Mobile Architectures

Lost Wax is committed to developing innovative applications for the next generation of mobile devices. There is an exciting opportunity to develop sophisticated and functionally rich applications targeted at consumer mobile phone and the PDA market. The key breakthrough is the large scale availability of Java enabled phones and devices – making it possible to develop applications that can be as functionally rich and sophisticated as browser-based applications.

Lost Wax has implemented a number of SMS and WAP services in support of web based applications, but these services are limited by the technologies. New Java applications developed on the MIDP phone platform offers a quantum leap in the richness of services that can be implemented. A parallel can be drawn with the evolution of the Internet from simple information-based web sites to highly functional transactional e-commerce applications.

Business applications for mobile devices The unprecedented take-up in the use of mobile phones and SMS combined with an established revenue model has laid the groundwork for a variety of new business services. For the majority of mobile workforces and travelling consumers the ability to access useful online functionality through a phone or device is compelling.

Lost Wax is working on three main areas of mobile computing:

• Transactional applications – the ability to conduct basic transactions usually found on a web site, for example, credit card and banking functions, extended and geographically disperse supply chains, and travel related transactions.
• Presence applications – where work groups, social groups or online communities can stay in constant touch, connected directly through a mobile network rather than text or phone calls.
• Location-based services – the ability to provide transactions, information or marketing related services depending on the physical location of the user.

There are a sufficient number of Java enabled devices in the market to make consumer applications using Java commercially viable. Security can be built into applications and even with a simple user interface it is possible to deliver powerful applications to consumers.

A key advantage for mobile Java applications is that can be completely functional when not connected to the network, only synchronising when a connection to a server can be established. This mode of operation is particularly useful for mobile workforces, intermittently connecting back to base when a network connection is established. It also works well when staff only communicate when necessary, for example, to ascertain information required for scheduling jobs.

Lost Wax has an enviable track record in the development of Java applications and the J2EE architecture. From this base we have extended our expertise into mobile Java applications, utilising the J2ME architecture.

J2ME provides both high-level interfaces that enable a generic application to run on any MIDP phone without modification to the code, and support for low-level direct graphics capabilities. The low level graphical applications can be used to provide richer user interfaces. However, there are a number of design and portability factors that have to be considered during development, for example, colour support, screen size and memory capacity.

Many phone manufacturers provide additional API’s providing access to Bluetooth capabilities, which allows peer-to-peer communication.

An exciting new feature is the ability to detect geographical location using the device, and combine this with server side transactions to offer consumers highly specific location-based services. These new applications can be implemented without a formal partnership arrangement with a mobile network provider.

Security remains an issue for mobile applications and at this stage no clear standards have emerged for MIDP 1.0. MIDP 2.0 devices will automatically support secure communications; however there will be some delay in achieving critical mass for these devices.

In the interim we have developed a secure protocol using industry standard encryption technologies that allows fully secure/encrypted solution to be deployed upon any current shipping MIDP 1.0 Java-enabled phone. This allows early entry into the market prior to the mass take-up of MIDP 2.0 devices.

More information on:

• J2ME and MIDP technologies
• Design and portability factors for mobile application development