Companies creating Flash content for Nokia mobile devices to gain access to technical resources and business development opportunities via membership in new PRO Zone
Espoo, Finland - Nokia (NYSE: NOK) today announced the creation of Forum Nokia PRO: Flash Zone, a new support program made possible by the collaboration of Nokia and Adobe, intended for Forum Nokia PRO companies who want to create Macromedia Flash? applications for devices deployed by wireless operators worldwide. Now delivered by Adobe, Macromedia Flash technology is increasingly being adopted across mobile and consumer electronics markets. The Forum Nokia PRO: Flash Zone will offer the member companies of Forum Nokia PRO that develop exciting Flash business, gaming, entertainment and lifestyle applications for Nokia mobile devices exclusive access to direct technical support and training opportunities from Adobe, as well as advanced business development opportunities.
Forum Nokia PRO: Flash Zone joins other specialized developer offerings launched in 2005 - the Forum Nokia PRO Symbian Zone, the Forum Nokia PRO Enterprise Zone and Forum Nokia PRO Networks Zone. Forum Nokia PRO, Nokia's fee-based support program that counts more than 400 of the world's leading development companies as members, will administer the new program through its Americas, EMEA and Asia regional operations.
In addition to the full range of services offered by Forum Nokia PRO, specific benefits to members of the new Forum Nokia PRO: Flash Zone include discounts on Adobe software, free copies of selected Flash Lite(TM) Players for testing on supported handsets, direct technical support via a dedicated email list, potential opportunities to market applications at events, exclusive online seminars and technical content, early access to upcoming product information and access to beta programs.
"The launch of the Forum Nokia PRO: Flash Zone continues and expands the relationship between Nokia and Adobe that has resulted in the deployment of Macromedia Flash technology on Nokia devices and collaboration on the Flash 8 development tool," said Lee Epting, vice president, Forum Nokia. "The new Zone underscores the strength of Nokia's commitment to supporting its PRO developer community and to developers already working with Flash technology, providing technical, training and business development resources that will help to extend the boundaries of mobile applications."
Forum Nokia's new PRO Zone follows on a previous licensing agreement providing rights for Nokia's integration of Flash technology into mobile device platforms, including S60, the world's leading smartphone platform. The integration is evidenced by Nokia's intent to include Flash Lite in certain Nokia Nseries multimedia devices and Nokia Eseries business devices starting with S60 3rd Edition, as well as in other select S60 and Series 40 Nokia devices.
"There are over one million Flash developers around the world and this highly innovative and creative ecosystem is poised to deliver some great applications and content to Nokia customers," said Gary Kovacs, vice president of Mobile and Device Solutions at Adobe. "Forum Nokia's new PRO: Flash Zone gives mobile developers a hub to support them in creating the content and applications that will engage customers worldwide who choose Nokia's exciting new Flash enabled Series 40 and S60 devices."
Flash Lite is Adobe's Flash profile for mobile phones, adding several key features related to connectivity, device-specific capabilities and standards support, and supporting a mobile profile of Adobe's own SWF format.
Utilizing Flash Professional 8 authoring tool, developers now can create new and exciting Flash Lite content and applications for deployment on mobile devices implementing Flash technology. The Flash Professional 8 authoring tool includes interactive device emulators that support over 90 different device profiles, making it easy for developers to build content once and test it for multiple device models, using preset and updatable profiles for devices enabled by Flash Lite.
Nokia's new Flash-enabled devices will enable consumers to download Flash entertainment, gaming, business and productivity applications over the air and to play Flash content stored in either onboard or removable memory. Flash applications can be dynamically updated with streaming data to the device from a remote server over an HTTP connection, pushing far beyond the boundaries of static screensavers, wallpapers and other non-Flash applications.
Developers interested in the Forum Nokia PRO: Flash Zone and the Forum Nokia PRO can receive complete information and access membership applications by visiting: https://pro.forum.nokia.com/site/global/home/prozones/p_prozones.jsp
