Java ME (J2ME): Beyond the Hype (2002-4-29)

A short take on the the good and bad about current Java ME (J2ME) usage in the US, as well as some possible solutions to maintain Java ME (J2ME) momentum.

The Good News:

• More than 20 million java phones already sold worldwide; more than 1.3 million here in the USA through Nextel.
  
  
• All the major phone manufacturers and operators support Java ME (J2ME). All Motorola phones will be java-enabled going forward, as will a quarter of all Nokia phones.
  
  
• There are lots of business, utility, and game apps for download in the web (midlet.org, midletcentral.com, iden.motorola.com, etc). Nextel reports more than a quarter of a million downloads from their site since last year.
  
  
• Sprint is starting to throw its considerable weight behind Java ME (J2ME) in anticipation of its own java phones in mid/late 2002
  • Sprint Goes Java, Preps for 3G (4/15/02)
  • Sprint Releases Award Winning Java ME (J2ME) Corporate Instant Messaging Platform (4/29/02)
  
  
  
• More and more companies are starting to develop in Java ME (J2ME) because of the growing population of phones, PDAs supporting this platform.
  • Leading Rich-Media Vendors Align with Insignia Mobile Media Framework to deliver a wide range of rich media mobile services to second generation mobile Java technology-based devices (4/22/02)
  • Award-Winning Games From GameWorld to Reach Mobile Phones World-Wide Through nGame's Global Distribution Network (4/26/02)
  
  
  
• Several complementary java technologies are starting to coalesce around Java ME (J2ME), including JINI and JXTA. Such synergism between the different technologies will be crucial in maintaining the momentum behind Java ME (J2ME) in the near future.
  • JINI info
  • JXTA info
  
  
  
• Some of the JCP specs on the horizon contain some nifty features, such as support for location-awareness.

Personally, I have yet to meet anyone who has not been surprised and amazed when I showed them java apps running on my Nextel phone. In fact, me and my wife have taken to downloading (OTA) and playing games whenever there is some lagtime (e.g. in dental office, or when repairing car). The future ability of java apps to make use of new technology such as Bluetooth or location-aware devices on the phone definitely points to an intersting future for Java ME (J2ME).

The Bad News:

• The process of provisioning apps still leaves a lot to be desired (at least when using Nextel). Although the specifics of installing the hardware and software required is somewhat trivial to most "geeks" like myself, the typical cell phone user (who might not even know what a 'web browser' is), might be easily turned off by the multiple steps required to even get to the point of trying to download apps.
  
  
• Competing technologies such as BREW and maybe Microsoft's mobile platforms can still dent the spread of Java ME (J2ME) (although I believe Java ME (J2ME) has enough support and advantages over these other technologies that any threat is remote at best, with Qualcomm's BREW being a possible toughie)
  
  
• People who want to run network-aware apps in Nextel's network have to subscribe to additional plans that are, ahem, somewhat expensive. This limits the desirability of complex, server-supported applications.
  
  
• Nextel and Motorola have not pushed the concept of downloadable apps very strongly IMO. Java apps exposure on brochures and the web sites typically is "buried". In addition, the proliferation of too many similar features such as "wireless web","messaging", "Mobile Office Email" probably causes some confusion among consumers.
  
  
• The minimal data/program storage on these phones means you cannot really fit more than 2 large, complex apps at any one time. It may become a hassle for some people to continually need to de-install old apps and install new apps.

Some possible marketing solutions:

• Java enabled phones SHOULD ship with Over-the-Air (OTA) deployment capabilities. This form of distribution is fast, relatively simple (compared to installing data cables, etc), and "cool." Many customers will have a hard time figuring out how to download apps from data cables connected to their desktops.
  
  
• Nextel and other operators should increase exposure of downloadable java apps in their web sites and brochures (including images of games and/or business apps). I have found a strong interest in the phones among friends and coworkers (and several have actually gone Nextel since then) WHEN I showed them my phone. The problem was they did not even know such things were possible.
  
  
• Nextel and Motorola should upgrade their Java ME (J2ME) application catalog web site as soon as possible. Successfully selling the apps requires taking some care to put forward the best face possible, and the somewhat bland, graphically-challenged web site for this catalog leaves something to be desired. Even a non-profit site such as midlet.org provides a cleaner, richer interface.
  
  
• In order to encourage the proliferation of complex, network-aware apps, operators should make it relatively cheaper and/or easier for customers to use them. The need for a separate, relatively expensive plan (in the case of Nextel, the PowerApps plan) that will allow network-aware apps might hinder customers from readily using these types of software. I believe that the long-term benefits of enriching the user experience outweigh any short term decrease in possible revenues.
  
  
• Operators should consider aggregating all the "wireless web" features into one single umbrella to lessen confusion among customers. This does not mean they should get rid of the different feature sets such as Java Apps, Wireless Web, Wireless office, etc, but they should have these as "add-ons" under that one umbrella.

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