Nokia and Orange are throwing down a challenge to Java and Symbian OS & Series 60 developers worldwide to cook up cool mobile applications, mainly for WCDMA 3G but also for GPRS enabled terminals. At the JavaOne developers conference in San Francisco, the two mobile communications stalwarts have launched the Orange - Nokia Developer Challenge, a two-phase competition for mobile application coders.

The Challenge will give coders the chance to develop rich and innovative applications at Orange Code Camp, which takes place on September 13th - 16th at the Futuroscope science park near Poitiers, France. As many as 250 developers are expected to descend on Orange Code Camp for real development and coding work with key experts from Orange and its major partners, including Nokia, the lead sponsor of the event. Qualified, innovative coders with a track record in commercial applications and knowledge of application development will be able to participate, and the lucky selected finalists will have an option for commercial agreement with Orange to support and market their application.

The Java Challenge - the first of the competitions - will start at JavaOne. Developers are asked to submit their best and most innovative application ideas by end of July. The best proposals for Java applications will then be selected in mid-August. The chosen developers will get prioritized support and developer tools, both before and during Orange Code Camp, in order for their applications to be Java Verified by the end of October.

The Symbian Challenge will commence at Orange Code Camp, where participants can discuss their ideas for Symbian OS & Series 60 applications face to face with leading Series 60 experts. This Challenge will target especially the WCDMA 3G space. The developers with the most creative application ideas can take advantage of a competence transfer program and access to Series 60 SDK/tools by the end of October. As a result of the second challenge, the best applications will be finalized for Symbian Signed verification by February 2005.

"We at Orange are proud of the innovative application offering we have for our customers. Our firm target is to increase our application portfolio and offer services that are the most enticing in the market. Mobile devices based on Series 60, the open smart phone software by Nokia, provide an excellent platform for developers to create and deploy exciting new applications," said Richard Hanscott, VP Orange Group Business Developments and Partnerships.