Mobile app development

This page lists the known relative differences between the most popular mobile platform development options for handheld devices such as a personal digital assistants, enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones. It is not intended to be an absolute guide to the various mobile development platforms, instead it is to help guide developers in choosing a mobile platform for development on Information appliances. More detail on the subject can be found at the Mobile software article.

Mobile development comparison

	Overview
Java ME	Ideal for a portable solution, if the Java ME platform provides the needed functionality. Good for vertical applications that must be portable. Device-specific libraries exist for many devices and are commonly used for games, making them non-portable. Applications (including their data) cannot be larger than around 1 MB if they are to run on most phones. They must also be cryptographically signed in order to effectively use many APIs such as the filesystem access API. This is relatively expensive and is rarely done, even for commercial applications.
Symbian	Very powerful for general purpose development. The Symbian based S60 platform is strongly supported by Nokia with some support from other device manufacturers. In Japan NTT DoCoMo's Symbian based MOAP platform is also well supported by a number of manufacturers (Fujitsu, Sony Ericsson Japan, Mitsubishi and Sharp amongst others). It should be noted, however, that MOAP is not an open development platform. Another Symbian based platform, UIQ, is less well supported (principally by Sony Ericsson and Motorola). Currently large device deployments in Europe and Japan, with little penetration in the US market.
Android	Recently announced by the Open Handset Alliance, whose 34 members include Google, HTC, Motorola, Qualcomm, and T-Mobile, Android is a new Linux-based platform currently available only as a developer pre-release. Although it does not yet have any fielded implementations, its support by 34 major software, hardware and telecoms companies makes it likely that it will be rapidly adopted from 2008. The Linux kernel is used as a hardware abstraction layer (HAL). Application programming is exclusively done in Java. You need the Android specific Java SDK. Besides the Android Java Libraries it is possible to use normal Java IDEs.
BlackBerry	supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface. It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. The BlackBerry devices soon took a dominating position on the north-American smartphone market. Also important for BlackBerry are the BES (Black Berry Enterprise Server) and the Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS).
iPhone	The iPhone and iPod Touch SDK uses Objective C, based on the C programming language. Currently, is only available on Mac OS X 10.5 and is the only way to write an iPhone application. All applications must be cleared by Apple before being hosted on the AppStore, the sole distribution channel for iPhone and iPod touch applications. However, non-Apple approved applications can be released to for jailbroken iPhones via Cydia or Installer.
Lazarus	Ideal for prototyping and quickly developing database powered applications. Also useful for porting Object Pascal software to mobiles. Can access the native APIs when translated headers are available.
Python	Ideal for initial prototyping and concept testing when functionality falls outside Java ME.
.NET Compact Framework	Ideal for deployment on homogeneous Pocket-PC devices. However not cross platform and limited to Microsoft Windows Mobile devices.
BREW	Ideal for deploying applications for deployment on CDMA-based networks (also supports GPRS/GSM models) with a deployed Brew Content Platform especially if OTA app deployment is desired. Little penetration in Europe.
Pocket PC and Microsoft Smartphone	Ideal for enterprise applications with an existing PC infrastructure and options for significant development investment. However not cross platform and limited to Microsoft devices.
Palm OS	Significant player with strong enterprise following in the important US market.
Flash Lite	Ideal for Graphics-heavy options with a market that can support the Flash Lite player.
Microbrowser Based	Ideal for lightweight functionality, a web-interface for an existing application with no latency concerns, or a widely varying platform base

