Basic Network Programming in J2ME MIDP
Overview
The biggest advantages of a wireless device are its connectivity and accessibility. Wireless devices keep people connected to the outside world all the time and from virtually any place. The functionality of these wireless devices has changed significantly in the last couple of years, as increased wireless network coverage area, higher data transfer bandwidth, and improved wireless technology have become available. Cell phones are no longer just for conversation purposes; increasingly, they are becoming "mobile information devices" that allow people to access enterprise data and business/personal information in a timely fashion.
Network programming plays an important role in developing wireless applications that take advantage of the connectivity these devices have to offer. This chapter is intended to help you understand and learn the important concepts in network programming with J2ME MIDP. The first part of the chapter explains the main difference between network programming with J2SE and with J2ME.
Next, the concept of the Generic Connection framework is introduced and explained. The latter part of the chapter examines several sample MIDlet applications using different types of network communications available in the Generic Connection framework: namely, sockets (in the section "Wireless Network Programming Using Sockets"), datagrams ("Wireless Network Programming Using Datagrams"), and HTTP communication ("Wireless Network Programming Using HttpConnection").