Lazarus

Ideal for prototyping and quickly developing database powered applications. Also useful for porting Object Pascal software to mobiles. Can access the native APIs when translated headers are available.

Python

Ideal for initial prototyping and concept testing when functionality falls outside Java ME.

iPhone

The iPhone and iPod Touch SDK uses Objective C, based on the C programming language. Currently, is only available on Mac OS X 10.5 and is the only way to write an iPhone application. All applications must be cleared by Apple before being hosted on the AppStore, the sole distribution channel for iPhone and iPod touch applications. However, non-Apple approved applications can be released to for jailbroken iPhones via Cydia or Installer.

BlackBerry

supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface. It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. The BlackBerry devices soon took a dominating position on

the north-american smartphone market. Also important for BlackBerry are the BES (Black Berry Enterprise Server) and the Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS).

Android

Recently announced by the Open Handset Alliance, whose 34 members include Google, HTC, Motorola, Qualcomm, and T-Mobile, Android is a new Linux-based platform currently available only as a developer pre-release. Although it does not yet have any fielded implementations, its support by 34 major software, hardware and telecoms companies makes it likely that it will be rapidly adopted from 2008. The Linux kernel is used as a hardware abstraction layer (HAL). Application programming is exclusively done in Java. You need the Android specific Java SDK. Besides the Android Java Libraries it is possible to use normal Java IDEs.

Symbian

Very powerful for general purpose development. The Symbian based S60 platform is strongly supported by Nokia with some support from other device manufacturers. In Japan NTT DoCoMo's Symbian based MOAP platform is also well supported by a number of manufacturers (Fujitsu, Sony Ericsson Japan, Mitsubishi and Sharp amongst others). It should be noted, however, that MOAP is not an open development platform. Another Symbian based platform, UIQ, is less well supported (principally by Sony Ericsson and Motorola). Currently large device deployments in Europe and Japan, with little penetration in the US market.

Java ME

Ideal for a portable solution, if the Java ME platform provides the needed functionality. Good for vertical applications that must be portable. Device-specific libraries exist for many devices and are commonly used for games, making them non-portable. Applications (including their data) cannot be larger than around 1 MB if they are to run on most phones. They must also be cryptographically signed in order to effectively use many APIs such as the filesystem access API. This is relatively expensive and is rarely done, even for commercial applications.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: Stocks Extend 12-year Lows As Strategists Debate Significance

By Kate Gibson

As U.S. stocks tried and failed Tuesday to bounce back from the prior session's stumble to 12-year lows, analysts, technicians and would-be historians debated the significance of the declines, which may or may not signal an important market milestone.

On Tuesday, utility shares led losses, as the S&P 500 Index slid to its first close under 700 since Oct. 28, 1996, with a passel of testimony from federal officials doing nothing to calm jitters about the recession and the ailing financial system.

"Certainly when that November low of 750 was breached, getting to 700 happened relatively quickly. It's the economy and the extent [to which] corporate earnings have deteriorated," said Dean Curnutt, president of Macro Risk Advisors. "Folks are walking down the street and seeing a lot of empty storefronts."

After trading in a 150-point range on either side of zero during the day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 37.27 points, or 0.6%, to 6,726.02. The S&P 500 declined 4.49 points, or 0.6%, to 696.33, and the Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) declined 1.84 points, or 0.1%, to 1,321.01.

On Monday, the Dow had closed at 6,763, a level not seen since 1997. If nothing else, the breach of 12-year lows is unusual. Other than Monday's retesting of 1997 lows, such a crossing has occurred only twice before, on Dec. 6, 1974, and April 8, 1932.

BOND REPORT: Treasurys End Higher As Stocks Hit Fresh 12-year Lows

By Nick Godt

Treasurys rose on Tuesday, while yields fell, after stocks made fresh 12- year lows after weak housing and auto sales data, along with a bleak assessment of the economy from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Speaking on Capitol Hill, Bernanke said that the most recent economic data, including on the labor market, showed little sign of improvement in recent weeks.

Reversing morning gains, government bonds returned to positive ground, sending their yields lower. Yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes (UST10Y) fell fractionally to 2.879%. Yields on two-year notes (UST2YR) were flat at 0.883%, while those on 30-year bonds (UST30Y) fell 1 basis points to 3.603%.

Bond prices move inversely to their yields.

Treasurys rose sharply on Monday as stocks tumbled to 12-year lows amid fresh concerns over the health of financial firms such AIG (AIG).

After rising firmly in morning trade Tuesday, stocks turned negative. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 37 points at 6,726. The S&P 500 index dipped 4 points to 696, marking its first close below 700 since Oct. 28, 1996. the Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) lost 1 point to 1,321.

General Motors Corp. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F) and Chrysler LLC said U.S. vehicle sales fell at least 44% in February.

Investors also failed to react positively to remarks from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner who spoke on the budget and didn't provide additional details on how the government intends to deal with the toxic assets that still plague banks' balance sheets.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: Dow Heads To Worst February Point Drop Ever; S P's Close Eyed

By Kate Gibson

As stocks on Friday meandered to another month of losses, investors were especially focused on the S&P 500 Index and whether the broad market gauge would close above or below its November lows, with a finish above 740 to 750 seen as a victory of sorts.

"Only on a two-day close below 740 will I run for the hills. A close over 740 today would be considered a successful test of the November 2008 low," said Elliot Spar, market strategist at Stifel Nicolaus.

The S&P closed at 752.44 on Nov. 20, though the benchmark on Monday undercut that prior bear-market low.

"Hopefully we can get back to 800 on the S&P, but first we have to get past resistance at 752. If we can close above that one resistance level I think it would be a mild positive," said Robert Pavlik, chief market strategist at Banyan Partners LLC.

On Friday, financials led the declines, with Citigroup Inc. (C) down 39% on news the U.S. government was hiking its stake in the battered bank. .

Energy shares led sector gains and helped some in offsetting the damage that had the S&P falling to a 12-year low before bouncing back.

At 3:30 p.m. Eastern, the S&P 500 (SPX) was down 13.48 points to 739.35, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was off 82.75 points to 7,099.33.

The technology laden Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) fell 3.94 points to 1,387.53.