The Launch of a Joint Developer Challenge

 

San Francisco, CA  - Nokia (NYSE:NOK), and leading mobile operator Orange are throwing down a challenge to Java and Symbian OS & Series 60 developers worldwide to cook up cool mobile applications, mainly for WCDMA 3G but also for GPRS enabled terminals.  At the JavaOne developers conference in San Francisco, the two mobile communications stalwarts have launched the Orange - Nokia Developer Challenge, a two-phase competition for mobile application coders. 

 

The Challenge will give coders the chance to develop rich and innovative applications at Orange Code Camp, which takes place on September 13th - 16th at the Futuroscope science park near Poitiers, France.  As many as 250 developers are expected to descend on Orange Code Camp for real development and coding work with key experts from Orange and its major partners, including Nokia, the lead sponsor of the event.  Qualified, innovative coders with a track record in commercial applications and knowledge of application development will be able to participate, and the lucky selected finalists will have an option for commercial agreement with Orange to support and market their application. 

 

The Java Challenge - the first of the competitions - will start at JavaOne. Developers are asked to submit their best and most innovative application ideas by end of July. The best proposals for Java applications will then be selected in mid-August. The chosen developers will get prioritized support and developer tools, both before and during Orange Code Camp, in order for their applications to be Java Verified by the end of October.

 

The Symbian Challenge will commence at Orange Code Camp, where participants can discuss their ideas for Symbian OS & Series 60 applications face to face with leading Series 60 experts. This Challenge will target especially the WCDMA 3G space. The developers with the most creative application ideas can take advantage of a competence transfer program and access to Series 60 SDK/tools by the end of October.  As a result of the second challenge, the best applications will be finalized for Symbian Signed verification by February 2005. 

 

"We at Orange are proud of the innovative application offering we have for our customers. Our firm target is to increase our application portfolio and offer services that are the most enticing in the market. Mobile devices based on Series 60, the open smart phone software by Nokia, provide an excellent platform for developers to create and deploy exciting new applications," said Richard Hanscott, VP Orange Group Business Developments and Partnerships.

 

Nokia, as a platinum sponsor of Orange Code Camp, is a key partner in providing developer support throughout the event as part of the joint Developer Challenges.  Nokia will provide terminals, access to its Series 60 and Series 40 SDKs and tools, as well as technical support from Forum Nokia (www.forum.nokia.com). Nokia will also help during the auditing and certification process, in addition to supporting the development of applications. 

 

"We are excited about supporting a leading operator in mobile application development, and believe that the synergies between the Orange Partner Program and Forum Nokia will lead to an interesting and rewarding proposition for the Orange developers.  As part of this proposition we are offering the latest in our Series 40 and Series 60 Platforms for the Developer Challenge participants," said Lee Epting, Vice President, Forum Nokia.

 

Nokia sees that 2004 is the year of volume 3G network launches, with many major global operators inaugurating WCDMA 3G service this year.

 

"This project demonstrates the value added of Nokia's standards based end-to-end 3G offering. The time is ripe for developers to put all their creativity into play as Orange is rolling out its WCDMA networks," says Pertti Melamies, Vice President, Networks, Nokia.

 

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry.  Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people's lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and secure products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses.  Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges. More information is available at www.nokia.com.

 

Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and Singapore, Forum Nokia provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at www.forum.nokia.com.

 

Orange and wirefree are trademarks of Orange PCS Ltd. The Orange group is one of the world's largest mobile communications companies, with operations in 19 countries across Europe and beyond. It provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services. The Orange brand operates in the UK, France, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Thailand, the Ivory Coast, the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Botswana and Madagascar. The Orange group also has controlled operations in Belgium (Mobistar). The Orange group has a joint controlling interest in Egypt (MobiNil) and minority interests in Portugal (Optimus), Austria (One), and Mumbai/India (BPL Mobile). As at the end of March 2004, Orange was the largest mobile operator in both the UK with 13.8 million active customers, and France with 20.4 million registered customers. As at the end of March 2004, Orange controlled companies had over 50 million customers worldwide. Orange, along with TIM, Telefonica and T-Mobile, is a founding member of the FreeMove alliance.  Further information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.com.

 

Orange Partner is a global partner and developer program from one of the world's leading mobile operators - Orange. The program provides mobile application developers with online training, a research database, tools, testing processes, application programming interfaces and peer-to-peer contact via the Orange Partner portal - www.developers.orange.com. It also provides access to Orange global development centres and a whole range of other support services to members of the program. Orange Partner has been created to provide support to developers wishing to develop and propose solutions for possible distribution to a 50m-plus customer base in 19 countries.

 

 

Nokia

Communications, Networks

Tel.  + 358 (0) 7180 38198

E-mail: networks.communications@nokia.com

 

Nokia

Communications

Tel. +358 7180 34900

E-mail: press.office@nokia.com

 

Nokia Technology Communications
Tel: +358 7180 28244
Tel: +1 972 894 4573

 

 

Orange

Tel: +44 7866 772563

E-mail: stuart.jackson@orange.co.uk