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Java Developer Programs
Wireless needs a miracle
by Mark Hammond

Posted July 25, 2002

The wireless industry is at a crucial stage in its development. The new high-speed wireless networks are almost ready to support enterprise applications. The infrastructure is being put into place. And the business models that will allow enterprise developers to profit from this new platform are starting to emerge. All of the major players, from wireless carriers, device manufacturers, and chipset vendors to software platform and tools vendors, have agreed that Java is the best way—maybe even the only way—both to deliver advanced applications and mobile services that weren't possible before and to extend existing applications beyond the four walls of the enterprise.

Without compelling user experiences, open phones and wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs) are doomed to go the way of previous wireless experiments such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Many companies built it. And nobody came.

That's where you come in. Just as in the '70s when the PC revolution turned ordinary programmers into miracle workers, vendors are looking to Java developers to help grow this nascent platform and drive a new and thriving wireless economy.

The excitement around wireless is palpable but unlike so many recent technologies, wireless provides clear benefits for a certain kind of mobile worker that will ultimately justify the investments being made by the wireless industry. The combination of faster, more reliable wireless networks and a ubiquitous approach to application development creates new opportunities for Java developers.

And vendors are going out of their way to help you exploit those opportunities. Whether or not they have formal developer programs in place or are just providing the resources you need to build next-generation mobile Java applications, you'll find a growing collection of resources from downloadable SDKs, emulators, sample code, technical documentation, and training available online.

While Java, and more specifically Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME), is indeed ubiquitous, you'll need to understand the specific requirements of each device and software platform if you wish to provide more than basic functionality. Indeed, many of the device manufacturers offer device-specific APIs to accommodate specific functions or to help you integrate Java with other wireless technologies. Our guide to developer programs will help you do just that.