OfficeBIZ 3.0: April 2010

Twitter – a well known micro blogging platform, which allows you to publish short messages of less than 140 characters through different mediums like IM, Web, and Mobile Phones.

I am using twitter for past few months and also exploring ways to utilize it more. Let me share some useful ways to make use of twitter for your personal and professional benefits.

1. Let your Micro Blog be your professional promotion agent. Share your personal and professional updates – including learning, fun (ex: photos) and work related information.
2. Create a professional profile with LinkedIn and connect your twitter account with it. Whenever you tweet with keyword #in. – the twitter message will also appear in your LinkedIn profile as status updates. In this way, your LinkedIn profile can have your professional update message – which helps to build more network and business.
3. Tweet about your Blog post and promote it. You can also tweet NEWS related to your professional Life. Create short links of interesting websites and share them. Subscribe to RSS news feeds and share interesting news with your twitter network. You can do all these from your mobile device too. (Ex: Using Snaptu)
4. Build a network with your professional line and participate in discussions. Create new discussions and get feedbacks from other followers. Re-Tweet and Respond to members.
5. Use Twitter Tools – there are many browser based plug-ins available (For ex: Search, Polls, Directories, etc). Use them and create any interesting content within 140 Char limit. Connect your Twitter RSS with Word-Press or any CMS based blogs – and show your tweets as Micro Blog posts.

Let twitter be your professional and personal agent to communicate with outside world..!!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

India: Destination Next for the International Gaming Industry

India is fast emerging as a key destination for Game development - It is already a $10 billion industry in United States. The overall development period takes around 24 months and the production budget is from $4 to $10 million now days. The game industry is under increasing pressure to reduce development time and cost of production. Many publishers and studios are looking for outsourcing development.

Computer games, Video games and Wireless games are three major segments. There are few companies in India - already in aggressive development in all these segments. The requirement is still high and it’s an excellent business and career opportunity for many. The development cycle includes concepts, scripting, programming, character design, animation, level making and testing – as an overall – pre-production, production and testing. There are many training institutes provide good training on all these. There are free-lancers and professionals work together for great results.

The skill-sets and software: basically the right combination of design, programming and creative art.

PC Games: Shockwave, Flash, Visual Basic, Java, visual C++, DirectX, Open GL, Graphics software like Adobe Photoshop, animation software like Maya, 3D Studio Max, Lightwave etc.

Pocket PC Games: Flash, Embedded Visual C++, Embedded Visual Basic, Personal Java, graphics software like Macromedia Fireworks, Freehand, Adobe Photoshop, animation software like Maya, 3D Studio Max, Lightwave etc.

Mobile phone Games: Visual C++ for native application development, J2ME, VB, WAP, ASP, JSP, graphics software like Macromedia Fireworks, Freehand, Adobe Photoshop, animation software like Maya, 3D Studio Max, Lightwave etc.

So guys – business application development and websites is not going to be the only option for career– there are a lot..!! Check them and do great in your business and career.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Growth cheap smartphones key i...

Growth cheap smartphones key in handset market. Demand for smartphone applications increase. http://bit.ly/d2R5O2

Social Media Specialist

An interesting Job title is started to get implemented in few small and medium size organizations – which basically targets Social media as their primary business profile. The job title will be “Social Media Specialist” and this is for candidates who are interested in Mobile, Social Media and emerging marketing areas like Gaming.

Interested??? Fine, try these steps…

1. Get daily updates from major mobile, gaming and social media websites, explore blogs, people and communities
2. Understand technologies, share and discuss about it in forums / groups. Build a network.
3. Develop small presentations about using Social Media for Business and share them in communities.
4. Utilize community websites and social media content regularly and explore them for professional business opportunities
5. Participate in Training Programs, Product Shows and Technical events to get in touch with more contacts.

