[smo59]

Does anyone know anything/have any pointers about developing applications for mobile phones?

I want to write a short app that can be used by myself and my friends, but of course we all have different phones.

Can I write under one development system/language or will I have to port it around?

Also, how easy is it to get a hold of hardware datasheets for mobile phones (so I know how to use the IrDA port for example)?

Thanks.

[Examinus]

The forum nokia website provide tools for mobile devlopers. It's free to join (at least it was for me) and you can get some good software for apps etc.

http://www.forum.nokia.com/main.html

If all your buddies have Java-compatible phones, you can write your app in that and port the compiled file to any compatible phone. Java comes in a special version for mobile phones, called Java 2 Micro Edition. There's a ton of information on that at http://wireless.java.sun.com. This provides a uniform API for things like graphics and sound, and also provides a number of optional APIs for things like IrDA and Bluetooth - however, whether these standard APIs are implemented on each phone is up to manufacturers. To download the program to each phone you can either deliver it over the air if the phone has WAP (plenty of info on that at the aforementioned website) or using a data cable and a program provided by the phone manufacturer (Motorola, for example, provide a program called MIDway to do this).

[smo59]

Thanks, this is a good start.