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Java still fighting in Orlando wireless wars

Sun isn't prepared to leave the mobile world to Microsoft just yet: it is proud to point to Mobilitec as a software partner with some wireless innovations to offer at CTIA Wireless in Orlando this week.

Mobilitec itself hasn't got around to proclaiming its latest technology on its own web site yet; but on Sun's Java pages, Mobilitec today has star billing. It has introduced the most advanced version of its platform, mPower, an end-to-end quality solution for over-the-air (OTA) provisioning of Java micro edition (J2ME) applications and other executable content. The mPower platform is a sort of software shop counter for phone network providers; it's where business is transacted inside phones. Operators can provide frivolous-sounding products such as ring-tones, images, and so on - and keep track of how they are paid for. Frivolous now, but as mobile markets base financial transactions on phone SIM cards, as observers predict, this could become a rival to Microsoft's Wallet - part of its .Net strategy. BusinessWire reporters quoted Mobilitec CEO, Dr. Ophir Holder saying: "Mobilitec mPower 2.0 was designed to service any device without additions, or installations on the device itself," and quoted Gardner analyst, Ben Wood endorsing the concept: "Effective over-the-air provisioning integrated with payment systems, is key to the success of new wireless services based on delivery of wireless Java applications and dynamic content."