Nokia launches developer Accelerator program, adds benefits to PRO and Launchpad developer programs

Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator provides exclusive technical, marketing & business support to venture-backed developers

San Francisco, CA, USA - Nokia today launched its new Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator developer support program, providing an expanded set of technical, marketing, business development and channel distribution services. The new program targets developers of innovative and industry-changing 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 and other services and software. In July, Nokia committed an additional USD 150 million to Nokia Growth Partners, underscoring the fund’s strategic focus on consumer Internet services and increasing funds under management for direct investments to USD 250 million.

Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator becomes the highest-level developer tier in Nokia’s elite invitation-only mobile developer program, Forum Nokia PRO. Established in February 2004, Forum Nokia PRO offers business and technical benefits to speed the development cycle and create larger market opportunities for developer members worldwide.

Nokia also announced today significant changes that will broaden access to additional developer offerings in its Forum Nokia global developer support program, including elimination of the EUR 4,000 annual fee for developer members of the Forum Nokia PRO program. Forum Nokia PRO members will benefit from the close alignment of PRO member initiatives with all Nokia software and services strategies, helping to ensure that developers achieve the maximum potential during their PRO membership.

Other developer program changes include reduction from EUR 800 to EUR 300 in the annual membership fee for Forum Nokia Launchpad, a program that provides resources and support to accelerate mobile application development and elevate business visibility for developers working with Nokia device platforms.

“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 (www.kyte.com), the universal digital media platform company that enables brands and communities to easily produce live and on-demand digital content, distribute it to multiple online and mobile destinations simultaneously, engage with an audience through real-time multimedia communications and monetize their brand assets; and, Tokyo-based Morpho, Inc. (www.morphoinc.com), a pioneer and leading 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, Inc. “Together with Forum Nokia we look forward to further success in deploying our imaging software applications.”

Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator membership is open by invitation-only and at no additional cost to current members of the Forum Nokia PRO developer support program that have received funding from top-tier venture capital firms including Nokia Growth Partners or its ecosystem of partners.

The reduction in membership fees for the Forum Nokia Launchpad program is accompanied by easing of the requirement that participating developers provide a Publisher ID. By making the Publisher ID requirement optional, Nokia has streamlined the registration process and reduced costs and time associated with acquiring a Publisher ID for developers joining the Nokia entry-level developer program.

More information about the benefits of the Forum Nokia developer programs including Forum Nokia PRO Accelerator, Forum Nokia PRO and Forum Nokia Launchpad can be found online at: www.forum.nokia.com/main/programs/