This new generation opportunity is going to be the next hot spot for technical, marketing and support business domains.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Enterprise Program Management Office

In recent days, whenever I introduce myself to anyone as EPMO project planning manager, they ask - “What is EPMO?” - :-). Enterprise Program Management Office is really new to many of the small and medium size organizations, because of less experience in such big projects. Let me take this opportunity to discuss few major points about EPMO and its operations here.

What is EPMO, and its responsibilities?

As a quick view Enterprise Program Management Office helps to speed up project implementations within existing company guidelines and improves efficiency in the realizations of the business delivery.

The main responsibilities of an EPMO regarding the different programs are basically

1. Strategic Resource Planning
2. Inter-project co-ordination
3. Overall project oversight
4. Cost estimations
5. Contingency planning
6. Quality Assurance
7. Resource Management
8. Professional Development
9. Coaching & Guidance of Management
10. Process and Change Management
11. Tool Support and Training

In our future articles, let’s discuss more about every single functional sections of EPMO…

Full Details On Twitter’s Lo...

Full Details On Twitter’s Long-Awaited Ad Platform: Promoted Tweets. #in http://bit.ly/9VOVCx

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Nokia to offer unlimited music...

Nokia to offer unlimited music downloads in India. Build your music stores and share music. #in http://bit.ly/bYUwDP

Friday, April 9, 2010

HOT Topic: Prepare yourself for new job opportunities

3G – the magic word in mobile industry is going to create a good impact in Indian job market. Basically 3G is a family of standards for wireless communications defined by the International Telecommunication Union – which includes GSM, EDGE, UMTS, CDMA2000 as well as DECT and WiMAX. 3G Services can be wide area wireless voice, video calls and wireless data transfer – everything in mobile environment – mostly between devices or between computer network and mobile devices. Compared to 2G or 2.5G services, 3G services allows simultaneous use of speech and data (ex: Video Chat) at higher data rates. Thus, 3G networks enable network operators to offer wider range of more advanced services to end users.

According to Reports from UMTA Forums, 3G data services are subdivided into content connectivity and mobility, then further subdivided to create the following six services:

· Customized Infotainment
· Multimedia Messaging Service
· Mobile Intranet/Extranet Access
· Mobile Internet Access
· Location-based Services
· Rich Voice

According to a whitepaper form Nokia, 3G applications can be divided into:
· Wireless Advertising
· Mobile Information
· Business Solutions
· Mobile Transactions
· Mobile Entertainment
· Person-to-Person Communications
· Bearer Entrance and Periodic

The business reality is that computer and Internet application will merge with communication and location based services. Network operators, vendors and third party providers are already creating the applications and demos. Learning about mobile devices, and application development for mobile devices will open golden doors into Indian + international job market. Programming, media, architecture, testing, design etc are going to be the hot points in future.

Next generation opportunities in Mobile development

Mobile application development is becoming a big software marketplace for next generation. Every week, I am seeing new mobiles from LG, Samsung, Nokia, HTC and others. People started to use GPRS network just like their SMS. Many are using mobile phones not just for talking, but also for Personal Information Management. The sales graph of Nokia N series, Blackberry and HTC phones shows this completely. In this business scenario, I would like to invite all our developers, designers and testers to get into the mobile application development domain and explore its possibilities for better next generation opportunities.

