RIM conference showcases wireless development

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By Stephen Lee

(IDG) -- Java development for handhelds topped the list of hot topics at the Research in Motion (RIM) WirelessDeveloper 2001 conference.

Several presentations concentrated on the ability to write applications in Java and port them directly to PDAs. Currently, RIM does not support that functionality for its Blackberry device, but the company is moving toward Java development support because users are demanding reusable code, according to Sassan Sanei, RIM's engineering development manager.

"There's a lot of anticipation for this," Sanei said. "A lot of new networks that are being built are not just GPRS [general packet radio services], but also CDMA2000 [Code Division Multiple Access], and there's 3G [third-generation] coming down the road, which will packetize voice and data. So people are recognizing that they're going to have to write a different application for every one of these standards. With Java, you don't have to worry about the wireless protocols."

RIM plans to move toward J2ME support for its Blackberry device, according to Sanei, who also led a workshop on application development for the Blackberry.

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As well, several companies on the tradeshow floor showcased new development programs. Compaq launched its Telecom Wireless Developer Program. Members will receive technology training, technical support, discounts on Compaq equipment, access to testing environments, and will be eligible for certification.

Compaq has structured its program in two streams: one for iPaq client and server development, and one for the Tru64 Unix platform, which, according to a Compaq statement, is "poised to become the de facto Unix operating system on future Intel platforms."

Compaq has been busy on the wireless front. On Wednesday, the company announced that it would team up with Intel in a joint effort to speed the development of handheld hardware and software capable of accessing the Internet. As part of the partnership, Compaq also announced that it would support Intel's Personal Internet Client Architecture for combining voice communications and Internet access.

The day before the Intel announcement, Compaq said that it would join up with London-based mobile OS maker Symbian in an effort to coax software companies into developing mobile phone and PDA applications driven by Symbian's platform.

Elsewhere at the conference, AT&T Wireless offered a 50 percent discount off the rate for its developer kit to conference delegates. AT&T's Data Developer Program offers tools to define, build, deploy, and test wireless applications.

Smaller vendors had offerings, too. For example, Pinpoint Networks of Durham, N.C., launched its Fuel Developer Program earlier in the week. Designed for 2.5G and 3G networks, the program consists of services and tools that let member developers distribute and support wireless applications. Key services will let members streamline their billing mechanism and monitor the use of their wireless applications.

"The Fuel Developer Program was created with application developers in mind, [letting them] easily facilitate revenue generation from their wireless applications," said Vickie Morano, director of Pinpoint's Developer Program, in a statement.

Meanwhile, three of Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM's partners -- mobile infrastructure providers GoAmerica, AvantGo, and Neomar -- made development presentations during the conference.

RIM's partners have been active separately. GoAmerica, based in Hackensack, N.J., announced Version 6.2 of its Go.Web platform. The new features include full WML (Wireless Markup Language) support, the ability to create push alerts to inform users of schedule or CRM changes, a queue manager that lets users access applications outside of coverage areas, and enhanced navigation tools.

The new version is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of this year for the RIM handheld, while Version 6.0 for the Palm will reach the market in September. Enhancements have also been made to goAmerica's online Developer Zone, such as the general availability of the Go.Web API.

Earlier this month, Hayward, Calif.-based AvantGo made a similar move, releasing enhancements to its client for BlackBerry handhelds that include push alerts and a feature for secure wireless access to corporate data and applications behind the firewall. The products are being shipped to AvantGo's Fortune 1000 companies.

Looking forward, Sassan said that 3G deployment will aid handheld development more by letting companies add capacity than by spurring new applications such as streaming video.

"If you have the bandwidth to play with, it's more a question of capacity and the number of users you can fit on a network than simply a question of how much data you can pump through to a single application," Sassan said.

Voice applications are next on RIM's list of features, according to Sassan. He added that PDAs could have an edge over cell phones when voice and data converge.

"It's a lot easier to bring voice onto a data device than to bring data onto a voice device," Sassan said. "The Blackberry is a database device that runs on GPRS. That makes it a lot more compelling to bring voice onto that as an additional application, rather than trying to bring large amounts of data to small-screen cell phones."