So, it’s happening!! Microsoft has already planned to drop development work of feature phones, Nokia X and Asha platforms and they will be totally killed within next 18 months. Now, slowly Microsoft is ramping down the resources made available to developers by Nokia. The RDA ( Remote Device Access ) is gone effective 12th August.
Now, in a mail Microsoft Mobile has announced that Nokia Xpress Web app builder (XWAB), which used to enable quick creation of web apps for Asha phones will be ramped down too. Cloud preview functionality is gone too.
Dear Developer,
Nokia Xpress Web app builder (XWAB) will be ramped down effective August 27, 2014. You can still build web apps using Nokia Asha web apps tools 3.0. Note that “cloud preview” functionality within web apps tools will no longer be available effective August 27, 2014. We recommend instead previewing apps locally via the Web App Simulator (WAS) included as part of the web apps tools download.
We recommend using the Windows Dev Center for the latest on developing universal Windows apps for smartphones and other devices. If you have questions, you can contact us at [email protected].
Though, it can be argued that there are alternatives to RDA in form of emulators but emulators can’t really “emulate” a real device experience.
