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Technology Stocks : Nokia (NOK) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric L who wrote (16770)	11/26/2001 2:51:43 PM
From: Ruffian	Respond to of 34857

They will be throwing a lot of good money @ bad........imo.......

To: Eric L who wrote (16770)	11/27/2001 7:39:55 AM
From: elmatador	Respond to of 34857

Nokia challenges wireless application developers Ray Hegarty Nov 26, 2001, 07:37 PM ET As part of its attempt to jump-start the next round of wireless growth and maintain its domination of the wireless device market, Nokia has launched the Nokia Mobile Challenge. The contest is designed to encourage developers to create Symbian operating system and MIDP (mobile information device profile) Java-based applications for the Nokia 9210 Communicator and the company's newly launched Nokia 7650 imaging phone. The announcement follows Nokia's recently stated plans to license the underlying programming code for its mobile phone software to other manufacturers. Nokia said it would license its Series 60 smartphone device software platform, which includes a user interface library that enables third parties to differentiate the look and feel of a given device and utilize the underlying Symbian application platforms. Software is the biggest constraint and highest barrier to entry in the mobile device industry. Application categories in the Nokia Mobile Challenge include communications, entertainment and productivity enhancers. The MIDP Java contest will open immediately, while the Symbian OS-based application contest will begin on December 10. Winners will be announced in March 2002. Nokia says it will offer some entrants the opportunity to be distributed via its various sales channels. Winners may also be demonstrated at Nokia's customer events and trade shows during the first half of 2002. Context Nokia is becoming increasingly competitive with traditional software companies such as Microsoft, Palm, Qualcomm and Openwave. In particular, Nokia views Microsoft's attempts to extend its influence from the desktop to wireless in the shape of its Windows CE, Pocket PC and 'Stinger' platforms as the greatest threat to its future. In October, Microsoft announced Visual Studio .NET Release Candidate, extending its strategy for .NET mobile development. The release was aimed at 'smart' devices - those capable of downloading and running applications locally. Microsoft's .NET framework is a set of class libraries and programming interfaces that Microsoft is encouraging Web service developers to write to. Release Candidate includes Smart Device Extensions, software meant to hook development tools for Windows CE and Pocket PC into Visual Studio .NET. Microsoft has the built-in advantage of being able to leverage an existing army of developers through its Visual Basic integrated development environment. In contrast, Nokia has been struggling to attract developers to its Forum Nokia online service. The site includes free tools and emulators that developers can use to design and test applications for Nokia phones. Microsoft licenses its mobile platform to over 20 device manufacturers worldwide. It also has existing relationships with software companies including SAP, Siebel and PeopleSoft. Competition A lot of money has been spent over the past few years on integrating legacy data and new productivity applications, such as sales force automation and customer relationship management apps, with the intention to streamline essential business processes through the Web to increase productivity and to better service customers. Many businesses are now wondering how to leverage their existing infrastructures when going mobile. Microsoft and its developer partners can offer a flexible back end that integrates with existing data sources, and can also access existing application logic, making sure the mobile application solves the same business problem and is intuitive for existing Web users. Its .NET environment can also address evolving business needs. The business world is heading in the direction of Web services and XML - that along with other factors outside any mobile initiative will cause businesses to adopt mobile platforms. Conclusion Meanwhile, Nokia can argue it has the wireless networking expertise. Networking considerations are essential in mobile deployments, without them enterprises suffer from a number of inefficiencies. Nokia can claim that it understands the wireless environment - and the data transfer issues associated with wireless networks, such as large file downloads, too much data for a small screen and application device navigation - much better than Microsoft.