Cell Phones and Services for Java Developers? 18
Xi asks: "My cell phone recently died, forcing me to start looking for another cell/provider. I want one which will allow me to do some simple client/server Java programming but I'm perplexed by the array of choices. Some providers let you pay to download Java apps but do they let you create your own? Several providers can utilize phones on which Java runs but do they have to host some sort of software on their side? For instance can I use a Java enabled phone with T-mobile? Nokia, Nextel, Motorola (who shipped a Developer's CD with my October copy of Java Developers Journal) and its recent acquisition, AT&T, Sprint (new pricing), and others are all claiming Java this and Java that but what am I really 'getting' and what are fellow Slashdot-reading Java developers really using?"
Re:What? (Score:2, Informative)
Java applications he means, not on the whole basis of webpages...jeeze. Some phones (Nokia i think) come with Java Games on there, fine they take ages to load but its giving the open development side to mobile phones that some people have wanted for ages
I know that a small company i used to have contact with used a java app on a mobile to sync up information over WAP.
Its interesting, for the normal user yes its out of place (bar for games) but business use, hell it could be interesting to see whats turned out
No real requirements (Score:4, Informative)
AFAIK, the network operator has little (if any) to do with the usage of Java (J2ME) on your phone.
You can always write you own programs, and copy them to your phone. You can (with some trickery, I'm sure) post them on the Web (WAP?) and let other people download them to their phones.
The client/server part of J2ME is more-or-less URL-based HTTP/TCP transfers. I assume you're talking about GPRS (G2.5) phones: in that case, to use the networking from J2ME you just need that your phone provider allows you to connect to the Internet (as opposed to just their local network) via GPRS.
The above is based on Nokia informations, Sun's J2ME API reference, and European networks.
models and other resouces (Score:4, Informative)
There are more, and if you look at the recently released phones - J2ME seems to be there in most devices (excluding the cheapest model-range). Get the J2ME toolkit [sun.com] (this one for windows), the page will tell what else (java related) you also need.
Some operators might have for some odd reason disabled downloading some J2ME content although I don't know any such operators. Anyway, the operator choice should not affect your ability to start developing your own J2ME applications.
Re:models and other resouces (Score:1, Informative)
Re:models and other resouces (Score:3, Insightful)
Samsung A500 (Score:3, Informative)
Avoid Verizon "Get It Now" (Score:1)
Checkout alt.cellular.* for more info.
Sun (Score:3, Informative)
Blackberry 5810 (Score:1)
Sprint Vision (Score:2, Informative)
Dont Go Motorola (Score:3, Informative)
The only problem is getting the apps onto the phone. Motorola is being a nazi about controling the ability to distribute apps, if you arent in their developers program you can only download offical apps through their propritary download program. As far as getting into the development program, I have no idea, Ive applied for it through my work and as a student to no avial. Im even one of the few people running some J2ME projects on sourceforge.
Im told other phones have the ability to simply point themselves at a
Quite simple (Score:2, Interesting)
(Disclaimer: My J2ME experience on cellphones is limited to the Nokia 7650 and the 6310i. Everything stated for here applies only to those platforms)
When you download a J2ME application, 2 things need to be taken in to account. 1) Does the app use a resolution that will fit on your screen (same size or smaller that is). 2) Do you have enough storage space for it?
Once you've answered those, there is no other hassles with a J2ME application (short of any programming or compatibility issues). Just install it and run it from the menu.
You can download the J2ME applications from anywhere you choose. Download them to your PC and then transfer them across (via irda or bluetooth in my case), or download them directly from the net to the phone. With the Nokia 7650 you can even get them via POP3/IMAPv4 if you wanted.
Anyway.... J2ME applications reside on the phone, run on the phone, and are controlled by you and the settings of your phone. Once you've downloaded the application, the Telco/ISP has no control over the application itself (outside of licensing issues).
You do not need the Telco/ISP to write your own J2ME applications and run them on your J2ME capable phone.
Here's what i did (Score:3, Informative)
To get them onto my phone is a moderate pain. I have apache running on my machine, and added the following into mime.types:
text/vnd.sun.j2me.app-descriptor jad
application/java-archive jar
Re:Here's what i did, cont.. (Score:2)
and then bookmark 'http:///App.jad' in my phone and then download it over WAP.