| Tools | Language(s) | Cost | Devices | Documentation | Developer Support | App Delivery Mechanism | Carriers | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Android | • Android SDK | • Java for native apps | Free, open source; no upfront fees | Smartphones and PDAs from many different manufacturers, including HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung | SDK provides extensive developer documentation | Complete documentation online (with videos, official Android developer blog and an active Android development community) | • Google Android Market | • All major U.S. wireless carriers | Consumers for personal use |
| BlackBerry | • BlackBerry Java Development Environment (JDE) | • Java ME + rich set of custom APIs | • Free access to SDK and simulators | BlackBerry smartphones in a variety of models | • Javadocs | • RIM community developer forums | • Cable-loaded | • All major U.S. wireless carriers | Primarily business users |
| iPhone | • iPhone SDK | • Objective-C | • $99 per year for Apple iPhone Developer Program | • iPhone 3G | Apple Developer Program, which is free to join and includes access to the iPhone SDK, iPhone Reference Library and documentation | • Apple Developer Community | • Safari web browser | • US: AT&T | • Primarily early adopters, young adults |
| Windows Mobile 6.5 | Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition or better, but not Visual Studio 2010 | Native C++ or supported .NET languages C# or Visual Basic .NET | • Free SDK | Smartphones and PDAs from many different manufacturers, including HTC, LG and Samsung | • Microsoft Developer Network and related sites | • Microsoft Professional support | • Through a memory card, network or an ActiveSync connection | • All major U.S. wireless carriers | Business and average consumers |
| Windows Phone 7 | • Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone | • .NET; C# only | • Prices not finalized yet | No availability until Q4 2010 | Electronic on MSDN and on the SDK | • Microsoft developer support | Via Windows Marketplace for Mobile | • All major U.S. wireless carriers | Business and average consumers |
| Palm WebOS | • Palm webOS SDK | Applications typically written in JavaScript, HTML, AJAX, and other common Web technologies, as well as in C and C++ | For a limited time (as of 7/22/2010), HP waiving $99 annual fee for developer account | • Palm Pre, Palm Pixi, Palm Plus | Plenty of documentation at developer.palm.com | Plenty of support and information at developer.palm.com | The Palm App Store | • All major U.S. wireless carriers | Business and consumer users |
| Symbian | • Application development kit (ADT) | • Native language is C++ | A few hundred dollars | • Nearly all devices using Symbian are Nokia phones. | SDKs contain documentation, the header files and library files required to build Symbian OS software, and a Windows-based emulator (“WINS”) | Good support through the Symbian Foundation | Nokia’s apps store, Ovi Store | • All major U.S. wireless carriers | Business and consumer users |
| Tools | Features | Max Size of DB | Languages Supported | Connection Protocols | Footprint | Operating Systems Supported | Synchronization/Integration with Backend | Deployment Options | Security | Documentation/Developer Support | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQL Server Compact | • Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio | • Can be deployed on smart devices and computers | 4G | T-SQL | • ADO.NET | • <2MB disk space | • Windows Embedded | • Remote Data Access (RDA) | • ClickOnce | • Data transfer – 128-bit data encryption | • Microsoft Support | Free |
| Oracle Database Lite | • Mobile database offering consists of Database Lite Client and middle tier, Oracle Database Lite Mobile Server | • Synchronization support for SQLite databases | • 4GB of relational data | • SQL-92 | • ODBC | Starting around 1MB | • Windows (2003, XP, Vista) | • Mobile Server provides bi-directional data synchronization to an enterprise instance of an Oracle database. | • Packaging Wizard | • FIPS-140 compliance | • Code samples, and tutorials provided with MDK | • $60 per user |
| DB2 Everyplace (Enterprise Edition) | • Mobile Devices Administration Center | • Optimized for SAP | See DB2 Everyplace limits for a list of DB2 limits | • C/C++ | • DB2 Call Level Interface (CLI) | 350KB | • Windows (2000, 2003, XP, Vista, CE) | • DB2 Everyplace Sync Server | WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment | • Local data encryption provided by plugins based on individual platforms | • SDK, including tutorials and code samples | $166 per user; includes license, software subscription and 12 months of support |
| DB2 Everyplace (Database Edition) | • Mobile Devices Administration Center |
| See DB2 Everyplace limits for a list of DB2 limits | • C/C++ |
| 350KB | • Windows (2000, 2003, XP, Vista, CE) | Local data storage |
| • Local data encryption provided by plugins based on individual platforms | • SDK, including tutorials and code samples | $72.50 per user |
| SQL Anywhere | • Visual Studio | • 20,000 transactions per minute | Hundreds of GB of data | • C# | • ODBC | • 10MB hard disk | • Windows | Bi-directional replication is accomplished using MobiLink | Deployment Wizard | Optional purchases: RSA and ECC encryption protocols | • Documentation | Dependent on what you need to do with it, who will be using it, how many will be using it, and what platform you are targeting |
| SQL Lite | • TCL (Tool Command Language) | • Zero-Configuration | 1 terabyte | SQL-92 | N/A | <275K | Cross-platform, 32-bit and 64-bit systems | N/A |
| Support for reading and writing encrypted databases using these algorithms: RC4, AES-128 in OFB mode, AES-128 in CCM mode, and AES-256 in OFB mode | • Documentation | Public domain |
Charlie has over a decade of experience in website administration and technology management. As the site admin, he oversees all technical aspects of running a high-traffic online platform, ensuring optimal performance, security, and user experience.
