Running on a Real Device

Running on a Real Device

As of this writing, millions of MIDP-enabled phones are deployed worldwide. A comprehensive list of MIDP devices is available at http://wireless.java.sun.com/device/. How do you actually put MIDlets on a device? There are two possibilities: either you'll transfer MIDlet suites to the phone from your computer via a serial cable, or you'll transfer MIDlet suites over the wireless network. (Another possibility serves as a hybrid—a device in its cradle, attached to your computer via a serial cable, can use the desktop computer's network connection as though it were a wireless connection, and applications can be transferred this way.) This second possibility is called over the air (OTA) provisioning. There's a standard protocol for OTA, which is described as an addendum to the MIDP 1.0 specification. (The OTA addendum is included in the MIDP 2.0 specification.)

Installing MIDlets via serial cable or OTA provisioning is specific to whatever device you're using. You'll have to check the documentation for your device to see exactly how to install MIDlet suites.