Windows Phone Thoughts: Microsoft Mobility Developer Conference 2003 (in New Orleans!)

Attend Microsoft’s premier developer event for building and bringing to market wireless applications, content and services for Microsoft® Windows® Powered mobile devices, including Pocket PC and Smartphone.

This is a great time to be a mobile developer (yes this is a natural high)! The MS Mobility Developer Conference is just around the corner. This year it's being held in the U.S. in New Orleans from March 18th to the 21st. This is the one event I just cannot miss. With work commitments being what they are I had a tough choice to make - attend the MVP Summit in Redmond or the MDC Conference? A case of fun verses education? Well it was a no-brainer in reality - the Developer Conference won hands down. I'll admit I would probably have opted for the MVP Summit if hadn't attended last years MDC 2002 in London. Last year's conference was excellent for many reasons, some of the highlights:

• it was the first totally MS Mobility Developer Conference focused primarily on the Pocket PC and the Smartphone.
  
• we got a beta version of the .Net Compact Framework
  
• the hands on labs were fantastic, covering Smartphone development and of course .Net CF and SQL Server CE development for the Pocket PC
  
• Juha Christensen announced the Mobile2Market initiative
  
• this was the first conference I had attended where, as a Pocket PC developer, I felt like a first class attendee (not like other conferences where the Pocket PC track is back stage), this was all Pocket PC - front and center
  
• it was also an excellent networking opportunity

In many ways it was fitting to have the first conference in the UK. Like it or not the UK and Europe are definitely ahead of the US when it comes to the adoption (not too mention infrastructure) of wireless technologies. Although anyone can surely propose half a dozen reasons as to why, it is mostly a case of standards. If we had fewer competing wireless technology standards in the U.S. we would be in much better shape. With the advent of the U.S. venue it doesn't mean our European friends are missing out - there is a Mobility Developers Conference in Paris starting March 31st.



So what can you expect at this year's event? Well at the top of my list is going to be a seat at Bill Gates' keynote speech. After that the hands-on labs and the exhibition hall (March 19th & 20th) will be chock full of development tool providers, mobile device manufacturers and anyone with mobile solutions or technologies. Note there is also a pre-conference day (18th) where you can get a lot of architectural information about .NET.

There will be 3 technical tracks this year, namely:

• Mobile Client Development
  
• Server Applications and Services for Mobile Devices
  
• Wireless Industry Forum

Technical tracks at Mobility Developer Conference will include:

Mobile Client Development
This track will cover client application development for Windows Powered mobile devices, including Pocket PC and Smartphone. Learn how to develop client applications in both native and managed code, browser-based applications and applications that take advantage of device-specific features and APIs. Topics will cover tools and platforms including:

• Microsoft .NET Compact Framework
  
• Cross platform Win32 development
  
• Games & Entertainment application programming
  
• Windows CE .NET
  
• Microsoft Embedded Visual C++ 4.0
  
• Application development for Windows Powered Pocket PC and Smartphone
  
• Device management and over-the-air provisioning
  
• Tablet PC development

Server Applications and Services for Mobile Devices
This track will cover integration of Windows Powered mobile devices with server-based systems, such as databases, messaging, streaming media, and other enterprise systems. This track will also discuss building web services, hosting web services and accessing them from mobile devices as part of your application infrastructure. Topics will cover tools and platforms including:

• Microsoft Enterprise Location Server (MELS)
  
• ASP.NET Mobile Controls
  
• MapPoint® .NET
  
• Microsoft SQL Server CE 2.0
  
• Microsoft Exchange
  
• Microsoft SQL Server Notification Services

Wireless Industry Forum
This track will provide a forum for hearing views from leading industry experts and analysts on current trends and future evolution within the wireless industry. It will also offer opportunities to understand the mobile application ecosystem, including application certification, distribution and deployment challenges. Topics will cover tools and platforms including:

• Microsoft and partner approach to supporting industry standards
  
• Trends toward 3G networks and services in the mobile ecosystem
  
• Mobile2Market – the marketplace for Windows Powered mobile applications and connecting with operators
  
• Best practices for operator application security

Mobile Solutions Challenge 2003
Now this is an interesting addition to the conference. MS is looking for your non-confidential, creative Microsoft® Windows® Powered mobile applications & solutions in a variety of categories, for both Pocket PC and Smartphone. The Challenge consists of two separate regional entry pools, US and Europe. Winners in each regional challenge will be announced at the US and Europe Mobility Developer Conference keynotes. Submissions for both regions are due on Friday, February 14 at 5:00pm PST.

Categories:

• Business and Office Productivity
  
• Enterprise Solutions
  
• Digital Video/Audio and Animation
  
• Utilities
  
• Games and Entertainment
  
• Home and Education
  
• Internet
  
• Development Tools
  
• Security and Virus Protection
  
• Networking and Communication
  
• Hardware Accessories

This year's event is going to be very interesting, see you in New Orleans!

Click here for important conference links & pricing.

Still in doubt? Read my review of last years event!

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