J2ME: Java Mobile Application Programming

Posted on May 4, 2009 under Programming

Fascinated with those mobile applications you have in your mobile phone? The pre-installed utility tools and games, so called mobile application, are perhaps developed using Java’s Micro Edition – J2ME. J2ME is a subset of the Java platform, along side with J2SE and J2EE.

Since Java is platform independent, developing mobile applications with J2ME is portable as long as your device supports Java. So, check your phone specification if it supports Java (usually stating the version of your MIDP and CLDC). And if it does, you’re good to go or if you do not have it, we can use emulators.

Let us setup your IDE and try to develop a simple application. The IDE I use in developing Java Mobile applications is Netbeans (you can also use Eclipse, JCreator, etc). With Netbeans, you have a complete tools for J2ME mobile programming – editor, debugger and emulators. Just download and install Netbeans and be sure to have the Java Wireless Toolkit with it. This will provide you the capability to run and debug mobile application, assuring that the application you will soon deploy is compliant to your target devices.

So, if your Netbeans is ready to go, check out for some examples to work on at this site – Sun Mobile Device Technology – Code Samples and Apps. Please take note that it is good that you have Java programming experience to be able to understand the code or at least a programming experience.

Here’s an example of a J2ME chat application that I created for a school project when I took the J2ME course for a semester. We are asked to implement chatting MIDlets over some specified connection either on the same terminal or different connected terminals. Here’s the screenshot.

To learn more about J2ME Mobile Programming, please read the following helpful links:

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Tags: j2me, java, java mobile application

julie ann

hello po..
i have read na mrami po kaung knowlegde about java.. most specially in j2me.. and i’m very sure na m22lungan nyo po kmi s thesis nmen about j2me.. its a mobile application (particularly in s60 2nd editions) that is able to block sms/mms and calls.. we have troubles on connecting the database and the blocker to the system of the mobile.. we’ve been searching all over the net and asking questions on forums but none of them gave us a very good answer. upon reading your profile here, im very sure na mssgot nyo po mga tnong nmen and most specially m22lungan nyo po kmi sa problma nmen… mraming salamat po and im hoping po for your answer.. God Bless po.. ^-^
julie ann

hello po..
i have read na mrami po kaung knowlegde about java.. most specially in j2me.. and i’m very sure na m22lungan nyo po kmi s thesis nmen about j2me.. its a mobile application (particularly in s60 2nd editions) that is able to block sms/mms and calls.. we have troubles on connecting the database and the blocker to the system of the mobile.. we’ve been searching all over the net and asking questions on forums but none of them gave us a very good answer. upon reading your profile here, im very sure na mssgot nyo po mga tnong nmen and most specially m22lungan nyo po kmi sa problma nmen… mraming salamat po and im hoping po for your answer.. God Bless po.. ^-^
anna

@julie, i have thesis same as yours. do have already the codes. needing it too.
anna

@julie, i have thesis same as yours. do have already the codes. needing it too.
Jerome Locson

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. Please contact via jerome.locson [at] gmail.com if you need help about J2ME Bluetooth. Thanks.

- Jerome L.
Jerome Locson

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. Please contact via jerome.locson [at] gmail.com if you need help about J2ME Bluetooth. Thanks.

- Jerome L.
chel

hello, can u help me with my thesis? please it’s a mobile application (compressing and converting images). it will be applied in nokia 5800. hope u’ll understand my situation and help me with my problem. thanks.
chel

hello, can u help me with my thesis? please it’s a mobile application (compressing and converting images). it will be applied in nokia 5800. hope u’ll understand my situation and help me with my problem. thanks.
http://projectblacksnake.blogspot.com blacksnake

i’m really familiar with the structure of mobile applications…but the problem is…kung i-apply ba ang swing components and GUI in-order to create a page….
http://projectblacksnake.blogspot.com blacksnake

i’m really familiar with the structure of mobile applications…but the problem is…kung i-apply ba ang swing components and GUI in-order to create a page….
paskinell

Hi.. im just wondering kung paano magagawa yung pag key press sa list menu mag scroll siya alphabetically depende sa press na number, sample 2 = a,b,c and so on..
paskinell

