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The Internet has changed our lives, and the technology behind it is constantly evolving. At its heart, the Internet uses HTML coding to display web pages, and more and more companies are starting to take advantage of the fifth and latest iteration – HTML5. With a number of exciting HTML5-based projects already under its belt, Nokia is leading the way with the use of HTML5 at Nokia.com and also its online maps.

The introduction of HTML5 is exciting for lots of different reasons, and it has the genuine ability to transform the way we interact with the Internet at home and on the move. It’s better at handling multimedia and graphical content without the need to rely on plugins and APIs, and the technology has been developed with low-powered devices like smartphones and tablets firmly in mind.

Blurring the lines

One of the best bits about the new technology is the fact it enables a standardised experience across a range of different platforms: laptops and PCs, smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs – with an HTML5 site you’ll be able to browse the same content and get a near identical experience whatever you’re using.

This is particularly handy when you’re switching between devices, explains Tuomas Manninen, head of Nokia’s online experience. “It’s a great example of connected devices blurring the border.

If you’re browsing something with your laptop or your computer and you need to leave, you can continue that journey with different devices. “With HTML5 we’re able to make one version that works with everything. Currently we have a desktop site and .mobi site, and the experience between the two is very different,” adds Tuomas.

Components and flexibility

It’s not just the fact that HTML5 can provide a standardised design that makes it so appealing. The technology also makes it considerably easier to create a more flexible website, where content can be perfectly tailored to the viewer.

Traditional websites are built up on templates, which prove restrictive when it comes to content. HTML5 is a lot more accommodating, with a web page made up of different components. This makes it easier to add video, social media, regular articles or any other type of content.

The fact the site can be rolled out across multiple devices, on multiple browsers, and provide the same user experience is a huge benefit.

The new Nokia.com

Nokia’s brand new website – Nokia.com – is one of the most exciting examples on the use of HTML5 to date. It looks great, and Tuomas points out: “We are probably the first to launch a responsive site of this scale .”

It’s a site that Nokia is quite rightly proud of, and Tim McDonald, the Service Design Manager of Nokia.com, explains: “We’ve transformed Nokia.com into a world-class web presence that works seamlessly on all screen sizes, everything from feature phones to desktop computers. The design is all about simplicity, desirability and authenticity.”

“It’s rare for any designer to get a chance to redesign and build a service of this magnitude,” adds Ville Kolehmainen, the Creative Director of Siili Solutions Oyj. “I take great pride being a part of the amazing team behind this first step and I look forward to working on the next.”

The tech behind HERE maps for iOS

Websites themselves are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to HTML5, with a seemingly unlimited number of uses for the tech coming up in the not too distant future. HERE is using HTML5 for its mobile version – all it takes is an HTML5 compatible mobile web browser, and you’ll be able to enjoy Nokia’s class-leading mapping experience irrespective of the device you’re using. HTML5 is also the technology with which the app HERE Maps for iOS has been built.

Thanks to HTML5, it’s easy to access maps for nearly 200 countries, search and benefit from an extensive places directory, get high-quality voice-guided navigation and even use a number of the features offline. In a nutshell, it means you’ll no longer have to put up with inferior bundled mapping apps. 

Web Platform Docs

The future for HTML5 also looks exciting, thanks to Web Platform Docs. As a founding steward, Nokia has been instrumental in the creation of Web Platform Docs, which is a community website that provides all the relevant tools for developers without the need to visit multiple sites. Web Platform Docs makes it considerably easier and quicker to develop HTML5 websites, meaning we’ll see a lot more exciting content in the near future.