Bitstream, the software company that offers the Bolt mobile browser, launched the Bolt SDK, a mobile software development platform that lets telecom operators, handset manufacturers and other service providers build Java ME applications that can work on entry-level feature phones. The Bolt SDK is based on Bitstream's cloud computing architecture, which it deploys in the BOLT browser to add features like faster page load times, flash video playback, file downloads and desktop style layout. The user interface of the app can be customized by the developer. While the SDK supports web-apps coded in HTML5, Java Script or any other other programming language, the processing of data and advanced features reside on the cloud. This enables developers to offer apps with advanced features to basic phone users; as an example, the company cites a mobile email service developed by an Asian Internet company, which allows sending and receiving email, contacts lookup, manage calendars and perform other personal information management tasks on their feature phones. Bitstream says that the BOLT SDK allows app developers and content companies to target over 200 models from over two dozen manufacturers. We tried locating a site for more information on the Bolt SDK, but couldn't find one. India, which is predominantly a feature phone market can perhaps be of strategic interest to the company. In the past, the company had added flash video support for Hungama.com and BollywoodHungama.com to the Bolt browser. It had also announced support for 9 Indian language scripts. We previously said that Bitstream…
