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The AJAX programming environment, which stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, is a way of speeding up the exchange of data between a user client application and the server. In a wireless environment this technological advantage is very clear. Opera has taken a step in this direction by issuing a software development kit (SDK) to build AJAX applications for mobile phones. There has been a lot written about AJAX, and both Yahoo and Hotmail will use this technology for their next editions of web-email. Yahoo is likely the first out of the box with the deployment of technology acquired through Oddpost in July 2004. Hotmail is in beta under the code name 'Kahuna. Both web email products are expected to heavily reply on AJAX programming to speed delivery of data to users. Neither application is designed, at least for now, for mobile devices. However, don't expect that situation to remain that way for long.

Here's a brief media report from WebProNews

Opera Brings AJAX To Mobile Developers

David Utter
Staff Writer
WebProNews

Published: 2005-11-15

Creators of Asynchronous Javascript and XML applications can obtain a beta release of the Opera Platform software development kit to use in building web applications for mobile phones.

The creators of the excellent Opera web browser have released their SDK for creating mobile web applications. The SDK supports AJAX development, to allow for more dynamic applications without sacrificing platform independence.

Developers can integrate native phone applications with web-based content such as weather or stock data, Opera noted on its site about the platform. Business users could combine phone-stored contact information with a remote enterprise application.

"The full Web browser has proved itself as a central application on mobile phones and is today the main source for data traffic on mobile networks," says says Timo Bruns, Vice President for Business Development, Opera Software.

AJAX technology provides an interface between a web browser and a back-end web server. This allows content displayed in the browser to be updated without refreshing and reloading the entire page. Examples of AJAX can be seen in applications like Google Maps and Yahoo News online.