Nokia focusing on Qt, HTML5 for app development

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Nokia is making Qt its sole application development framework and is supporting HTML5–both of which the company says are designed to benefit mobile app developers and customers.

The mobile phone maker said today its Qt decision means that mobile apps will be compatible with future versions of Symbian and MeeGo. Previously, developers could write directly for Symbian or MeeGo, each with its own specific development tools and environment.

With Qt, developers can create apps that runs on both smartphone platforms.

Though Nokia will be switching to the MeeGo platform for its N series of smartphones, the company has said it will continue to work with Symbian on other phones.

Nokia considers the decision a positive for Symbian customers too. As updates are created for the OS via Qt, people using Symbian 3 phones and future Symbian products will be able to take advantage of them. In line with this, Nokia said it will no longer refer to the mobile operating system as Symbian 3 or Symbian 4 but will simply continue to evolve the OS.

Nokia itself will use Qt exclusively to develop its own future mobile apps. The company is also introducing Qt Quick into the Qt framework. Demoed at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, Qt Quick lets scripting-language-savvy developers create touch-enabled user interfaces and mobile apps for Nokia phones.

Nokia also announced today its plan to support HTML5 for mobile apps and Web content for both Symbian and MeeGo platforms. Qt’s built-in support for the new and upcoming version of HTML matches Nokia’s plans to support HTML5 in Web browsers.

“We’re making strategic technology decisions that will accelerate our ability to offer the strongest possible opportunity for developers and the richest possible experience for consumers,” Rich Green, Nokia’s chief technology officer, said in a statement. “For developers, it will open up a huge installed customer base for their applications. For consumers, it means a more compelling engagement with their Nokia product in terms of access to the best applications in the marketplace and a constantly improving product experience.”

More information is available on Nokia’s Qt, Qt Quick, and HTML5 pages.