Nokia Ovi rules let individual pubs, free signing

Nokia today reworked some of its rules and software to rekindle developer interest in the Ovi Store. The phone maker is responding to a long called for move is now letting individuals, rather than just companies, sign up as Ovi Publishers. Developers can also now have their apps signed for free instead of having to pay per app, and Nokia promises to cut in half the time needed for an app to be signed.

The company is hoping to spur development for its cross-platform Qt environment and now has the 1.0 edition of the Qt SDK available for Linux and Windows as well as a beta version for Macs. Apps can now be submitted written using Qt, initially for the N97 mini and X6 in Symbian as well as the Maemo-based N900.

Nokia's updates come at a critical time for the company, as it has lost support in Europe as many smartphone buyers either opt for other platforms or don't use the Ovi Store on the devices they own. Its new rules, once implemented, cut the cost of publishing an app to a one-time 50 euros ($61) where they were potentially expensive for multiple apps. Development for the iPhone is more expensive at the equivalent of $99 for a year but also doesn't carry extra fees, no matter how many apps are published.

By Electronista Staff