Nokia is evaluating broader use of AJAX with its handsets, having put a stake in the ground with this year’s launch of the third-edition S60 device. Lee Epting, vice president for Forum Nokia, told The Register that Nokia is determining how it can use AJAX, specifically in relation to its open source, Safari-based browser announced in November 2005.
In a recent interview, Epting indicated that broader support for AJAX, or Asynchronous JavaSript and XML, would largely depend on the reception its Safari browser has among members of the company’s Forum Nokia developer community.
AJAX is enjoying almost viral success among Web 2.0 developers and a growing number of Silicon Valley software start-ups. AJAX has been seized upon because it let ISVs and services providers, like Google, give their online services the level of interface functionality and responsiveness traditionally only found on desktop applications. AJAX has added potential for mobile devices, because it supports applications that function in “occasionally connected” mode.
Epting said AJAX is “very important” for developers working with open source and consumers of online services because it puts that feature-rich interface on online services.
Some time ago, Nokia added support for the Python scripting language, itself undergoing a renaissance among developers, to its smartpone platform.
Epting noted scripting languages have also taken on unexpected significance for mobile developers because they support open source, are relatively easy to learn, and provide a fast RAD-like programming environment. Another advantage, especially for Nokia, is the ability to use scripting on increasingly smaller devices.
To remind you, Opera also announced that their Opera Platform will support AJAX. Now, all have to do is wait for the mobile web services…