Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile

    Wireless Serves Java

    By
    eWEEK EDITORS
    -
    April 30, 2001
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Supporters of Sun Microsystems Java Specification for wireless phones have high hopes that the solution will address some of the shortcomings of current wireless data applications. But it may be some time before its clear whether this iteration of Java will live up to those expectations.

      Sun and its wireless partners created Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition — a stripped-down version of Java that resides on handsets and personal digital assistants (PDAs) — hoping that the estimated 2.4 million Java developers worldwide would get busy creating mobile data applications. J2ME is different from Wireless Application Protocol in that it allows developers to deliver graphical elements to mobile devices and allows users to download new applications.

      Developers can write a J2ME application just once, and then any type of wireless device loaded with the software can use it, which helped push Motorola, Nokia, Research In Motion, Siemens and others onto the Java bandwagon.

      Enterprise customers are expected to benefit most from J2ME.

      Many enterprises havent standardized the types of wireless devices that workers use, often because employees are buying their own phones or PDAs. If those workers all want to use a particular enterprise application, its tough for the information technology department to deploy and update that application across the different devices. “One of the problems facing IT departments is how to manage a fleet of devices,” says David Yach, vice president for software at RIM.

      But if all of the devices have J2ME, new applications can be created using Java tools that developers already know, and IT managers can build updates to applications and send them out to all mobile workers at once.

      Today, applications and updates are downloaded when users sync their devices with their personal computers. In the future — later this year, according to Motorola — apps will be downloaded over the air, which means users dont have to be at their desks to receive the new applications.

      Nextel Communications became the first to offer Java-enabled handsets in the U.S. in early April, when it rolled out phones produced by Motorola.

      Most Nextel customers are business users, and the operator thinks the new Java capabilities will be particularly attractive to them. “We believe well see a boost in efficiency and productivity in the mobile environment,” says Nextel CEO Tim Donahue.

      Although project management tools or applications that allow workers to check inventory levels and customer status are envisioned, there are only a few simple applications available today, such as a calculator, a loan calculator and an expense pad.

      Because J2ME adds intelligence to the handset, it solves one of the major shortcomings of browser-based solutions. “The key to the mobile worker is to have an application that is always available to them, whether or not they have a connection,” explains Jim Acquaviva, CEO of Kada Systems, a company that has created a Java app for wireless devices that competes with J2ME.

      Few applications need constant connections to the wireless network. “Most of the time, what youre doing is something that doesnt require interaction with the back end,” says Prakash Iyer, co-founder and chief technology officer at Everypath, which has developed a platform that allows enterprises to build, manage and deploy mobile applications. For example, a worker in the field may use a mobile device to record observations, but may only need the wireless connection to send that information to a central database.

      The additional functionality that J2ME enables, especially the graphical capabilities, is expected to attract new types of companies to the wireless space, which could allow mobile data to make headway in the consumer market as well. “Nike or Pepsi [PepsiCo] might resist going to the current wireless, but with a more creative medium, they can do brand-building,” says Jay Steele, Plazmics president and CTO. The companys platform helps developers who are using current wireless standards, and may not know Java, deliver applications for J2ME.

      Reaching Dead Ends

      J2ME occupies an interesting space in a market where some companies that could be considered competitors are eager to adopt the offering. RIM and Palm, for example, have their own developer platforms that can enable some of the same capabilities as J2ME, yet the companies are on board with J2ME. “Even the Palm OS has reached almost a dead end because its an old model OS [operating system] built for a different purpose,” Everypaths Iyer says. “Its the same with RIM.”

      RIM devices were built primarily for e-mail, even though RIM has now added browsers and other apps to it. The company decided to support J2ME because more developers may be interested in writing apps that they know can run over any sort of mobile device, RIMs Yach says. RIM can still differentiate itself by offering developers additional tools, such as memory profiling, which gives developers specific information about how their apps will run on RIM devices.

      Although Microsoft hasnt been very vocal about it, behind the scenes its been pushing its .Net strategy into the wireless industry. Microsoft approached RIM, which wasnt interested. “Most everyone recognizes it as the anti-Java,” Yach says.

      Nonetheless, there are some shortcomings in Java: Its slow and fat for small wireless devices. But Yach says these problems can be overcome, and the effort is worth it because of the number of developers the platform will attract to wireless.

      Other companies would rather compete with J2ME. Kada has created a mobile platform that allows for the creation of Java-based applications for mobile devices; Kadas Acquaviva says it is the smallest, fastest and most complete Java solution. The Kada platform allows for more memory and RAM on the device than J2ME, and enables developers to use the exact same Java tools they already use, he says.

      J2ME, Acquaviva says, is too stripped-down. Kada is working with database vendors such as Oracle and Sybase to enable applications that would allow users to access databases from wireless devices.

      Qualcomm has also come up with an application platform called Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless, or BREW, that only operates on Code Division Multiple Access networks.

      eWEEK EDITORS
      eWeek editors publish top thought leaders and leading experts in emerging technology across a wide variety of Enterprise B2B sectors. Our focus is providing actionable information for today’s technology decision makers.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×