An alternative route to achieve the same end goal is for the network to
become the phone interface.
The idea is that the handset is essentially a thin-client. The actual
interface displayed on the handset by this thin client is under the control
of a server based application that is in turn controlled by the operator.
Thus, you get the concept of a thin phone.
From this concept, it is a small step to having a network managed phonebook,
a network managed bookmark list, and a network managed personalised list of
my applications. The key to success from a technical point of view is the
generic nature of the thin client application and the ubiquity of network
connectivity and the balance between what is on the phone and in the
network. I can't place a call unless I have a network, so it does not
really matter if my phone book is stored in the network itself. However, I
will always want Ridge Racer to be stored and run locally on the handset.
Once you get the basic structure in place, networked applications can be
incrementally added to the handset menu.
Who owns the server applications including your address book: the operator.
It makes changing network just that little bit more of a pain in the butt.
Bullant http://www.bullant.com.au/ has been pushing this idea for a couple
of years now. Other startups like Cognima http://www.cognima.com/ are
moving in the direction of network managed handset database replication.
I am sure there are plenty of others...
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Benedict Evans [mailto:ben@ben-evans.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 24 September 2003 12:32 AM
To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
Subject: (keitai-l) Re: SIM and J2ME
What the operators would really like is that when you put (say) an
Orange SIM into a handset then the interface (including messaging,
profiles, address book etc) changes to one specified by Orange - and if
you then replace the Orange SIM with a Vodafone SIM, then suddenly the
whole interface becomes Vodafone. In other words, you replace 'Is series
40 better than SonyEricsson's interface' with 'Is mmO2's interface
better than T-Mobile's?' J2ME on the SIM is certainly one route to that.
-----Original Message-----
From: keitai-l-bounce@appelsiini.net
[mailto:keitai-l-bounce@appelsiini.net] On Behalf Of John Whelan
Sent: 23 September 2003 13:38
To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
Subject: (keitai-l) SIM and J2ME
As you may know (to be honest I had not heard of this before I was asked
about it) Gemplus and other SIM producers (www.simalliance.org) are
touting the concept of J2ME on the SIM and I wonder if anyone had any
direct experience and/or opinions from Japan/Korea. Personally I think
it is likely to go the way of SIM toolkit as the MNOs and the handset
manufacturers will not give this technology much support. Another
complication in an already overcrowsded value chain?
John
www.alatto.com
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Received on Wed Sep 24 02:54:44 2003