Palm announces expanded webOS SDK programme

Pre's operating system opened to more developers

2 April 2009 10:11 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Palm has revealed more details about its webOS SDK and developer programme with the news that it is expanding access to the "Mojo" SDK, previously only available to a select few, to interested developers that apply.

Access to the programme will still be limited at first, but Palm promises "general availability" is scheduled for later this year.

Mojo lets developers integrate their applications into "core" webOS functionality, such as linked contacts, layered calendars, multitasking, notifications and GPS capabilities with the apps running "natively" on the device, not dependent on a server connection.

When the Mojo SDK is released later this year, it will include the "Mojo Messaging Service" that means that new information is available, it is "published" to the cloud and all subscribers are notified that new information is available. This will mean developers will be able to "push" live content to their applications or services.

Palm also announced that it would deploy its first Palm branded cloud service as well as an emulator application from MotionApps that will allow most Palm OS applications to run on webOS devices.

webOS is the operating system for the forthcoming Palm Pre smartphone - "as well as other future devices running WebOS", says Palm. The launch timescale for the Pre in the US stands at first half of 2009, UK dates have not been confirmed.