J2ME Interview Questions

What is J2ME?
Java 2, Micro Edition is a group of specifications and technologies that pertain to Java on small devices. The J2ME moniker covers a wide range of devices, from pagers and mobile telephones through set-top boxes and car navigation systems. The J2ME world is divided into configurations and profiles, specifications that describe a Java environment for a specific class of device.

What is J2ME WTK?
The J2ME Wireless Toolkit is a set of tools that provides developers with an emulation environment, documentation and examples for developing Java applications for small devices. The J2ME WTK is based on the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) and Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) reference implementations, and can be tightly integrated with Forte for Java.

What is 802.11?
802.11 is a group of specifications for wireless networks developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 802.11 uses the Ethernet protocol and CSMA/CA (carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance) for path sharing.

What is API?
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of classes that you can use in your own application. Sometimes called libraries or modules, APIs enable you to write an application without reinventing common pieces of code.
For example, a networking API is something your application can use to make network connections, without your ever having to understand the underlying code.

What is AMPS?
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) is a first-generation analog, circuit-switched cellular phone network. Originally operating in the 800 MHz band, service was later expanded to include transmissions in the 1900 MHz band, the VHF range in which most wireless carriers operate. Because AMPS uses analog signals, it cannot transmit digital signals and cannot transport data packets without assistance from newer technologies such as TDMA and CDMA.

What is CDC?
The Connected Device Configuration (CDC) is a specification for a J2ME configuration. Conceptually, CDC deals with devices with more memory and processing power than CLDC;
it is for devices with an always-on network connection and a minimum of 2 MB of memory available for the Java system.

What is CDMA?
Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a cellular technology widely used in North America. There are currently three CDMA standards: CDMA One, CDMA2000 and W-CDMA. CDMA technology uses UHF 800Mhz-1.9Ghz frequencies and bandwidth ranges from 115Kbs to 2Mbps.

What is CDMA?
Also know as IS-95, CDMAOne is a 2nd generation wireless technology. Supports speeds from 14.4Kbps to 115K bps.

What is CDMA2000?
Also known as IS-136, CDMA2000 is a 3rd generation wireless technology. Supports speeds ranging from 144Kbps to 2Mbps.

What is CDPD?
Developed by Nortel Networks, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) is an open standard for supporting wireless Internet access from cellular devices. CDPD also supports Multicast, which allows content providers to efficiently broadcast information to many devices at the same time.

What is cHTML?
Compact HTML (cHTML) is a subset of HTML which is designed for small devices. The major features of HTML that are excluded from cHTML are: JPEG image, Table, Image map, Multiple character fonts and styles, Background color and image, Frame and Style sheet.

What is CLDC?
The Connected, Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) is a specification for a J2ME configuration. The CLDC is for devices with less than 512 KB or RAM available for the Java system and an intermittent (limited) network connection.
It specifies a stripped-down Java virtual machine1 called the KVM as well as several APIs for fundamental application services. Three packages are minimalist versions of the J2SE java.lang, java.io, and java.util packages. A fourth package, javax.microedition.io, implements the Generic Connection Framework, a generalized API for making network connections.

What is configuration?
In J2ME, a configuration defines the minimum Java runtime environment for a family of devices: the combination of a Java virtual machine (either the standard J2SE virtual machine or a much more limited version called the CLDC VM) and a core set of APIs. CDC and CLDC are configurations. See also profile, optional package.

What is CVM?
The Compact Virtual Machine (CVM) is an optimized Java virtual machine1 (JVM) that is used by the CDC.

What is Deck?
A deck is a collection of one or more WML cards that can be downloaded, to a mobile phone, as a single entity.

What is EDGE?
Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) is a new, faster version of GSM. EDGE is designed to support transfer rates up to 384Kbps and enable the delivery of video and other high-bandwidth applications. EDGE is the result of a joint effort between TDMA operators, vendors and carriers and the GSM Alliance.

What is ETSI?
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is a non-profit organization that establishes telecommunications standards for Europe.