Required Skills for Designers

1. UI (User Interface) design Knowledge – just browse all phones.

2. Knowledge in small screen design & Icon design

3. Color theory – the basics

4. Common sense – put yourself into user’s shoes

5. Adobe Flashlite knowledge – to get more salary.

6. Knowledge in mobile devices – memory, screen type etc.

Required Skills for Developers

1. Knowledge in PHP programming – for mobi websites

2. Knowledge in J2ME or Microsoft Mobile applications development – this is easy to learn too.

3. Knowledge in C++ - Palm, IPhone development etc.

4. Knowledge in using Core Mobile components – Camera, Audio recording, SMS

5. Knowledge in Mobile OS – Symbian, Blackberry, IPhone, Windows Mobile, Palm OS etc

Required Skills for Content Developers

1. Knowledge in developing mobile screen savers, icons, themes – there are many tools available for this.

2. Knowledge in mobile devices – capacity, limitations etc.

3. Website development knowledge to showcase and sell (download to mobile) contents

Required Skills for Ebook Developers

1. Knowledge in developing mobile ebooks – minimum content + picture based ebooks.

2. Knowledge in courseware development for mobile demo sites, Kiosks.

Required Skills for Testers

1. Knowledge in Mobile devices, limitations, functions, etc – just use mobile phones to explore

2. Common sense – experience user shoes.

3. Knowledge in same type of apps (if available)

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blog

10 Social Networking Tasks you can do with Opera

Yes, Opera – the well-known champion in Web and Mobile Browser World, is now offering Social Networking site. The best thing is it can be connected through computers, also via Mobile devices. There are many social networking websites available around us, and everyone is providing almost same types of services. Let’s see, what Opera provides us

1. 1 GB Space – store everything you want…!
2. Sync Notes, Favorites, Speed Dial Links – create quick notes in your Opera Desktop browser and sync them with your mobile mini browser, also store them in your profile for community sharing. The same you can do with your favorites and Speed Dial URLs. Take your personalized stuff with you anywhere.!
3. Blogs – Post your blogs from Desktop, share them with your friends – also from your mobile. Opera offers excellent Moveable Type API for mobile and desktop blogging. This is the first mobi blogging social network website with their own tools for mobile and desktop.
4. Create new photo albums and share them with your friends – as mentioned earlier- you can do this with your mobile too.
5. Invite friends – create a group with specialized interest and share your blogs, albums. Create your own groups with excellent graphical templates.
6. Opera Unite services - You can use Opera Unite services in many ways, for example to share photos directly from your computer to another computer, without having to upload them to the Web. All you have to do is to install and run the Opera browser.
7. Connect with Facebook and Twitter – now you can connect your facebook and twitter with opera social network and reflect your opera updates to friends in twitter and facebook.
8. An Open forum to discuss about your questions, suggestions, Opera tools and services, updates from opera, development support, widgets, etc.
9. A free email – can be accessed from mobile.
10. Opera Mini 4.0 supports not only for high-end mobiles – but also for simple feature phones – for ex: nokia S40 series devices

URL: http://my.opera.com/community/

I invite you all to explore these services and suggest opera for more quality services.

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blog

Professional communications

Now days, the Indian economy is getting better after the big bad recession times. It is good for everyone to get into business. Everything goes fine in many small and medium size organizations – but I feel adding little more values in good communication makes most of the work flow, and performance even better. I would like to share few suggestions here about building a good communication for small and medium size business clients’ management.

1. A simple communication plan should contain following information

a. Stakeholder Information – I prefer to have names, email IDs and phone numbers

b. The objectives, schedules and mode of communication – what information will be communicated in what schedules. For example: Weekly Status Calls, Status Reports, monthly reports, Issues and risks discussions, etc.

2. Use your minutes of meeting document

a. Have a clear agenda – this saves times in meetings

b. Summary of Discussions – important comments from stakeholders

c. Action Items and Status monitoring

d. Have an action Item log for continuous follow ups and results

3. Weekly Status Report

a. I prefer to have content from Project plan here.

b. What is completed, what is re-scheduled and what is not completed / not started should be informed. Not started and not completed should be rescheduled and communicated.

c. Achieved milestones should be mentioned

d. Issues, Risks and concerns should be notified

e. Important decisions made by stakeholders should be added in every week status report

4. Customer Calls – Conference calls, Mobile Calls

a. I suggest to take calls as much as possible from inside closed room – this gives chances to listen clear and white board important points

b. Listen carefully – most of client communications will not be clear enough – sometimes, language, sometimes their way of presentations and sometimes because of their understanding of situations. [This is based on my personal experience J]

c. Talk loud and clear – Don’t talk fast – be slow, and if required get confirmations for his understanding

d. Record your call – if possible.

