Web Apps: Nokia’s Small Way to Keep Qt

About two months ago, Nokia held a contest called “Create for Millions”. In this contest, mobile developers have to develop Java Apps and Web Apps in Nokia S40 platform. Surely, it is one of the ways taken by Nokia to optimize low end mobile phone to make it easier for users to do some activities on Nokia S40. Indirectly, it is a challenge for developers to develop application in low end segment.

When I accessed this contest for the first time, it makes me wondering about the Web Apps technology. In developing Web Apps, Qt Quick and Qt WebKit can support. Several days ago, Aulia wrote an article about the future of Qt for Nokia. For me, WebApps is one way to keep the Qt.

On that article, Andri Yadi from Dycode explained that Qt will survive because Nokia has two platform in the development those are low end and Windows Phone. He stated that S40 platform used by low end mobile phone will develop and he hopes that Qt will have significant role.

Some local portals such as Kompas and KapanLagi have used Web Apps. Both of them give positive response about the Web Apps on Nokia S40. It can work fast in low end mobile phone and the cost of using the application is effective.

Narenda Wicaksono (Nokia Developer Operation Manager) in the informal meeting stated that there is a pyramid law in mobile phone selling in Indonesia. The top position on the pyramid is the iPhone then BlackBerry, the third is the Nokia low end mobile phone. In brief, the iPhone selling is less than the BlackBerry’s, and the BlackBerry’s selling is less than the low end mobile phone.

The fact is millions of Indonesian people use low end mobile phone. They become Nokia target market. To interest users, Nokia optimizes the low end mobile phone to make users easier to do activities with Nokia and keep the Qt.

Based on my observation, most of people who buy Nokia low end mobile phone do not buy Apps on Ovi Store. They use it only for calling and sending SMS or going online by using Opera Mini. Moreover, most of Indonesian People who have smartphone are reluctant to buy apps from marketplace. The fact is there are iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch users often do jailbreaking on their handset to get apps for free.

If the introduction/publication about the Web Apps is succeed, and many Nokia low end mobile phone (for example S40) users use this Web Apps, I believe that there are many ways to monetizing it, and Qt will survive.