J2ME Programming/SymbianOS and J2ME

Introduction edit

This not a complete history of SymbianOS but in fact a summary of SymbianOS so that we as J2ME developers can determine what optional APIs we have access to by Operating System version and devices series version within the SymbianOS ecological infrastructure.

There are two main device platforms that are deployed on top of SymbianOS. Nokia created Series60 and licensed it to others like Samsung. UIQ(a Pen Based UI for Symbian) is a joint effort between Sony-Ericsson, Motorola and Symbian Ltd.

Base Set of MIDP, SymbianOS edit

A brief footnote before we begin on the J2ME Platform. Before the J2ME Platform SymbianOS came with two other Java platforms, embedded java on SymbianOS 5 and the personal java and javaphone combination on SymbianOS 6. Thus, PersonalJava and JavaPhone before the Personal Profile will be mentioned here to be accurate of what OS versions have that combination. Note: Although the underlying OS does not limit Heap size, persistent storage, and etc on the later versions of Symbian the JSRs do limit the jar, jad, and persistent storage sizes in the form of JSR 185(JTWI).

SymbianOS 6.x edit

In 2002 MIDP 1.0 was back ported to SymbianOS 6 versions. The SymbianOS versions that MIDP 1.0 was back ported to are SymbianOS 6.0 and SymbianOS 6.1("Standard Java". Symbian On Java.)

Thus, we only have basic MIDP 1.0 on SymbianOS 6.0 and SymbianOS 6.1 on devices 2002 and onward.

MIDP
- MIDP 1.0 except pausedApp is never called contrary to the MIDP 1.0 specification.
- CLDC 1.0
- Sun's KVM

Personal Java(pre Personal Profile)
- Modified Personal Java 3.0.x(PesonalJava Application Environment 1.1.1a)
- JDVMI for debug support over TCP/IP connection
JavaPhone 1.0
- JavaPhone 1.0 APIs
- Personal Java optional interfaces for serial communications, and secure socket communications (HTTPS is supported, javax.net.ssl is not implemented).
- Java Telephony API(JTAPI)
- Java Telephony Mobile

SymbianOS 7.0 edit

Has the basic MIDP 1.0 implementation("SymbOS7.x". Symbian OS Version 7.0 functional description.)

MIDP
- MIDP 1.0 except pausedApp is never called contrary to the MIDP 1.0 specification.
- CLDC 1.0
- Heap size, code size, and persistent storage size are unconstrained
- Over-The-Air provisioning implemented
- GCF including sockets implemented
- KVM VM
Personal Java(pre Personal Profile)
- Modified Personal Java 3.0.x(PesonalJava Application Environment 1.1.1a)
- JDVMI for debug support over TCP/IP connection
JavaPhone 1.0
- JavaPhone 1.0 APIs
- Personal Java optional interfaces for serial communications, and secure socket communications (HTTPS is supported, javax.net.ssl is not implemented).
- Java Telephony API(JTAPI)
- Java Telephony Mobile

SymbianOS 7.0s edit

In this version of SymbianOS 7, MIDP 2.0 was introduced("Symbos-v7s". Symbian OS Version 7.0s functional description. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |work= at position 24 (help)) This MIDP 2.0 implementation includes:

MIDP
- Over-The-Air provisioning MIDP 2.0 implementation
- Heap size, code size, and persistent storage size unconstrained
- GCF implementation includes sockets, server sockets, datagram sockets, secure sockets, HTTPS and HTTP
- WMA is implemented
- Bluetooth is implemented excluding Push and the OBEX profile
- CLDC1.0 implementation is supported
- Sun's CLDC HI VM 1.0

There are two configuration sfor this SymbianOS 7.0s version, smartphones and communicators. The communicator version does include both MIDP 2.0 described above and this PersonalJava configuration:

Personal Java(pre Personal Profile)
- Modified Personal Java 3.0.x(PesonalJava Application Environment 1.1.1a)
- JDVMI for debug support over TCP/IP connection
JavaPhone 1.0
- JavaPhone 1.0 APIs
- Personal Java optional interfaces for serial communications, and secure socket communications (HTTPS is supported, javax.net.ssl is not implemented).
- Java Telephony API(JTAPI)
- Java Telephony Mobile

SymbianOS 8.0 edit

This is the first MIDP 2.0 implementation on SymbianOS with full JTWI compliance("Symbos-v8x". Symbian OS Version 8.0 functional description.)