Hi.. im just wondering kung paano magagawa yung pag key press sa list menu mag scroll siya alphabetically depende sa press na number, sample 2 = a,b,c and so on..
adonis

I’m having a thesis din parehas tau mga guys.. But J2ME is older version and Java ME is the newest? I’m just confuse about the terms and Java rin ung gagamitin namin para sa GPS mobile/celphone apps. Bigyan nyo naman kami guys ng advise about it.
adonis

I’m having a thesis din parehas tau mga guys.. But J2ME is older version and Java ME is the newest? I’m just confuse about the terms and Java rin ung gagamitin namin para sa GPS mobile/celphone apps. Bigyan nyo naman kami guys ng advise about it.
TheRohan

A very integrated training course intended for experienced and intermediate developers interested in games and graphics creation for MIDP applications. This course includes five lectures with incentive lab exercises.
These lectures include:
• Game API
• 3D concepts and basics of M3G API
• Using Blender with M3G API
• Animating 3D objects using M3G API
• Sounds and tones in games
For more details go to http://bit.ly/aQZYpR

Cheers.
TheRohan

A very integrated training course intended for experienced and intermediate developers interested in games and graphics creation for MIDP applications. This course includes five lectures with incentive lab exercises.
These lectures include:
• Game API
• 3D concepts and basics of M3G API
• Using Blender with M3G API
• Animating 3D objects using M3G API
• Sounds and tones in games
For more details go to http://bit.ly/aQZYpR

Cheers.
Arah

hello!
good day! paano po ba magcreate sa java ng mobile chat n mayroong chat box? yung parang sa conference sa YM??? ganun po kasi yung sa software engineering namen eh nahihirapan po kasi akong magset ng mga codes ee! tnx po
Rachel

nagawa nyo po ba ung blocking of sms and call? parehas po kasi tau ng thesis. pls reply
http://www.jeromelocson.com Jerome Locson

Hi Arah, Sorry for the late reply. I just only have this code: http://www.jeromelocson.com/java-mobile-programming-j2me-chat-application-using-datagram/ You can download and just customize it according to your requirements. Thanks!
Steliosthesmart

Great program thank you.

How can I run this program on the same terminal? Do I need 2 sessions of the programm running or can I just send it to myself and if yes, how?
Janiner17

good day po magtatanong lang po sana ano po ba magandang thesis title? gusto ko po sana java mobile application pero wala akoong maiisip na title. salamat po
Joy

hello jerome, i just came across your site and i really wish i had months ago. I am a contracted instructor desperately trying to learn mobile app development in the shortest possible time. Books are so expensive, our school is not willing to send trainees and i am stuck with the dilemma of teaching the subjects “Mobile applications” and ‘technopreneurship” to our graduating students despite absence of training. I feel that finding your site is a blessing. Can you help me out? I will really appreciate it if you can give me a crash course, any resource i can share with my students. Please.

Thank you very much and hope to hear from you soon.

Joy
http://www.jeromelocson.com Jerome Locson

Hi Joy, Replied to your email. Please check.
http://www.jeromelocson.com Jerome Locson

Hi Janine17, dipende sa interest mo and from that you can think of a mobile app to create if viable to solve a certain problem.
http://www.jeromelocson.com Jerome Locson

You can launch the emulator twice to test it locally.
Janiner17

tanong po ulet!! wala talaga akong maisip sa lunes na kasi kami pinapasubmit ung may database daw. ahhh…. tulong po.
Janiner17

tanong po ulit, pwede po bang gamitin ang java to build systems?
Smith

How I can start two emulators and how I know what IP addresses and ports each emulator use?

Thanks…
Idcian_cyrus

hellow po….just passing by..kuya.meron ka bang mga tutorials sa J2ME..kasi its a big help pa ra sa aming thesis eh…yung sa amin is gawa ng application na pde mu ma shut down pc mu sa cp..i really need your ideas regarding this…salamat po

About the Author

Hi! I am Jerome Locson from Zamboanga City, Philippines. I am programmer, web developer and designer, technopreneur, and blogger. I blog about technology, foods and my travel. Thank you for visiting!