e. Circulate Minutes of Meeting as early as possible after the call

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blog

5 Ways Social Networking helps in professional development

Social Networking started for connecting with friends – few years ago. Now days, it became a part of young students and professional for many reasons. People share scraps, Photos and videos – also many widgets are available for sharing games, music, movie list, etc. Orkut, Facebook, Linkedin are part of many individual’s and professional’s life. They access it in PC also in Mobile. If we use it appropriately, Social Networking gives us many advantages. Let’s see how it can help us in professional Development.

1.Keep in touch with your old friends [mostly from previous organizations] – know about what is happening there, new opportunities and get new friends through your old friends. Share information like walk-in interviews, useful web links with your friends – it helps them to update their knowledge and suggest you best opportunities when they cross in your interested areas. It also shows your knowledge areas and interest areas. [Example: Orkut, Facebook, SiliconIndia, LinkedIn etc]

2.Professional knowledge sharing – Use social bookmarking sites to share your Favorite URLs with friends. You can also get an idea about what links they are visiting - [Example: delicious]. There are many PPT sharing and PDF sharing websites [Example: Scribd, Slideshare, etc]- you can collect, upload and share your documents with interested people, it helps you to promote your works.

3.Participate in Groups – Write small articles and post them into Blogs, forums and discussion groups. Ask questions and answer to questions from others. This help you to learn new things and show your knowledge to others

4.Choose right Social Networking - If you are a photographer or artist, showcase your creative works in websites – but make sure you are showing them in right space. For Photographers and artist I would suggest flicker. For Digital Photography – Picturesocial, etc. Search social networking sites based on your interest and use them. Don’t get into common space – where you will get only less focus.

5.Micro-blogging – sometimes, instead of writing essays, a short note will be helpful to everyone. You can share some news, your thoughts and also a quick response to something using micro blogging. You can do this with PC and Mobile. Keep posting micro blogs and it really helps others (even to your boss… J) to know about your knowledge areas and ideas towards something. Twitter is one simple way for this.

Working with social networking is also having some dark sides – particularly when you spend more time with it inside office - J. Use it wisely, and get its benefits. I also would like to warn you about sometimes: Never share personal information to everyone – even to trusted friends through social networking sites – use your phone or talk to them directly always.

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blog

Next Gen Web: Computer, Mobile and Televisions

Internet – the communication and content sharing platform - According to a survey - in the year of 1998 there were 1,400,000 users using internet in India and in 2007 is was 42,000,000 users. Of course with the users of internet, the business opportunities are also improved for Internet world. It started with website development, online content sharing (eBooks, text, video and audio), Portals, e-shopping and social networking now a days. Most of the users experienced internet only through computers. Now days, the new generation – mostly students and young business people are using Mobile phones to access internet. Purposes are many including email access, social networks and quick information sharing, GPS based results, find new business etc. To reach more audience, Television is also becoming an important source for business. TataSKY, Airtel, Reliance are having services to browse and purchase on demand entertainment and education content through their network. You can also do e-shopping and pay through credit cards. Your valid mobile number and simple approval SMS code does the authentication and authorization processes. There are many medium size companies working on developing new protocols for secured transactions and to provide new custom content – user generated content via television networks. Adobe one screen project enables communication between users through computer-mobile-television. The point here is – the future of content generation and content presentation will be mostly on Mobile and Televisions – because somehow people are getting bored with Computers – Laptops and Netbooks will survive for some more time I am sure. Get ready for the future.

Nokia OVI

Are you using your Mobile phone just for the communication with your contacts? Do you want to do more with it useful? Well, Nokia gives an option to use your “NOKIA” mobile device more useful - as an Appointment manager, Birthday reminder, Notes manager and Contacts Database with more detail information such as address, website and others.

