Sept/Oct 2004

Developers building applications for smart mobile phones could find life easier in future, thanks to a plan to create an open, unified architecture for Java-based mobile applications.

Nokia and Vodafone are claiming the high ground here with the announcement of what they call a mobile service architecture initiative, which will operate within the existing Java Community Process.

The J2ME Executive Committee (which oversees the original Java specification) has already approved the first Java Specification Requests from this initiative. Whilst JSRs 248 and 249 will not themselves introduce any new API (programming interface) specifications, they will include a number of new component JSRs and 'clarifications' to existing specifications. The aim, it is said, it to define a consistent Java API services architecture, promoting application compatibility across multi-vendor mobile devices.

Nokia and Vodafone say the initiative will aim to harmonise the licensing terms of component JSRs, keeping them open, fair and predictable. Sun Microsystems, which originated Java, will retain the role of creating and licensing technology compatibility kits (TCKs) for JSR 248 and 249.