Back in the '90s, blind developers Monty Lilburn and Shawn Kirkpatrick began seeking an inexpensive way to combine smartphones, screen-reading software, and GPS technology. It wasn't easy, but they reached their goal, and it's called Loadstone GPS. Lilburn relates the challenges and successes of the Loadstone team's quest.
Dev_succ_Loadstone.pdf  (PDF file, 92.6 KB)

Although the notion "did sound quite far-fetched at the time," Forum Nokia Champion Arto Holopainen followed through on his idea anyway. The result: a system that lets players use their arm and leg muscles to control game action on mobile phones.
Dev_succ_Holopainen.pdf  (PDF file, 805 KB)

Forum Nokia Champion Nathan Eagle is an MIT research scientist, creator of a mobile-data initiative, and co-founder of a mobile matchmaking service. But today you'll find Eagle in Nairobi, helping Kenyans to learn about mobile development. Discover what drew him there and what inspired him to launch EPROM, a program for fostering mobile technology education, research, and entrepreneurship in Kenya.

Ron Patton isn't just a project leader at mobile developer Handmark Inc. — he's also a diving enthusiast who helped discover the wreck of a patrol ship sunk in Florida during the U.S. Civil War. "I like finding things that are lost," he explains.
Dev_succ_Patton.pdf  (PDF file, 396 KB)

As a 10-year-old gadget builder, Brian Roundtree began indulging his passions. Since then, with insights from famous mentors such as Bill Gates Sr. and William Lear, Roundtree has enjoyed a diverse journey that includes a fascination for aviation and the entrepreneurial endeavor of founding an innovative mobile development firm.
Mobile_Entrepreneur.pdf  (PDF file, 632 KB)

Petri Ikonen went from actor, director, and scriptwriter to full-time mobile game developer. Discover how his entertainment background informed his work as a creator of mobile games.
Ikonen.pdf  (PDF file, 43 KB)

Phil Spencer embraced mobile application development back in his teens. Learn what attracted him to mobility and how he made his way from hobbyist to professional coder.
Start_Em_Young.pdf  (PDF file, 665 KB)

A trip to Mozambique was something off the beaten path for Nick Fitzsimons, who these days works at Quickoffice. Earlier in his career, he opted for a short work break to "do something interesting" — joining a scientific expedition to tag crocodiles for further study.
Jaws_of_Death.pdf  (PDF file, 332 KB)