Nokia is launching its new Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator developer support program that will provide technical, marketing, business development and channel distribution services.
The new program targets developers of mobile software and services selected for funding by top-tier venture capital firms, including Nokia's global growth stage venture firm, Nokia Growth Partners, and its ecosystem of partners.
Established by Nokia in 2004, Nokia Growth Partners targets investment in companies creating innovative mobile applications and services that encourage rapid adoption of mobile solutions, including context and location-based services, mobile payments, mobile advertising, music and entertainment. In July, Nokia had announced $150 million to Nokia Growth Partners, taking the total investments in this project to $250 million.
Established in February 2004, Forum Nokia PRO offers business and technical benefits for developer members.
Nokia also eliminated the EUR 4,000 annual fee for developer members of the Forum Nokia PRO program, reduced annual membership fee for Forum Nokia Launchpad from EUR 800 to EUR 300.
"Nokia is pleased to announce Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator designed to advance development and deployment of third-party software and services with the greatest industry transforming potential, working in close partnership with top-tier VCs, including Nokia Growth Partners," said Tom Libretto, vice president, Forum Nokia. "Forum Nokia continues to honor its commitment to provide world-class developer support, through the new PRO Accelerator program, and through broader access and increased benefits in our Forum Nokia PRO and Launchpad programs."
Two developer companies in Nokia Growth Partners' portfolio of investments announced today as initial charter members of the Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator program are: San Francisco-based Kyte; and Tokyo-based Morpho, Inc., a provider of image-processing software solutions for mobile devices.
"We are very excited to be a charter member of the Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator program and look forward to working with Forum Nokia and Nokia Growth Partners in our shared mission of accelerating the development and delivery of the Kyte application portfolio," said Daniel Graf, CEO of Kyte. "Nokia's ongoing support of Kyte has been instrumental to our success and this new program demonstrates Nokia's commitment to investing its resources to drive innovation of mobile applications and services."
"Morpho, Inc. is dedicated to providing imaging software solutions that enable consumers with the best imaging experience on their handsets, so we appreciate Forum Nokia inviting us to join the PRO Accelerator program as a charter member." said Dr. Masaki Hiraga, CEO and co-founder of Morpho. "Together with Forum Nokia we look forward to further success in deploying our imaging software applications."
Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator membership is opened by invitation-only and at no additional cost to current members of the Forum Nokia PRO developer support program, the company said in a release.
While the membership fees are reduced for the Forum Nokia Launchpad program, Nokia has made it optional for participating developers to provide a Publisher ID. This will streamline the registration process and reduce costs and time associated with acquiring a Publisher ID for developers joining the Nokia entry-level developer program.
Arun Satapathy is a contributing editor for IoTevolutionworld. To read more of Arun's articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by
Eve Sullivan