I heard your voice – almost every mobile phone around us is having all these facilities – what is the special with Nokia..!!

The common problem with all other phones: Mobile Keypad. Typing content in small mobile keypad is a painful thing – so many of us never use it for detail content typing. We use it for quick small data typing only. Now the Solution: How about using your computer for data entry – that too in a web site – so, no junky download required.

Visit Nokia OVI website (www.ovi.com), register yourself with you mobile information. Now you can create and manage contacts database, Appointments and reminders, also notes for quick information reference. If you have GPRS enabled Nokia mobile device – Go to “Settings”-> “Sync-backup” –> “server Sync” and select your required options – Notes, Contacts, Calendar. The next step will connect with remote OVI site – with your username and password – to sync up whatever you created in remote website. Your Mobile device is fully loaded with required information now. You can use it as an Appointment / Birthday manager, Quick notes manager also a detail contacts manager.

Hope this will help everyone to use their simple mobile device just like any other costly mobile sets.

Why spend in costly mobile devices – go to Nokia simple devices less then Rs. 10,000 and use it as your best content manager.

5 Points – why Gmail for Mobile is the best

Google released its official application for mobile email. The website [http://www.google.com/mobile/products/mail.html#p=default] suggests only high level phones – window mobile, IPhone, Android, Blackberry, Nokia S60 and other. The word “other” made me try it in my feature phone – Nokia S40 – 3210 Classic. Surprise – it works. The performance is more than expected.

1. It is fast – loads very fast, and shows clean fonts.
2. It connects with GPRS only while loading your inbox with new email, sending emails, refreshing your inbox or opening attachments. That means, it disconnects while you are just browsing email headers. This helps a lot in saving GPRS cost.
3. Multiple Accounts management – Wow – a great thing I expected. With Gmail for mobile – you can create multiple profiles with your account information (I have 3 gmail accounts), and switch your inbox anytime. No need to enter your username and password each time when you want to check other account.
4. Gmail for Mobile contains almost all the features you see in web mail. Reply, Reply to all, forward, Star, drafts, Search emails, etc etc.
5. It works with feature phones too - (ah, the personal benefit…) .. Feature phones are cheap compare to Smart phones and those high level blackberries… but now a days I am happy to see many vendors are providing apps for feature phones too.

An extra valid point – It is “FREE”…

Just give a try and send me your comments.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Game Development for Mobile Devices

Mobile gaming is another booming sector now days. Not just to relax for some time, mobile games offer more such as mind building, learning through gaming and etc. Many PC and Game-box development organizations are also concentrating in mobile gaming also – you can refer their websites.

I would like to share my suggestions here – regarding how mobile gaming can be a career for someone

1.You just need a small team of people to build mobile games. A group of friends with some interest is more than enough.
2.Team should have people with graphic design knowledge [Adobe photoshop, Adobe Flash…etc], along with knowledge in Adobe Flash lite Programming, Game Logic Building and Mobile controls management.
3.Games can be simple as Board games – Word games, or racing type, or first person shooting – you can get many SDK and platform from internet.
4.Build for specific devices first and deploy them for free – with limited functions. This will get you user base. There are many websites to provide free downloads to end users – they take care of promoting your games.
5.Multiplayer games need a server application and GPRS usage – I suggest this can be a future idea.
6.Review the mobile games available in Internet – Test them and try to build a improved version. For example: Mobile version of Hang-man.
7.Mobile gaming can pay a lot – if the games are interesting and colorful. Make sure you deliver content not just for fun, but also a little learning inside it (Example: Word Building or Mathematics Games)
8.Learn Flash Lite, Photoshop. Flash Lite programming is simple if you have knowledge in C++ or Java.
9.Learn about OVI – Nokia supports a lot for game developers
10.Test your games in devices, possibly all the options and deliver them with compatibility note.
All the best

6 Microsoft Office Live Workspace Services for Better Project Management

Every project - regardless of its complexity and budget, requires lots of planning, organization, co-ordination and communication between members. In early days we used MS-Excel for scheduling and tracking tasks and member activities, after few years - it moved to MS-Project standalone and MS-project server editions. Now days, there are many small and medium size organizations, working into Web 2.0 and Mobile Development projects and their investment is less – practically the implementation of project management server is becoming a costly thing. But they have requirements to plan, organize and share contents with stakeholders. Microsoft Office Live workspace helps here with lots of useful services – all for FREE.

