Sprint Nextel, Nokia courts Java developers

Sprint Nextel Corp. is hoping to spur creation of innovative applications with a new Java platform, a resurrected developer program and an upgraded toolkit.
The carrier used the opening day of JavaOne in San Francisco to tout Titan, a platform aimed at “open(ing) the door to millions of developers who have traditionally designed for a desktop environment.” The platform, which offers the same codes, tools and resources as those used for desktop applications, is available in beta version for Windows Mobile developers.
Sprint Nextel also relaunched its Professional Developer Program, a $5,000-per-year program that grants access to “the majority” of Sprint Nextel’s restricted APIs as well as technical support and access to the certification process. And the operator unveiled the Sprint Wireless Toolkit 3.3, which includes developer resources for the upcoming Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Instinct (one of the devices vying for the coveted “iPhone killer” moniker) and features enabling developers to debug programs more easily.
“JavaOne has been a great annual event for us,” said Kevin Packingham, Sprint Nextel’s VP of wireless product management, “and we’re excited to participate again this year to provide developers with the most current information on exciting Sprint Products, including the latest phones like the Samsung Instinct.”
Nokia Corp. also used the event to plug an upgraded version of its Java-based software development kit. SNAP Mobile, the Finish firm’s Java gaming business, said the upgraded kit provides tools for creating connected mobile games for a broad range of devices (from Nokia and other manufacturers) that comply with Mobile Information Device (MIDP) 2.0 and Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) 1.1.
The SDK includes the SNAP Mobile Client API libraries, Nokia said, as well as an Emulation Environment application and a handset and network compatibility test tool.