OTA MIDP 2.0 implementation
Full JTWI implementation of the new securtiy model allowing signed MIDlets
Heap size, code size, and persistent storage unconstrained
Full GCF support
WMA implemented
Bluetooth excluding OBEX profile implemented
CLDC1.1 implementation
MultiMedia JSR 135
3D Graphics JSR 184
File/PIM GCF JSR 75
Sun's CLDC HI 1.1 Vm with subset of JNI

SymbianOS 8.1 edit

Implements MIDP 2.0 compliant with JTWI("Symbos-v8.1". Symbian OS Version 8.1 functional description.)

OTA MIDP 2.0 implementation
MIDP 2.0
CLDC 1.1
Heap size, code size, and persistent storage not constrained
GCF implementation including all socket implementations
PIM/FIle GCF JSR 75
MMedia JSR 135
3D Graphics JSR 184
Bluetooth implemented excluding OBEX profile
WMA
Sun's CLDC HI VM 1.0 with JNI subset

SymbianOS 9.1 edit

Implements MIDP 2.0 and JTWI("Symbos-v91". Symbian OS Version 9.1 functional description.)

MIDP 2.0
CLDC 1.1
WMA
MMedia JSR 135
3D graphics JSR1 84
Bluetooth implemented excluding OBEX profile
JTWI security model
Heap size, code size, and persistent storage size are unconstrained
Sun's CLDC HI VM 1.0 with JNI subset

Other SymbianOS Flavors edit

Other Nokia Series edit

Series80
- Device Platform 2.0
  - MIDP 2.0/CLDC 1.0 from underlying SymbianOS 7.0s, specifically the communicator SymbianOS 7.0s configuration
  - CDC and Personal Profile implemented with IBM's J9 VM

Series90
- Device Platform 2.0
  - MIDP2.0 CLDC1.1 from underlying SymbianOS 8.0
  - Legacy closed source Nokia UI APi in packages com.nokia.mid.ui and com.nokia.mid.sound

Series60 edit

Device Platform 1.0
- Based on SymbianOS 6.1 with MIDP 1.0 and CLDC 1.0 and legacy Nokia UI APIs in packages com.nokia.mid.ui and com.nokia.mid.sound.
- In Nokia UI API backlight is not supported

Device Platform 2.0
- Feature Pack 1.0cs
  - Based on SymbianOS 7.0s providing MIDP 2.0 and CLDC 1.0
  - Supports MMAPI JSR 135
  - Supports the other JSRs from SymbianOS 7.0s
- Feature Pack 2.0
  - Based on SymbianOS 8.0, actual kernel version is SymbianOS 8.0b with MIDP 2.0 and CLDC 1.1
  - All JSRs with SymbianOS 8.0 are supported
- Feature Pack 3.0
  - Based on SymbianOS 8.1 providing MIDP 2.0 and CLDC 1.1
  - Supports all JSRs from SymbianOS 8.1

UIQ edit

UIQ 2.0
- Based on SymbianOS 7.0 and provides MIDP 1.0 and CLDC 1.0
- Supports the JSRs from SymbianOS 7.0
UIQ 2.1
- Based on SymbianOS 7.0s and provides MIDP 2.0 and CLDC 1.0
- Supports the JSRs from SymbianOS 7.0s

Conclusion edit

By using the information you can determine not only what versions of MIDP and CLDC are on the device but also what optional apis denoted by their JSR are accessible on the SymbianOS powered devices that you may be targeting your application development.

References edit

"Standard Java". Symbian On Java.
"SymbOS7.x". Symbian OS Version 7.0 functional description.
"Symbos-v7s". Symbian OS Version 7.0s functional description.
"Symbos-v8x". Symbian OS Version 8.0 functional description.
"Symbos-v8.1". Symbian OS Version 8.1 functional description.
"Symbos-v91". Symbian OS Version 9.1 functional description.

Trademark Notices edit

J2ME, Java and all Java-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other Trademarks are property of their respective owners.