1. Visit here [http://workspace.officelive.com/en-GB/ ] and use your Office Live ID or MSN ID to log-in. Don’t have an ID – No problem. Create a new ID for FREE.

2. Free Web Space to Store and Share Documents – It is good to store and share your SRS Documents, Bug Reports, Log Files, Specification documents in one place. Microsoft Office Live Workspace helps you with 5 GB space. You can Store your documents, Sheets, scripts and Presentations and share them with access limitations – if required. You can also use this space to deploy your content to clients – Just like an FTP.

3. There are many free Pre-built template Web-spaces available for quick start. You can choose from one of them and start working on documents. For every new project I suggest to have separate Workspaces.

4. You can create Small Notes, Lists, Tasks Lists, Contact Lists, Event Lists
a. Small Notes – helps you for quick information storage – I suggest this for instructions management – for example: Release notes, Updates in current build etc.
b. Lists – General list – it can be books list for reference, web links, or sample data for testing etc.
c. Tasks List – Create a simple Work Breakdown Structure of Tasks and set priority with due dates. You can share this with your tea m and stakeholders. It helps to give better visibility of planned works to everyone.
d. Contact List – Store Phone numbers, Email IDs and share them for quick reference.
e. Event List – Schedules of your releases, builds, holidays, milestones etc.

5. You can also store, edit and share familiar MS word, MS Excel and MS Power-point files.

6. For Quick communications – use comments pane. Add comments and it is visible to everyone. Use this for instructions, quick requests etc.

7. You can use “Add Documents” for uploading files from your Desktop. It can be shared via a centralized workspace.

I hope this will help many project leaders to handle their projects and deliver things efficiently.

Vodafone to offer Web via Oper...

Vodafone to offer Web via Opera in emerging mkt. Opera is going to provide new services soon. #in http://bit.ly/cbicav

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

USB Flash Drives – The maximum usage

Many are using USB Flash Drives, just to store mp3 songs, PDF files and other backup files. But it can be used for many official purposes – some of them are cost effective for your business too.

Portable application Suite – Imagine, if you can use your browsers, office applications, media players, IMs, and email clients from an USB drive. The advantages are – you can carry them with you anywhere – not only the applications, but the bookmarks, settings and personalized configurations. You can work in your favorite applications from anywhere – even from the browsing center computer – no need to check for any software there – all you have it in your USB.!! Yes – the free Portable application suite from portableapps.com makes this possible. Just install your required applications in USB and take it anywhere – plug-in to any windows PC – and start working..! Wonderful, Isn’t it..!!

Secure PC/Laptop – Use your USB drive as a Hardware security key for your Personal computer or Laptops. There are many tools available but “Predator” performs well here – While working on Windows PC/Laptop, just plug-in your USB Drive – ‘Predator’ auto-starts – You can continue your work. When you are away from your PC/Laptop – just remove the USB drive, the Keyboard and mouse will be disabled and the screen will become dark. To bring it back to life – just plug-in USB drive again. No one can access your PC/Laptop when you are away from your place – because all the input and output devices are disabled. PREDATOR disables the Windows task manager when you unplug the USB drive. Nobody can stop it with Ctrl-Alt-Del. Also this tool frequently changes the security codes recorded on your USB drive. If an intruder manages to copy your stick, this copy will not work because the codes on your own stick will have changed in the meantime.

