Adobe Developer Center article released: Developing Flash Lite for BREW applications for Verizon Wireless
Punchkick Interactive has authored it’s first article for Adobe.com. Zak Dabbas and myself (Ryan Unger) co-authored Developing Flash Lite for BREW applications for Verizon Wireless. This article covers not only the technical side of developing applications for BREW for Verizon Wireless, but also the marketing aspects of distributing content directly to Verizon Wireless or to a content catalog partner such as Atom Entertainment, FunMobility, or Smashing Ideas.
The article has three main sections:
1. Understanding the Flash Lite for BREW marketplace
2. Becoming an authorized Qualcomm BREW developer
3. Testing content on a Verizon Wireless handset
Read the full article on Adobe.com
Introduction
At the October 2006 Adobe MAX conference, Adobe and Verizon Wireless announced a partnership that would make Flash Lite content available to over 37.5 million Verizon Wireless subscribers. Flash Lite developers were understandably excited about the announcement, and teaching developers how to create content for Verizon Wireless became a central focus of the MAX conference.This article will teach you how to develop Flash Lite for BREW content directly for Verizon Wireless. It will detail the process of becoming an authorized Qualcomm BREW developer, testing your Flash Lite for BREW content on a Verizon Wireless handset, and selling your content through Verizon Wireless.
In addition to understanding the technical specifics of creating Flash Lite for BREW content, this article will also discuss the pros and cons of using the direct model for developing and distributing Flash Lite for BREW content—including the real costs and anticipated returns on your development investment. It will also briefly cover the process of selling content through an content catalog partner, and the pros and cons associated with doing so.
Also, we would like to thank Phil Pastore for helping out with the headshots.
Learn more about Punchkick Interactive’s Flash Lite development capabilities.
I think I might buy the Nokia N75 on Amazon for $-5.01
Sorry for the lack of posts. I have been working on a large mobile project that will bring a steady flow of blogging over the next few weeks. In the meantime, lets chat about my next phone.
Found via Biskero: Amazon is selling the Nokia N75 after rebate for $-5.01. I have been looking for a good 240×320 Flash Lite 1.1 pre-installed phone—and this might be it. The N75 has received favorable reviews from Engadget including this one. I’ll post my own report after I play with it for a few days.
How To Cancel Verizon Wireless Without An Early Termination Fee
Verizon Wireless is increasing their text messaging rates by 50% and you can use that to get out of your contract. (Starting March 1 it will cost you 15 cents to send and receive instead of 10 cents.) A cancellation script was constructed on another blog for people to use during the call. They use scripts on us so why shouldn’t we have one too?
You can view the script here. It’s helping quite a few people cancel without a fee. Even if you don’t want to cancel your contract with them, you should still use it to get a credit on text messaging for the remaining life of your contract. Do it before March 1. Thirty minutes of your time can save you over fifty bucks.
Source: The Consumerist and Roosh
Learn more about Punchkick Interactive’s custom mobile software development capabilities.
Flash Lite :: Best Wireless/Mobile Development Tool or Add-in
JupiterWeb, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation, today announced the winners of Developer.com product of the year 2007 contest. Flash Lite 2 is the winner of wireless/mobile development tool or add-in.
Each year Developer.com has its Product of the Year contest. We ask readers to nominate then vote on the technologies, tools, and programs that they think are the best in their field. Last year we said that the contest’s results were the most clear-cut we had ever seen. This year’s results were even more clear-cut than ever. In the main category of Technology, the winner dominated the category with 61% of the votes. Tools such as Apache Ant, which won Development Utility of the year, and Adobe Flash Lite 2, which won Wireless/Mobile development tool of the year, both won by some of the widest margins we’ve ever seen.
Surprisingly we had a shift in brand alliance, four repeat winners, and a winner in the Wireless/Mobile Development Tool or Add-in category that we never expected.
Congratulations to the AMaD (Adobe Mobile and Devices) team.
Read the full article on developer.com.
Sprint Nextel consider Nokia as WiMax supplier
An article on Mobile Monday discussed the likely possibility that Sprint will join forces with Nokia in a big way for it’s new WiMax network that is expected to roll out by 2008. Does this mean more Flash Lite in North America? Possibly. However, bringing Nokia on as a major phone supplier would not be enough on it’s own.