Application development

	Foundation	Learning Curve	Debuggers available	Emulator available	Integrated Development Environment available	Cross-Platform Deployment	Installer Packaging Options	Development Tool Cost
Symbian	C++	Difficult (unusual C++ APIs, poor debugger support, and Symbian 9 breaks binary compatibility)	Good on latest version.	Free Emulator	Many choices	Compile per target	SIS deployment	Varies (free tools available)
Java ME	Java	Average	Excellent	Free Emulator, Sun Java Wireless Toolkit, mpowerplayer	Eclipse,LMA NetBeans Mobility Pack	Average (many VM implementations have device specific bugs necessitating separate builds)	Jad/Jar packaging; PRC files under Palm OS	Free
Android	Java	unknown	Debugger integrated in Eclipse, Standalone debugging monitor also available	Free Emulator	Eclipse, Undroid (Plugin for Netbeans)	Android only, because of Dalvik VM (march 09)	apk	Free
BlackBerry	Java	Average	Debugger integrated in JDE	Free Emulator	JDE - BlackBerry Java Development Environment	BlackBerry only because of the RIM API	alx, cod	Free
iPhone	Objective-C	unknown	Integrated in the IDE	Bundled with IDE	XCode	only iPhone and iPod Touch	only via the App Store	Free for Intel-based Macintosh owners, cost of Intel-based Macintosh for others.
Lazarus	Object Pascal	Excellent	Average. Can debug on the IDE via ActiveSync for Windows CE	Uses the emulators of the platforms	Lazarus IDE, including integrated GUI designer and debugger	Compiled language available for Windows CE, linux-based divides and a SymbianOS port is under development.	The native distribution format of each platform	Free
Python	Python	Excellent	Average	Add-on to Nokia Emulator	Several, including plugins for Eclipse	Interpreted language available natively only on Nokia Series60 (and desktops) though there are ports to other mobile platforms, including PalmOS	Sis deployment with py2sis or can use Python Runtime	Free
Flash Lite	ActionScript	Average	Good	Bundled with IDE	Macromedia Flash MX2004/8 / Eclipse	Excellent (Bundled - Top 5 mobile manufacturers, limited handset model support as of 3/06, best web compatibility)	SIS / CAB deployment or OTA/IR/Bluetooth SWF files	Varies (Free but limited with MTASC)
.NET Compact Framework	C#, VB.NET	Excellent	Excellent	Free emulator (source code available), also bundled with IDE	Visual Studio 2008, 2005, 2003	Windows Mobile, WindowsCE, Symbian-based devices (via third party tools)	OTA deployment, CAB files, ActiveSync	Most tools free (but commercial editions of Visual Studio required for visual designers)
Microbrowser Based	XHTML (WAP 2.0), WML (WAP 1.2)	Varies by Server-side scripting language	Good	Many	Many	Excellent	N/A	Free
Blueprint (programming language)	XML routed through Yahoo Mobile servers and displayed in native browsers	Excellent (short list of allowed XML)	None beyond a schema check	N/A, translates to web or mobile as needed	N/A, any XML editor	N/A, translates to web or mobile as needed	Combined config upload at Yahoo with self-hosted dynamic XML	Any XML editor
BREW	C (the APIs are provided in C with a C++ style interface)	Difficult (but easier, and less featureful, than Symbian)	Debugger support for the native ARM target code now available via ARM RVDS 3.0. ($6k) Can use Visual Studio to debug the x86 testing code.	No Emulator for the target ARM code, has a simulator for the x86 testing code.	Visual Studio 6.0, Visual Studio 2003 .net, Visual Studio 2005	Compile for the specific BREW version available on the handset.	OTA	Related Dev Fees Typically Required for Brew App Certification - VeriSign annual fee for becoming a certified developer. Realview ARM compiler for BREW (The free GNU C/C++ is also available, but with limited function and support). TRUE BREW testing fee for distributing the application.
Pocket PC	C, C++	Average (excellent for Win32 developers)	Excellent	Free emulator (source code available), also bundled with IDE	Visual Studio 2008, 2005, eMbedded VC++ (free)	Windows Mobile, WindowsCE	OTA deployment, CAB files, ActiveSync	Free command-line tools or eMbedded VC++, or Visual Studio (Standard edition or better)
Palm OS	C, C++, Pascal	Excellent	Average	OS 1.0 - 4.1: Free Emulator provided by PalmSource (Access); OS 5.0: - 5.4 Device-specific Simulators provided by Palm (palmOne)	Palm OS Development System (Eclipse), CodeWarrior, PocketStudio	Palm OS handhelds, or Windows Mobile with StyleTap emulator	PRC Files, PalmSource Installer (.psi)	Free (POSE or GCC for Palm OS), or commercial (CodeWarrior), or various commercial rapid-development frameworks

