Java: Coming to a phone near you
Expect to see more Java-powered cellulars in Asia, aimed at breathing customization into handsets.
But before that, what makes a good Java phone? The basic requirements are simple: the handset must come with a Java virtual machine. For satisfactory user experience, this is a mobile that should also come with much more, including some of the following features:
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Color display |
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Color screens are just easier on the eye. When it comes to wireless Java, these become even more important. Playing games on a color-screen handset is much more fun than doing so on a monochrome mobile, while color coding can help make onscreen text more legible.
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Large screen |
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Ample-sized displays mean you do not have to squint your eyes. Some corporate Java applications require you to read lines of data, such as product serial numbers. You'll thank your 12-line screen then.
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General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) |
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Without General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), setting up your phone for Java downloads using Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is extremely tedious. You'll also need an additional dial-up Internet connection which will immediately put off some users. Always-on GPRS offers not just ease of setup, it also provides faster speeds for Java downloads.
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Loads of memory |
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Java apps may not be large--typically ranging from 10kb to 80kb. However, as you accumulate them over time, you may find your phone quickly running out of space. That's when loads of built-in memory comes in helpful. A few phones these days even come with expansion options in the form of add-on cards like MultiMediaCard (MMS).
Note that Java content providers usually retain your purchasing information, so they remember which applications you have already bought. Therefore, when you next download the same applications, you will not have to pay for them again. You will still have to shell out the normal Web connection charges, though.
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Developer support |
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Unless you're in Japan or Korea, Java is a budding technology. With the limited pool of developers, it may not be easy to find good applications. Despite the Java promise of "write once, run anywhere", compatibility issues still exist between different manufacturers. A program written for a Nokia may not work with a Motorola, diminishing the number of available applications for each handset model.
Motorola and Siemens, due to their pioneer positions, already have credible Java repositories. Market leader Nokia, despite being a late bloomer, will surely be the platform of choice for many coders now.
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Given the versatility that Java brings to a mobile phone, plenty of other features can eventually prove to be complementary. For instance, polyphony helps to spice up a mobile game. At the same time, corporate applications that make use of barcode scanning will be enhanced by camera-integrated handsets.
For CNETAsia's choice of the top five Java handsets here and on the horizon, read on.
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