Need advice on how to start a MOBILE PHONE business

[MistaDobalina]

I have a couple nice ideas for mobile phone businesses or 'phone applications' if you will.

Does anybody have any advice on this? On how to go about selling it to the big cell phone companies like TMobile and AT&T?

Or even how writing programs for cell phones works? How it's different from web programing?

Any good help is appreciated thanks

[veikoh]

It's extremly difficult to deal with big telecommunication companies however I would recommend to join Apple iPhone developers program Apple Developer Connection - iPhone Dev Center - iPhone Developer Program (it will cost you $99) and besides technical assitance you will get their marketing channels for your product.
If you want to sell Nokia/Symbian or Blackberry applications for example the best channel is Handago Mobile Software and Games for your PDA or Smartphone : Handango.
I think the Symbian developers program cost was around $300 per year and you need to certify your application.
For Nokia you should check out the Forum Nokia - resources for mobile application developers

[MistaDobalina]

Thanks veikoh that's very helpful.

But in what ways is it difficult to deal with telecommunication companies? Are they skeptical of new ideas? Or is it hard to communicate with them?

I would think they'd sell this kind of application right in the store (and no it's not a pool game or anything...it's something alot of customers would use daily) when customers buy a new phone. However, I'm sure they could make an application like this themselves (if they found the motivation to do so) but if I had code for it do you think they'd buy it from me or give me some sales revenue?

[Eduardorodrigo]

I have a couple nice ideas for mobile phone businesses or 'phone applications' if you will.

Does anybody have any advice on this? On how to go about selling it to the big cell phone companies like TMobile and AT&T?

Or even how writing programs for cell phones works? How it's different from web programing?

Any good help is appreciated thanks

You will be competing will MANY other persons, with similar services. I think the best way to compete now, is with VOIP.
I know that this plataform, will be used more and more everyday. In business, it is VERY important to anticipate, so you can take advantage of the market.
I have been focusing in this "new" technology, and I beleive will give me a lot of money.
Hope this works for you.

Eduardo

[MistaDobalina]

I'm not very sure if VoIP is necessary for my service...and i'm still not sure what voIP is. could it link info gathered from my program to a website instantly?

[etakspeelstae]

I'm not very sure if VoIP is necessary for my service...and i'm still not sure what voIP is. could it link info gathered from my program to a website instantly?

voip = voice over internet protocol = internet phone, iirc.

[veikoh]

To develop and sell mobile phone applications, you do not hve to deal with telecommuniction companies. You just upload them to handago or apple store. If you wan't to develop and sell telecommunication equipment, then it's different story.

[MistaDobalina]

ok thanks. and one more question:

what does it take to create a mobile application? what special technological language do you need to know?

[veikoh]

Symbian is using C++ mainly, Apple have developed their own language to iPhone. But the main thing is to learn their development kit libraries, not a programming language as you need to use mostly ready built functions.
Also some SUN's Java libraries are included to mobile phones so you could program using J2ME.

[MistaDobalina]

ok yeah the phone idea is out but thank you