Currently, Verizon Wireless and Sprint both use Qualcomm’s network. The difference is that Sprint has not signed a licensing agreement to use BREW for content distribution—so no Flash Lite.
Although the differences of WiMax and Sprint’s existing setup are not entirely clear to me, this may open the door for Flash Lite and Sprint.
The Essential Mobile WAP and Web Site Development Tools and Resources
If anyone is interested in designing or developing WAP sites for mobile phones, I have found some very useful information and put together this list of 11 essential tools for mobile Web development. You can also learn more about Punchkick Interactive’s mobile WAP and Web Site development capabilities.
Tools and Resources:
1. Mobi Ready score
Get your free page analysis and Mobi Ready score. This report tests the mobile-readiness of your site using industry best practices & standards
2. XHTML mobile phone emulator
Type in your .com / .net / .org / .biz, etc. site address and you can check how your site looks to a typical mobile phone user. Available handsets are the Nokia n70 and a Sony K750.
3. Submit Your Mobile Site to yahoo.com
This form lets you submit a mobile site to yahoo.com so that the mobile site will be included in search results when someone searches via their mobile handset at http://wap.yahoo.com.
4. The Mobile Domainatron
The Mobile Domainatron demonstrates a domain name’s mobile usability including: Calculating total keystrokes required to input the domain name on a typical i-mode mobile.
5. Mimic
Mimic (formerly i-Mimic) emulates either an N400i (European) or N505i (Japanese) i-mode mobile. Simply enter a URL and select the mobile you want to emulate.
6. YOSPACE.com phone emulators
You can either use the free online emulator for the 40+ handsets or you can use the standalone developer version on your PC. From here you can download the standalone version with a restriction of 5 minutes of use. Alternatively, you can buy a single user license is £299 + UK VAT.
7. WURFL – the Wireless Universal Resource File
The WURFL is an XML configuration file which contains information about capabilities and features of several wireless devices. The main scope of the file is to collect as much information as possible about all the existing wireless devices that access WAP pages so that developers will be able to build better applications and better services for the users.
8. Article :: The Mobile Web Top 10
Pukupi’s top 10 hints for building interoperable mobile web sites really spells out much of what has been questioned regarding mobile Web site development.
9. Article :: Making Small Devices Look Great
Opera has put together this wonderful resource that gives code examples, tips, and emulator advice for developing mobile XHTML pages.
10. Article :: Global Authoring Practices for the Mobile Web
This document gives general guidelines for web developers and content authors who are searching for directions to help create sites for the mobile web.
11. Blog :: http://www.handheldusability.com/
Handheld Usability is the first book to cover the emerging field of handheld product design. The book covers everything from product design cycles to optimum menu length and audicon (audio-icon) characteristics. Read the first chapter and preview other sections here.
Verizon to sell ads on mobile
A recent article on Mobile Monday reports, “Beginning early next year, the second largest mobile operator in the US, Verizon Wireless, will sell banner advertisements on news, weather, sports and other Internet sites that users visit and display on their mobile phones.”
Full story: http://www.mobilemonday.net/mm/story.php?story_id=5163
Sadly… no Chumby For Me
A new device was previewed at MAX called the Chumby. Several Chumbies were given away during a session at MAX, but sadly, I missed it. Better luck next year.
QUOTE: Introducing the chumby, a compact device that can act like a clock radio, but is way more flexible and fun. It uses the wireless internet connection you already have to fetch cool stuff from the web: music, the latest news, box scores, animations, celebrity gossip…whatever you choose. And a chumby can exchange photos and messages with your friends. Since it’s always on, you’ll never miss anything.
Back from MAX
This year I went to the Adobe MAX conference in Las Vegas. Everything was great (including the two poker tournaments that I placed 2nd in) but the best part was the focus that Adobe gave to mobile development and a new partnership with Verizon Wireless. Moving forward, Verizon Wireless in North America will be releasing Flash Lite 2.1 for BREW enabled mobile phones.