What is FDMA?
Frequency-division multiple-access (FDMA) is a mechanism for sharing a radio frequency band among multiple users by dividing it into a number of smaller bands.

What is Foundation Profile ?
The Foundation Profile is a J2ME profile specification that builds on CDC. It adds additional classes and interfaces to the CDC APIs but does not go so far as to specify user interface APIs, persistent storage, or application life cycle.
Other J2ME profiles build on the CDC/Foundation combination: for example, the Personal Profile and the RMI Profile both build on the Foundation Profile.

What is Generic Connection Framework ?
The Generic Connection Framework (GCF) makes it easy for wireless devices to make network connections. It is part of CLDC and CDC and resides in the javax.microedition.io package.

What is GPRS ?
The General Packet Radio System (GPRS) is the next generation of GSM. It will be the basis of 3G networks in Europe and elsewhere.

What is GSM ?
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a wireless network system that is widely used in Europe, Asia, and Australia. GSM is used at three different frequencies: GSM900 and GSM1800 are used in Europe, Asia, and Australia, while GSM1900 is deployed in North America and other parts of the world.

What is HLR ?
The Home Location Register (HLR) is a database for permanent storage of subscriber data and service profiles.

What is HTTPS ?
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure sockets (HTTPS) is a protocol for transmission of encrypted hypertext over Secure Sockets Layer.

What is i-appli ?
Sometimes called "Java for i-mode", i-appli is a Java environment based on CLDC. It is used on handsets in NTT DoCoMo's i-mode service. While i-appli is similar to MIDP, it was developed before the MIDP specification was finished and the two APIs are incompatible.

What is IDE ?
An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) provides a programming environment as a single application. IDEs typically bundle a compiler, debugger, and GUI builder tog ether. Forte for Java is Sun's Java IDE.

What is iDEN ?
The Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN) is a wireless network system developed by Motorola. Various carriers support iDEN networks around the world: Nextel is one of the largest carriers, with networks covering North and South America.

What is i-mode ?
A standard used by Japanese wireless devices to access cHTML (compact HTML) Web sites and display animated GIFs and other multimedia content.

What is 3G ?
Third generation (3G) wireless networks will offer faster data transfer rates than current networks. The first generation of wireless (1G) was analog cellular.
The second generation (2G) is digital cellular, featuring integrated voice and data communications. So-called 2.5G networks offer incremental speed increases. 3G networks will offer dramatically improved data transfer rates, enabling new wireless applications such as streaming media.

What is 3GPP ?
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a global collaboration between 6 partners: ARIB, CWTS, ETSI, T1, TTA, and TTC. The group aims to develop a globally accepted 3rd-generation mobile system based on GSM.
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What is Java Card ?
The Java Card specification allows Java technology to run on smart cards and other small devices. The Java Card API is compatible with formal international standards, such as, ISO7816, and industry-specific standards, such as, Europay/Master Card/Visa (EMV).

What is JavaHQ ?
JavaHQ is the Java platform control center on your Palm OS device.

What is JCP ?
The Java Community Process (JCP) an open organization of international Java developers and licensees who develop and revise Java technology specifications, reference implementations, and technology compatibility kits through a formal process.

What is JDBC for CDC/FP ?
The JDBC Optional Package for CDC/Foundation Profile (JDBCOP for CDC/FP) is an API that enables mobile Java applications to communicate with relational database servers using a subset of J2SE's Java Database Connectivity.
This optional package is a strict subset of JDBC 3.0 that excludes some of JDBC's advanced and server-oriented features, such as pooled connections and array types. It's meant for use with the Foundation Profile or its supersets.

What is JSR ?
Java Specification Request (JSR) is the actual description of proposed and final specifications for the Java platform. JSRs are reviewed by the JCP and the public before a final release of a specification is made.

What is KittyHawk ?
KittyHawk is a set of APIs used by LG Telecom on its IBook and p520 devices. KittyHawk is based on CLDC. It is conceptually similar to MIDP but the two APIs are incompatible.

