Xciting affordable smartphones announced at Mobile World Congress: the new Nokia X

Dear Nokia Developer: This has been an exciting week at Mobile World Congress! We unveiled five new affordable handsets, including a family of smartphones debuting on the Nokia X software platform. Based on the Android™ Open Source Project (AOSP), and backed by Nokia’s deep ties with operators, the Nokia X platform gives Android™ developers the chance to tap into, and profit from, a rapidly expanding part of the market. The launch builds on Nokia’s leadership in delivering innovation to more price points with its family of Lumia smartphones, and the latest momentum for Windows Phone. We also released the Nokia Imaging SDK 1.1 and announced the Imagin8 Mission competition for Lumia. We enjoyed meeting hundreds of developers at Nokia Developer Day and on the Nokia X Porting bus, we took hundreds of spaceselfies, and we had fun with the DVLUP Carnival. Here is a short video recap:

Nokia Developer Day Keynote Stephen Elop kicked off Nokia’s activities at Mobile World Congress with a press conference on Monday. He also headlined the keynote at Nokia Developer Day. Stephen recapped Nokia’s product announcements and outlined how the new Nokia X software platform opens up new opportunities for both existing and new developers. He also emphasized that Windows Phone is the fastest-growing ecosystem today, and explained how Nokia, with its Nokia X and Lumia families, is dramatically increasing the market opportunity for developers. Watch his Nokia Developer Day keynote:

Nokia X: same code base, new user base Nokia X is a new software platform made to run your existing Android™ apps. It’s an easy, risk-free way to expand the reach of your applications to a new user base while still using your existing code base. Nokia X opens the opportunity for you to monetise your Android™ apps in fast-growth markets where Nokia is the preferred brand. Most Android™ apps will run properly on the Nokia X software platform without any modifications; they’re ready to be published in Nokia Store. Test yours now. If you want to learn more before jumping in, check out five simple reasons why you should publish your Android™ app to Nokia Store now.

Developer offers for Nokia X software platform Bring your Android™ app to Nokia Store, and get a valuable welcome basket of tools and resources! Developer offers for Nokia X are a free set of valuable mobile development tools for the Nokia X software platform. If you already have at least two applications published in other stores and are now thinking of publishing in the Nokia Store, these offers are for you. Partners include Infragistics, Bugsense, HockeyApp, and Xamarin. Learn more and get started with Developer Offers for Nokia X now!

Imaging SDK 1.1 lets you reuse your code The latest release of our Nokia Imaging SDK, version 1.1, lets you reuse code across both Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.1, including the Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet. The 1.1 release includes three new effects — Interactive Foreground Segmenter, Lens Blur (known as Bokeh), and Single Image HDR — as well as fixes and memory optimisations. Join our free webinar on the new Imaging SDK 1.1. There will be two sessions: 4 March and 6 March.

Imagin8 Mission: enter for zero gravity Create a new or updated app using the Imaging SDK, enter it in our Imagin8 Mission competition, and you could win an expenses-paid trip for two to Cape Canaveral, Florida, where you will get to experience zero gravity. Other prizes include: Lumia devices; points and XPs in our DVLUP program; and promotions in Windows Phone Store, App Social, and other channels. Learn more and enter.

Introducing the Nokia Asha 230 Check out the just-announced Nokia Asha 230. This device is geared toward parents buying a first touch device for their kids. An interesting feature is the ability to add parental controls to this 'My First Asha' phone. To learn more, join these upcoming Asha webinars. Check out the Nokia Asha 230.

Get smart with Nokia Developer webinars Our webinars are a free and easy way for you to expand your developer skillset — from the convenience of your home or office. All are presented by experts from both Nokia and some of our key partners. Here are just a few of the Nokia Developer webinars we hope you'll join in March: Nokia Asha idea to app: Education for kids Introduction to Nokia X platform and tools Lumia App Labs: New Nokia Imaging SDK 1.1 In-App Payments for Nokia X Platform  Check out these and other Nokia Developer webinars.

Nokia X: A new market for your Android apps

Dear Nokia Developer, We have exciting news for Nokia Developers like you who also know about Android development. Today at Mobile World Congress, Nokia unveiled a new family of affordable smartphones debuting on the Nokia X platform. Based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and backed by Nokia’s deep ties with operators, Nokia X platform gives Android developers the chance to tap into, and profit from, a rapidly expanding part of the market. Nokia X platform is simple and straightforward and the vast majority of Android apps can be published to Nokia Store as is. For those few that require modifications, the Nokia X analyser tool significantly reduces porting time by identifying the required changes. See if your Android app already works on Nokia X.   Want to learn more about Nokia X and the reasons why you should port your apps to Nokia Store? Here are the Top 5: 1. Nokia X opens new markets to your existing apps. Nokia’s sales leadership and brand strength in the fastest-growing smartphone and mobile app markets provide the launch pad for your apps’ success. With Nokia X, you can reach an untapped pool of savvy — and app-hungry — new smartphone users around the world. Read more › 2. Nokia X’s monetization tools create additional revenue streams for your apps Monetization tools like Nokia In-App Payment, combined with Nokia’s extensive operator billing network, provide your existing apps with new monetization mechanisms in growth markets. Consumers in many high-growth markets do not have international credit cards, making traditional revenue collection a challenge. Read more › 3. Android app compatibility Nokia has tested over 100,000 Android apps and approximately 75% are directly compatible and ready to be published to Nokia Store. If your app uses Google services for maps, push notifications or in-app payments, you will need to replace these APIs with Nokia-specific APIs, which have been built to work almost identically to those they replace. Nokia services have been designed to minimize porting effort for apps using corresponding Google services, and to allow developers to develop and distribute a single APK targeting both ecosystems. Test your app's compatibility now › Read more about Nokia APIs › 4. Develop apps for Nokia X using your existing Android SDK, toolkit and skillset If you already develop Android apps, you can continue to use your existing tool chain. If your app is one of the approximately 25% that requires change, Nokia provides a plugin package for the Android SDK, including the services APIs and the Nokia X emulator. You’ve already got the other tools and skills you need. Get started › Download the Nokia X SDK plugin › 5. Nokia Developer programs provide the marketing promotion you need Through programs like DVLUP and local outreach, Nokia offers you opportunities to promote your apps to new users and potential customers, while our online training, events, and support tools make sure you’re putting your best app forward. Here are four DVLUP challenges to get you started: Got Android Apps? Got Android Games? Say cheese! Read more › We look forward to seeing your great apps running on Nokia X phones. Best regards, --Nokia Developer Learn more about Nokia X