Use your USB drive more intelligent ways and save the cost - Personally and Professionally.

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blog

5 Basic Qualifications for a Manager

Now a days, I see many middle managers with less management skills – because most of them just became managers, based on the experience they got in years – but not really with required qualifications. No – I am not taking about educational qualifications. M.B.A is not a criteria for any managers – it is just an operational knowledge. Here I am listing 5 basic qualifications – which I found from my best managers.

1. Planning Skills
Not just for software projects, but for anything we need a proper planning to avoid stop-points in reaching the goal.

2. Communication Skills
Not just talking, but also listening, understanding and discussing. A very important thing is avoiding bad language.

3. Presentation Skills
It is all about what to say, how to say, what is the sequence of information delivery etc.

4. Pro-active nature
Visualize the case with multiple if conditions – and plan accordingly.

5. Prioritize works
What to do, when to do, which work is linked with what, setting expectations and communicating the same.

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blog

6 rules for Mobi development

‘Mobi’ is becoming a techie keyword in software development industry. Mobi means Mobile Development. It can be applications or websites primarily for mobile devices. Many software development companies started their initiatives in this market, and I can see many success stories too. This post is a small ‘must do’ list for all those mobi development teams and project managers.

1. Select your users.

For whom you are developing this application or website. If it is a mobile based social networking website – it targets mostly students and young people. If it is a expenses tracking application – it is useful for a business person who always do travel. If it is a music player – it targets young and adults but need to plan for more options – because there are many music players for mobile available for free. If you want to target techie and managers, try some application which links with existing systems – for example, twitter. Selecting a user or community plays a major role in mobile development, because your scope is fully depended based on the users.

2. Devices selection.

Iphones are different from Nokia feature phones. HTC or Palm devices are having more capabilities as smart phones. There are different operating systems for Nokia, Palm, IPhone, Samsung, etc. Every device is different from other, based on the screen size, depth of pixels, capacity to handle media content, useragents, browser resolutions, and memory management. The Graphic part of the application or website should be designed and developed – based on these points. I suggest going for a mock up design or simple prototype model before entering into actual coding process. Browse the mockup or prototype in mobile and see where you need adjustments, how it actually looks in device – mostly all the screens. There are device detection systems available to automatically modify the screen content based on the devices. But this works only for Mobi Websites – for example Opera mini browser and it’s architecture.

3. Development tools Selection.

You can use .Net, J2ME, Python or PHP. Based on a recent survey PHP is selected a best programming language for mobi website development. For mobile applications J2ME is powerful, but for Windows based Smart Phones I suggest to go with .NET mobile framework. Try to have images with less size. Validate your .css and XHTML with online validation systems to avoid performance issues. The best content management systems are Wordpress and Joomla – try them. Collect required J2ME or .NET controls and packages before you start programming and read the attached support documents for compatibilities. Try to get register in Mobile development based forums and keep in touch with book authors.

4. Development model.

a. If you have a clear scope signoff and agreed prototype (calendar or email app) – go for water fall.
b. If your application is a innovative concept (for example: widget) – go for agile model – because you have to revisit and update your requirements at every phase.
c. If you have detail scope and functional samples (for example mobi site) - try iterative model – so that the application can be developed by adding functionalities in each build

5. Testing Pad

Very important phase in Mobile application development. I suggest testing your application / mobi site with real devices. Thus, you can find the realtime issues like layout arrangement, image loading performance, link switching performance and media play level easily. There are many online emulator applications available, including device anywhere and mobi forge. Iphone, blackberry, nokia, palm, android simulators are also available– they are fine for a quick check. One simple online emulator for mobile websites is here [http://mtld.mobi/emulator.php]. But you get 100% results only with realtime devices.

6. BETA

Release only BETA first. Let the application of website be used by other users, and have a forum or postbox to receive their queries, suggestions and support. This is basically to understand the realtime performance with realtime date and to understand the expected future requirements.

