Getting Started with the XHTML Mobile Profile
Version 1.0 / 25 June 2003
Table of contents
- 1. Overview
- 2. What You Should Already Know
- 3. What You Will Need
- 4. Where to Begin
- 5. Where to Go Next
- 6. Related Materials
- 7. Terms and Abbreviations
1. Overview
This document provides an overview for developers who want to begin using the Extensible Hypertext Markup Language Mobile Profile (XHTML MP) to develop applications for Nokia mobile devices. This step-by-step guide takes you through the process of installing the Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit 4.0 and writing your first XHTML MP page.
Download the whole Getting Started with XHTML Mobile Profile package (guides and tools included)
2. What You Should Already Know
The WAP Forum, now a part of the Open Mobile Alliance Ltd. (OMA), defined the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) specification as a global standard for mobile Internet applications and browsing. The latest version of the specification, WAP 2.0, is XHTML MP. WAP specifications can be found on the WAP Forum Web site.
WAP developers who are already creating mobile Internet services using the Wireless Markup Language (WML) should understand the evolution from WML 1.x to XHTML Mobile Profile. For background information on the subject, developers can download the following two documents from the Documents section of the Forum Nokia Web site.
WML to XHTML Migration gives developers guidance on how to shift from WML to XHTML Mobile Profile.
Browsing on Mobile Devices provides an overview of WAP 2.0 technologies and describes the benefits of using XHTML MP and WAP CSS on mobile services.
3. What You Will Need
The Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit 4.0 Starter Pack is an application development and testing environment for developers of mobile Internet content. It provides tools to create applications with XHTML MP, WAP CSS, WML, and WMLScript.
In addition to the Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit, developers will need the Nokia 5100 SDK beta, which supports XHTML MP and WAP CSS and can be used to preview and test WAP applications.
4. Where to Begin
First, install the Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit 4.0 following the installation guide NMITpack-Install.pdf. Document can be found from Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit Starter Pack.
Secondly, install the Nokia 5100 SDK beta following the installation guide Nokia_5100_SDK_Installation.pdf. Document can be found from Nokia 5100 SDK beta package.
Start the tools:
- Start the Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit 4.0
- Start the Nokia 5100 SDK beta
Open the example XHTML page:
- Open the index.xhtml (Ready-made files can be found from examples)
- Push the show button

Images of your first XHTML pages
5. Where to Go Next
Once you understand the basics of XHTML, it is time to think about the look and feel of the XHTML application.
The Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit includes a document called XHTML Guidelines, which provides comprehensive information about creating content for mobile devices supporting XHTML MP and WAP CSS. For further information on the subject, Nokia also provides the following documents, which are available for download from the Documents section of the Forum Nokia Web site.
WAP Service Developer's Guide for Nokia Series 30 Phones with XHTML Browser provides information and practical examples on how to optimize mobile services for Nokia devices with a specific user interface.
Nokia GSM WAP Phone Characteristics document contains detailed information about the browser characteristics of Nokia devices. It lists features such as screen size, supported image formats, user agent name, and cache and deck size, among many others.
Nokia GSM WAP Phone MIME Types document lists the MIME content types currently supported on the browser of Nokia WAP phones. MIME types illustrate which content types can be downloaded through the browser to the phone.
Nokia GSM WAP Phone WML and XHTML Elements document describes the WML and XHTML elements that are supported on the browser of Nokia WAP phones.
6. Related Materials
There are several complementary technologies that can be used to enhance the user experience of mobile services, and the following documents will help developers become familiar with them. Documents are available on the Documents section of the Forum Nokia Web site.
Getting Started with WAP Push describes how to create WAP Push messages. The document also contains example code of a Push servlet, which utilizes XSLT technology.
The OMA Generic Content Download Over The Air, or simply OMA Download OTA download technology, provides reliable download functionality for generic content types. Delivering hot content with confirmation – OTA download for generic content with COD technology provides an overview of interactive OTA download.
OMA technical specifications are available for download from the OMA Web site.
Examples
Forum Nokia also offers an example of a dynamic WAP application using XSLT processing, Mobile Zoo Virtual Tour. The application generates XHTML MP or WML1.x depending on the requesting user agent. Mobile Zoo Virtual Tour demonstrates the implementation of a scalable application and use of the WAP CSS.
Mobile Zoo Virtual Tour Guide (4/5) and Mobile Zoo Virtual Tour application (4/5) can be downloaded from the Documents section of the Forum Nokia Web site.
Technical Support
Nokia offers developers a complete range of free and fee-based support to assist developers in creating, testing, and deploying applications. Services are available online, remotely, and onsite at Nokia facilities.
For more information about technical support, please see the Developer Section at www.forum.nokia.com/support and the Support/FAQs section at www.forum.nokia.com/browsing.
7. Terms and Abbreviations
| Term or Abbreviation | Description |
| CSS | Cascading Style Sheet. Mechanism for adding style (e.g., fonts, colors, spacing) to Web documents. |
| WAP | Wireless Application Protocol. |
| WCSS | WAP CSS. Cascading Style Sheet specification optimized for wireless devices. |
| XHTML | Extensible Hypertext Markup Language. XHTML uses the definitions of HTML 4.1 but requires proper XML syntax. |
| XHTML MP | XHTML Mobile Profile. XML-based markup language that contains XHTML Basic and a few additional elements from full XHTML 1.1. |
| XSLT | Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations |
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