Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:34:58 -0400
From: “Markus Grupp” <Markus.Grupp@telus.com>
Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Prototyping tools for mobile applications

If you are to prototype mobile applications (either native handset apps, or third-party/ Java
apps) and not WAP sites, then there are some robust rapid prototyping tools for specifically for
mobile devices: 
– Cybellius Maestro: http://www.cybelius.com/products/default.htm
– Digital Airways Kaleido: http://www.digitalairways.com/daw/kdoverview.jsp

These tools utilize drag and drop to allow you to get something on to a handset quickly:
– suites of standard applications, events and functions (i.e. new message, missed calls, etc.)
– libraries of mobile UI components and behaviours

Flash Lite does allow you to simulate these as well; however, you need to manually create a
library of mobile UI components; and a library of functions and events using Actionscript.

One caveat: Kaleido and Maestro strictly fit into the current UI/interaction paradigm for mobile
devices and applications (i.e. idle/home screen, main menu, standard applications, softkeys,
softkey menus).  If you are looking at prototyping new interaction methods, layouts and behaviours,
these may
be easier to prototype in Flash Lite. 

(The price of a seat licence for each of these apps may be restrictive, depending on the budget
you have to work with)

Good luck,
Markus