Sprint PCS embraces J2ME

Sprint PCS (www.sprintpcs.com) this week announced it will deploy Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) on Sprint PCS phones when it launches its 3G 1X packet-switched network nationwide in mid-2002.

“There are a lot of elements that are part of that launch: the ability to have always-on packet devices, the ability to get into new commerce and application models, the ability to bill for these type of applications, as well as the ability to really build a great application-development environment,” said John Yuzdepski, vice president and general manager of SprintPCS.com.

“By working through the Sprint PCS Application Developer’s Program to deliver applications using J2ME technology, we will make devices smarter, enabling consumers to download interactive applications to their wireless device regardless of location.”

Deploying applications using J2ME (http://java.sun.com/j2me) technology will enable Sprint PCS to enhance the consumer experience by enabling more graphical and personalized interactive services for wireless devices.

According to Yuzdepski, J2ME technology enables consumers to continually upgrade the applications on a device. And because J2ME is an industry standard, the same software and applications can work on a variety of different devices.

“The first thing you’ll see is interactive consumer apps: gaming and entertainment applications, information services that use better graphics and multimedia functionality,” he said.

Corporate apps will follow, including customer-service and sales-force automation applications.

“We’re re-engineering our Web site to be all-portlet driven, so everything on that site has a portlet,” Yuzdepski explained. “So if you go to sprintpcs.com with a 19-inch screen and get your account balance and go to your handset, we can deploy the same portlet architecture on your small handset, PDA and big screen — it’s all a Java implementation.”

Currently, 2.5 million Java developers worldwide write programs for wired devices. These developers will also be able to write applications that will work across a variety of J2ME wireless devices.

Yuzdepski said Sprint PCS will begin offering 3G phones soon, and some will have Java capability.

“Initially, you’ll see the top-end consumer gaming phones and then progressively, you’ll see more and more handsets with this (J2ME),” he said.

But when the carrier rolls out its 3G network, all handsets may not be J2ME capable.

According to Yuzdepski, “There will be at least a couple of great J2ME-equipped handsets.”

Sprint PCS’ commitment to deploy Java technology-based services for its 3G network further demonstrates that Java technology is a de facto standard across different networks, said Rich Green, vice president and general manager, Java and XML software for Sun Microsystems. (www.sun.com)

“This commitment can further broaden opportunities for Java technology content developers and allow Sprint PCS to leverage existing Java technology-based content into its network,” he added.

Yuzdepksi said Java is a ubiquitous language to the wired Internet, and Sprint PCS’ announcement signifies another step in its drive toward a larger Internet offer.

“The wireless Web and the wired Web are showing a tremendous amount of convergence,” he said. “For example, WAP 2.0 (includes) XHTML, and the ability to run J2ME on the handset and use the same software architecture and development architecture between small screens and large screens using Java is a pretty important step in our road to convergence with the Internet.”

Sprint PCS is actively encouraging the development of applications for J2ME wireless devices through the Sprint PCS Application Developer’s Program, Developer’s Conference (October 10-12 in Las Vegas) and J2ME Application Design Contest. For more information, go to (http://developer.sprintpcs.com).