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Nokia releases software for developing connected mobile games in Java technology

SNAP Mobile, Nokia’s end-to end solution for connected mobile gaming in Java(TM) technology, has today announced its latest Software Development Kit (SDK 2.0). After several years of market deployment and continuous technology development based on developer feedback, the SNAP Mobile SDK 2.0 has evolved to make game development even more intuitive with a simpler API, faster emulation and testing tools. The SDK is free of charge and available through Forum Nokia, the largest mobile development community worldwide with 3.4 million registered members.

“With connected gaming on the rise, we’re pleased that Nokia is able to offer developers a Java ME based solution that can be run across a wide variety of devices,” said Craig Gering, senior director of Embedded Java Software, Sun Microsystems. “Sun and Nokia have been working together to ensure that the SNAP Mobile SDK works well with both the Sun Java Wireless Toolkit, and with the NetBeans IDE. Combining the SNAP Mobile SDK with Sun’s award-winning mobile development solutions gives mobile game developers a highly productive environment to create the most entertaining experience for today’s connected consumers.”

The SNAP Mobile SDK 2.0 provides tools for creating connected mobile games for a broad range of Nokia and non-Nokia devices that comply with Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) 2.0 and Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) 1.1. The SDK includes the SNAP Mobile Client API libraries, an Emulation Environment application, a handset and network compatibility test tool, and sample applications and documentation that can be accessed from any Java Integrated Developer Environment (IDE).

The latest SNAP Mobile SDK is a significant step forward for Nokia with a new object-oriented API and improved UI framework that makes it more accessible for Java game developers to build games with online community functionality, such as in-game user registration and log-in, unique user identification, multiplayer and massively multiplayer gaming with opponent matchmaking and player rankings, Instant Messaging and contact list building. Additionally, the SDK strives to make it easier for developers to program because it requires fewer API calls to the server, especially in terms of error handling, and has reduced compliance testing from approximately two hours to one hour. With a combined operator network and handset compatibility test, developers can test their game in relation to specific local requirements.

“The SNAP Mobile SDK 2.0 makes it easier for developers to write and debug a connected mobile Java game, and brings fun to development,” said Randolf Wu, business development director, PocketNet. “I had the SDK up and running on my desktop within minutes of downloading. It’s invaluable as it provides a realistic game play environment for a cellular network. For example, it can simulate error conditions so that we can check that our games will respond appropriately when an error occurs. The SNAP Mobile SDK is a mature toolset to the point where bugs are not really an issue, and it just gets better and better with each release.”

The SDK 2.0 can be downloaded at www.forum.nokia.com/snapmobile

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