Amazon Web Services (AWS) is making it possible for developers to directly integrate mobile applications for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, as well as apps for Android-based smartphones, with its cloud using two new beta SDKs (software development kits), it said in a blog post on Thursday.
Amazon’s aim is to make it easier for developers to build mobile applications that take advantage of its cloud-based services. Previously, developers had to do more of the work themselves, including writing their own libraries to handle the HTTP connection and error handling, according to Amazon.
Using the AWS SDK for Android and the AWS SDK for iOS developers can integrate their applications with Amazon’s cloud-based Simple Storage Service (S3), the SimpleDB database, and send messages using Simple Notification Service (SNS) and Simple Queue Service (SQS).
Possible applications of the services include uploading photos, videos, and other types of content to Amazon S3, sharing game moves and high scores using Amazon SimpleDB, or transmitting messages between smartphones without the need for any additional server infrastructure, Amazon said.
The SDKs include libraries, full documentation, and some sample code. The libraries take care of a number of low-level tasks such as authentication, retrying of requests, and error handling.
The SDKs for iOS and Android can be downloaded from Amazon’s Mobile Developer Center, where developers can also learn how to use the SDKs.
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