subject: Phone Applications Development [print this page] Days are really gone when mobile phones are defined as A mobile phone or mobile (also called cellphone and handphone ) is an electronic device used for mobile telecommunications
Now your mobile phones can accommodate computer programs which work together to solve a particular problem or to be used for a particular user-defined application. Yes everything only a computer was capable to do so far.
OK, before going into details of phone application development here, let us understand the need and demand of phone application and even before that we need to know what phone application development is?
Phone application development is the process by which applications are developed for handheld devices such as personal digital assistants, enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones. These applications are either pre-installed on phones during manufacture, or downloaded by customers from app stores and other mobile software distribution platforms
If you are a phone application developer or planning to become, there is a list of platform you can choose for the application you want to develop. Keep in mind that an application developed on one platform will not run on another.
To maximize reach and revenue for application, a developer must decide carefully which platforms they will support.
Even though this article can not cover all aspects of phone application development platforms, briefly we can have a look on them.
Java ME
It is used to provide simple applications on feature phones. Applications (including their data) cannot be larger than around 1 MB if they are to run on most phones. They must also be cryptographically signed in order to use APIs such as the filesystem access API.
Commonly used for games
Symbian platform
Designed from the start for mobile devices, the Symbian platform is a real time, multi-tasking OS specifically architected to run well on resource-constrained systems, maximizing performance and battery life whilst minimizing memory usage.
Android
Linux-based platform from the Open Handset Alliance, whose 34 members include Google, HTC, Motorola, Qualcomm, and T-Mobile. It is supported by over 34 major software, hardware and telecoms companies.
.NET Compact Framework
Primarily used for applications on Pocket PC/Windows Mobile devices, although it is now being extended to Android devices
BREW
It supports GPRS/GSM models, distributed via a Brew Content Platform. Little penetration in Europe, BREW can provide complete control of the handset and access to all its functionality.
Palm OS
Strong enterprise following in the important US market
Flash Lite
Used for devices that support the Flash Lite player.
And
Micro browser based. Lightweight functionality provided via a web-interface
Java ME is the most popular out of all available platforms, do not take is very seriously this is only my opinion, make sure to collect your data and be satisfied before moving into coding.
There is huge demand of phone applications and customer application development not only in UK but outside UK as well. Even tire 2 countries are peaking up and going to create massive demand in near future.
So you have lots of work in hand, make sure to convert this opportunity into reality.
