Java Phones Get A Shaky Start
1. NTT DoCoMo Handset Recalls Show Java Not Ready for Small
Devices
NTT DoCoMo has announced yet another recall of Java-enabled phone
handsets, this time due to a security bug. The latest recall is the
largest to date, affecting possibly 420,000 handsets -- bringing the
total to more than 750,000 substandard phones for the year. NTT
DoCoMo has suffered the usual pitfalls of the pioneer, and it has
been stung by its own over ambition. However, according to Giga
Information Group, these problems are systematic and will be
widespread in Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP)
1.0-generation phones in Europe and the United States. More proof
that Java phones are not ready for prime time with the mass-market
consumer or the enterprise, despite the hype.
2. Nokia Commits To Large Java Pick-Up
Nokia announced that it plans to ship 100 million phones capable
of using the Java programming language by the end of 2003. Java will
allow the phones to be converted, via software, into MP3 players,
movie-players, or portable paging devices. Currently, there are only
3 million wireless phones enabled with Java.
For more information:
http://newsletter.mbizcentral.com/cgi-bin4/flo?y=hDoj0BRKHY0PM0OTX0AO
CNet
Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: We do not think
that is realistic to expect any new software/ hardware combination
to work flawlessly especially when multiple changes are introduced
at the same time. Therefore, the operators should indulge in more
thorough testing. It is very obvious to pragmatic software
architects that Java is, by far, the best software environment for
mobile devices and applications. let us work to improve Java. We
commend Nokia to put full support behind Java just like Motorola did
with its iDEN handset application development. We also urge Qualcomm
to provide full Java support along with its native BREW environment.
The software developers can choose native environment where they
want to utilize superior performance on a platform but use Java for
multi-platform application support.