Capabilities

	Symbian	Java ME	Lazarus	Python	Flash Lite	.Net Compact	Microbrowser Based	Blueprint (programming language)	BREW	Pocket PC	Palm OS	Android	iPhone	BlackBerry
Graphical Interface	2D, 3D Graphics (newer phones), Many Widgets, Visual Form-Based GUI Builder	2D, 3D graphics, Many widgets, Visual Form-Based GUI Builder	2D graphics, Many widgets, Visual Form-Based GUI Builder	2D Graphics access, some simple widgets	2D graphics, Many widgets	2D, 3D graphics, many widgets, visual form-based GUI builder	Basic XHTML-forms (applies to XHTML-MP, CHTML browsers). Basic forms for WML 1.1 (WAP 1.1).		2D graphics, 3D graphics (not available on all phones), limited widgets, no visual form-based GUI builder. uiOne (not available on most phones in the market)	2D, 3D graphics, many widgets, limited visual GUI builder (dialogs only)	2D, 3D Graphics, Many Widgets, Visual GUI builder	2D, 3D (OpenGL ES) Graphics, Some Widgets, Third-Party GUI Builder	?	2D Graphics , SVG support (Plazmic Media Engine)
Functionality	No restrictions	Varies by handset - dependent on available included JSR's. No high-resolution pictures, Cell ID available on some phones), limited file access	No restrictions as long as translated headers are available	Partial through API: High resolution pictures, Cell ID	Partial through API	Limited audio access	Isolated to browser	Browser + Yahoo helpers (TBD: Yahoo Go Native access)	Powerful API access; specifics may vary slightly due to Operator application certification restrictions	No restrictions	No restrictions	Partial through API, Theoretically, no restrictions since all source is available.	?	Partial through API
Phone Data Access	Full	Varies by handset - dependent on available JSR 75, the PDA Optional Packages.	Full, but also requires using the native API	Partial through API: Calendar, Contact List	None	Full	None	None	Full	Full	Full	Full	?	Full
Runtime Speed	Best (Compiled language)	Average due to Java bytecode	Best (Compiled language)	Below Average due to Interpreted language	Below Average due to Interpreted language	Average	Average	Average	Best (Compiled language)	Best (Compiled language)	Best (Compiled language)	Average due to Java bytecode	?	Average due to Java bytecode
Crippled Providers	None known	None known	None known	None known	Not usually - Dependent on operator	None known	Dependent on data access plan	Dependent on data access plan	Need a handset & application specific signature to run any application on a retail phone. Test signatures only work on phones with BREW debug mode enabled.	None known	None known	None known	?	Need a signature to run any application witch uses the "net.rim.api" on a real phone.

Breadth

	Symbian	Java ME	Lazarus	Python	Flash Lite	.Net Compact	Microbrowser Based	Blueprint (programming language)	BREW	Pocket PC	Palm OS	iPhone	BlackBerry
Developer Community and Support	Extensive	Extensive	Recent, growing	Recent, growing	Extensive	MSDN	Extensive	Small yahoo forum only	Limited at http://brewforums.qualcomm.com	MSDN	Extensive	?	Recent, growing
Market penetration	Deployed on a large number of high end devices, including handsets by Nokia, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and Sony Ericsson amongst others.	Extensive (also the basis of the Danger Sidekick Platform)	Average	Average	Average	Average	Extensive	Same as Microbrowser	High in Japan (KDDI). Was deployed via KTF in Korea, though Korea is now promoting its own hybrid BREW/JAVA-like technology "WIPI". Average in the U.S. (Verizon) and low in other countries, though there is growing presence in South America and China.	Extensive within Europe and a growing market within the US.	Fifth largest player in Smartphone market after Symbian, Blackberry, iPhone and Windows Mobile.	?	One of the largest player in Smartphone market.
Distribution and Licensing	SymbianSigned for 3rd Edition (OS 9?)	None (Java Signed?)	None	None	None	Unknown	None - Server Based Code	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	?	Code Signing

Evaluation criteria

Any undetermined cells are marked "undetermined" to indicate a request for help from someone with the appropriate knowledge.
Learning Curve is an approximation of how difficult it would be for a developer with reasonable proficiency in the Foundation language to both construct a Hello world on the mobile platform, as well as relative ease of accessing advanced mobile features. By nature, this will be the most difficult to keep a neutral point of view on, and is not intended to be a debate on the relative quality of C# vs. Java.
Debuggers must be capable of
- Settable Breakpoints
- Step-through execution
Mobile Integrated Development Environment evaluation is based on the availability of
Emulator is based on availability and integration with development emulation options
Low-Level Access includes the capability of accessing various forms of mobile device functionality
- Full-resolution digital photos
- Video capture
- Cell Tower ID
- File access
Crippled Providers is when mobile device carriers restrict hardware functionality
- Restricting loading of new applications
- Disabling or limiting Bluetooth access

Resources

Please see the linked pages for resources for the specific development platforms

External links