I hope the above listed rules will help you in developing quality mobile applications and mobile websites. Let’s discuss online or offline for all your queries and clarifications.

Microsoft - Unlocking the potential of feature phones

What is OneApp?
Microsoft OneApp is a new software application designed for feature phones – the phones most commonly found in emerging markets. Many phones in the market today are limited in the features they can deliver; OneApp expands the capabilities of these handsets to deliver new apps and services as well as a great mobile experience.

How do I get OneApp?
At present, OneApp is available in South Africa through Blue Label Telecoms and their mibli service. Microsoft plans to launch OneApp in more countries within the next year.

How does OneApp work?
OneApp has both client and server components. The client is a lightweight application that is designed to run on the most popular feature phones. The infrastructure components of OneApp are deployed in conjunction with partners to easily and quickly roll out a branded and customized mobile application experience powered by OneApp.

How big is the OneApp client?
The OneApp client is very small (150KB) which makes the download fast and easy to install.

What kind of applications and services are included with OneApp?
The exact set of mobile apps and services will vary by partner. For example, mibli will include a mobile wallet, Windows Live Messenger, popular games, and multiple feed readers for sports, news, finance, and more.

What devices can run OneApp?
OneApp runs on most feature phones that support Java.

How do I learn about developing Apps for OneApp?
Software developers can write new apps for OneApp using industry standards like Javascript and XML. The OneApp software developer kit is expected to be available for developers by the end of 2009

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/oneapp/Default.aspx

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blog

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Nokia Mobile Phone with Linux OS

The world's largest handset maker, Nokia unveiled on Thursday its first phone running on Linux software, aiming at improving its offering at the top end of the market. The focus of cellphone business has shifted to services and software following Apple and Google's entrances to the market in the last two years. Nokia also unveiled a new Solutions business unit, which aims to better tie together its phone operations and new mobile Internet services offering.

To read more in detail… visit here…
Source: http://ciol.com/Developer/Operating-System/News-Reports/Nokia-unveils-its-first-Linux-phone/28809124236/0/

Note: Re-post from SiliconIndia Blogs

Monday, April 5, 2010

Microsoft Windows Phone 7

Microsoft finally introduced its Windows Phone 7 Series Smart Phone, after Google and Apple’s success in Smart Phone market. Windows Phone 7 is based on Windows CE 6 Kernel – Just like its ZUNE HD Portable media player.

The Hardware:
1. 800 X 400 WVGA Screen: Includes a 3.7” capacitive touch-screen
2. Hardware buttons for ‘Start’,’Back’,’Search (Using BING)’,’Camera’ and ‘Power’
3. 1 GHZ CPU
4. Finger based Device content Navigation
5. WI-FI, GPS, FM-Tuner and High Resolution Camera

The Software:
1. The UI is based on interfaces of the ZUNE and Windows Media Center
2. The Home screen is based on series of “tiles” that bring surface dynamic content – updated in real-time.
3. People – Aggregates the contact list with social network friends list
4. PHONE and SMS
5. Email – supports outlook POP mail
6. Pictures – Local phones and online photo albums
7. Games – XBOX live functionality
8. Browser – IE
9. Calendar – integrated with outlook
10. Me – aggregates all social media and XBOX live content – to update Social Networks.

The Music and Video brings ZUNE experience to access music and video collection. The IE on Windows Phone 7 is much more similar to Safari on the IPhone with support for multi-touch controls such as zooming.

The App Store – Just like Blackberry and IPhone, Windows Phone 7 will have an APP Store available at launch. As a Kick start, Microsoft is in demo with few apps including Ebay, NetFlix etc.

Just added myself to the http:...

Just added myself to the http://wefollow.com twitter directory under: #chenn #blogging #painting #cooking #travel #literature

Friday, April 2, 2010

Interesting article of the wee...

Interesting article of the week : Restructuring ? put strategy first #in http://bit.ly/a72PB6