compatible integrated development environment (IDE), then are transferred to the SDK to verify the application's functionality. A text editor and command-line tools can also be used to create and compile an application.

The latest version 4.0 adds support for a new screen resolution (240 x 320) for the Series 40 Platform emulator. In addition, the new Series 40 Platform emulator supports the following new Java APIs: Scalable 2D Vector Graphics API (JSR-226), Security and Trust API (JSR-177), Wireless Messaging 2.0 API (MMS Support) (JSR-205).