J2ME and WAP Technologies

1. J2ME and WAP Technologies CSCI 5939.02 – Independent Study Fall 2002 Presented by: Kashif Syed

2. Introduction • Introduction: WAP, J2ME • J2ME and WAP: Together forever? • J2ME MIDP and WAP Complementary Technologies • Conclusions • Bibliography

3. WAP • WAP was designed to allow wireless devices to access internet and intranet applications • WAP Forum was founded by Phone.com, Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola in June 1997 • WAP Forum goal was to offer license-free standard to the wireless industry • It’s a browser technology that allows user to browse WAP-enabled web sites. • Limitations: • Requires key improvements in security • Requires Constant airtime for stand-alone or offline operations • Limits rich user interface

4. J2ME • J2ME technology is a highly optimized Java runtime environment specifically for small devices. • It is NOT a replacement for WAP • Benefits: • Platform Independence • Simple Programming Language • Rich Network Functionality • Built-in Security Model • Rich set of Graphical User Interface

5. J2ME & WAP: Together forever? • What does the future hold? • Phone manufacturers will continue to build more sophisticated devices that will support and enhance services and the user’s experience. • Java being an established platform, J2ME technology will appeal to the developers, which will lead to better wireless applications.

6. J2ME & WAP: Together forever?(2) • Tools of the trade: • WAP was developed on the established infrastructure utilizing the investments already made in programming, applications etc. • Many WAP toolkits & J2ME Wireless Toolkits exists which will help developers to create feature-rich content and applications based on J2ME

7. J2ME & WAP: Together forever?(3) • Future challenges and changes: • 3G systems will provide high speed data transfer and multimedia data services. • J2ME has been selected as the industry standard for wireless devices by the Third Generation Partnership Project.

8. J2ME & WAP: Together forever?(4) • But is it secure? • WAP uses WTLS specifications which has notable holes. • Data is not secure when it is handed over from WTLS to SSL. • J2ME is highly secured as it has built in sandbox. • For more security, J2ME applications can be developed which make use of RMI technology.

9. J2ME & WAP: Together forever?(5) • Final Thoughts: • In all WAP & J2ME are must haves for those venturing into the mobile space. • Combination of WAP, Java and increase of bandwidth will make internet access very easy and enjoyable.

10. J2ME MIDP and WAP Complimentary Technologies • Wireless applications can be developed using WAP technology or using the Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) • Java plays an important role in both these technologies. • In WAP, Java Servlets and JSPs can be used to generate WML dynamically. • In MIDP applications (also called MIDlets), java is the programming language.

11. WAP Programming Model • The WAP programming model is similar to the Web programming model.

12. Sample WML Document <?xml version="1.0"?> <!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC "-//WAPFORUM//DTD WML 1.2//EN" "http://www.wapforum.org/DTD/wml12.dtd"> <wml> <card id="FirstCard" title="First Example"> <p> Hello World </p> </card> </wml> Output

13. MIDP Programming Model • It is a mix of Java Programming model and the Web Programming model • MIDlet or a group of MIDlets (know as MIDLet Suite) is described in a Java Descriptor (JAD) file. • MIDlets run in a MIDlet management software. • MIDlets remain installed on the device until they are explicitly removed.

14. MIDlet Sample Program import javax.microedition.midlet.*; import javax.microedition.lcdui.*; public class HelloMIDlet extends MIDlet { // The display for this MIDlet private Display display; // TextBox to display text TextBox box; public HelloMIDlet() { }

15. MIDlet Sample Program (cont..) public void startApp() { display = Display.getDisplay(this); box = new TextBox("First Example", "Hello World", 20, 0); display.setCurrent(box); } /**Pause is a no-op since there are no background activities or record stores that need to be closed. */ public void pauseApp() { }

16. MIDlet Sample Program (cont..) /** Destroy must cleanup everything not handled by the garbage collector. In this case there is nothing to cleanup. */ public void destroyApp(boolean unconditional) { } } Output:

17. WAP and MIDP: what can they learn from each other? • MIDP provides both high-level and low-level graphics APIs which are important for entertainment applications. • MIDlets can be run even when the server is not available. • WML provides tags and presentation attributes. It does not define an interaction model. • WAP supports phone functionalities like address book. There are no comparable APIs in MIDlet.

18. Integrating WAP and J2ME MIDP • WAP and MIDP are complementing technologies and not competing technologies. • MIDlets can be integrated into WML page.

19. Bibliography • Tim Fielden and Ana Orubeondo (InfoWorld Test Center). J2ME and WAP: Together forever? JavaWorld. December 2000. • Qusay H. Mahmoud. J2ME MIDP and WAP Complementary Technologies. February 2002 • Yu Feng and Dr. Jun Zhu. Wireless Java Programming with J2ME. Sams Publishing 2001.