Nitobi, creators of the PhoneGap mobile application development framework, is expanding the open-source tool to support Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone Mango update, enabling developers to exploit their HTML5 and JavaScript skills to target Windows Phone devices. Developed with the aid of Microsoft engineering resources and technical support, the PhoneGap beta leverages HTML5 support provided by Internet Explorer 9 and touts JavaScript APIs to grant developers access to Mango features including geolocation, media capture, accelerometer, connection status and alerts/notifications. The beta version of the PhoneGap libraries can be downloaded here.
PhoneGap enables cross-platform development that takes advantage of core features in the iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Palm and Symbian SDKs. More than 300,000 developers have downloaded the code since 2009, translating the thousands of mobile apps built using the platform.
Expected to reach consumers this fall, Windows Phone Mango emphasizes tighter platform integration and promises a smarter approach to mobile applications. The upgrade introduces App Connect, which ties applications to Bing search tools to foster a more relevant and efficient user experience. For example, if a consumer searches Bing for movie information, their Windows Phone device will generate showtimes and theater locations but also anticipate subsequent ticket purchase requirements by presenting digital movie services provider Fandango's ticketing application. Also new in Mango: Improved Live Tiles to deliver more real-time information to the device's homescreen, app multitasking and Live Agents tools giving developers the flexibility to build app multitasking scenarios without compromising battery life and performance.
Windows Phone 7.1 additionally touts the new People Hub, which integrates multiple communications tools and social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Outlook and LinkedIn in one location. Mango also detects the best method of communication for interacting with contacts and introduces group text and IM options. Personalized Live Tiles offer real-time social media updates, and built-in text-to-voice and voice-to-text functionality supports hands-free communication.
For more:
- read this Windows Phone Developer Blog entry
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