What is KJava ?
KJava is an outdated term for J2ME. It comes from an early package of Java software for PalmOS, released at the 2000 JavaOne show. The classes for that release were packaged in the com.sun.kjava package.

What is kSOAP ?
kSOAP is a SOAP API suitable for the J2ME, based on kXML.

What is kXML ?
The kXML project provides a small footprint XML parser that can be used with J2ME.

What is KVM ?
The KVM is a compact Java virtual machine (JVM) that is designed for small devices. It supports a subset of the features of the JVM. For example, the KVM does not support floating-point operations and object finalization. The CLDC specifies use of the KVM. According to folklore, the 'K' in KVM stands for kilobyte, signifying that the KVM runs in kilobytes of memory as opposed to megabytes.

What is LAN ?
A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of devices connected with various communications technologies in a small geographic area. Ethernet is the most widely-used LAN technology. Communication on a LAN can either be with Peer-to-Peer devices or Client-Server devices.

What is LCDUI ?
LCDUI is a shorthand way of referring to the MIDP user interface APIs, contained in the javax.microedition.lcdui package. Strictly speaking, LCDUI stands for Liquid Crystal Display User Interface. It's a user interface toolkit for small device screens which are commonly LCD screens.

What is MExE ?
The Mobile Execution Environment (MExE) is a specification created by the 3GPP which details an applicatio n environment for next generation mobile devices. MExE consists of a variety of technologies including WAP, J2ME, CLDC and MIDP.

What is MIDlet ?
A MIDlet is an application written for MIDP. MIDlet applications are subclasses of the javax.microedition.midlet.MIDlet class that is defined by MIDP.

What is MIDlet suite ?
MIDlets are packaged and distributed as MIDlet suites. A MIDlet suite can contain one or more MIDlets. The MIDlet suite consists of two files, an application descriptor file with a .jad extension and an archive file with a .jar file. The descriptor lists the archive file name, the names and class names for each MIDlet in the suite, and other information. The archive file contains the MIDlet classes and resource files.

What is MIDP ?
The Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) is a specification for a J2ME profile. It is layered on top of CLDC and adds APIs for application life cycle, user interface, networking, and persistent storage.

What is MIDP-NG ?
The Next Generation MIDP specification is currently under development by the Java Community Process. Planned improvements include XML parsing and cryptographic support.

What is Mobitex ?
Mobitex is a packet-switched, narrowband PCS network, designed for wide-area wireless data communications. It was developed in 1984 by Eritel, an Ericsson subsidiary, a nd there are now over 30 Mobitex networks in operation worldwide.

What is Modulation ?
Modulation is the method by which a high-frequency digital signal is grafted onto a lower-frequency analog wave, so that digital packets are able to ride piggyback on the analog airwave.

What is MSC ?
A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) is a unit within a cellular phone network that automatically coordinates and switches calls in a given cell. It monitors each caller's signal strength, and when a signal begins to fade, it hands off the call to another MSC that's better positioned to manage the call.

What is Obfuscation ?
Obfuscation is a technique used to complicate code. Obfuscation makes code harder to understand when it is de-compiled, but it typically has no affect on the functionality of the code. Obfuscation programs can be used to protect Java programs by making them harder to reverse-engineer.

What is optional package ?
An optional package is a set of J2ME APIs providing services in a specific area, such as database access or multimedia. Unlike a profile, it does not define a complete application environment, but rather is used in conjunction with a configuration or a profile.
It extends the runtime environment to support device capabilities that are not universal enough to be defined as part of a profile or that need to be shared by different profiles. J2ME RMI and the Mobile Media RMI are examples of optional packages.

What is OTA ?
Over The Air (OTA) refers to any wireless networking technology.

What is PCS ?
Personal Communications Service (PCS) is a suite of second-generation, digitally modulated mobile-communications interfaces that includes TDMA, CDMA, and GSM. PCS serves as an umbrella term for second-generation wireless technologies operating in the 1900MHz range.

What is PDAP ?
The Personal Digital Assistant Profile (PDAP) is a J2ME profile specification designed for small platforms such as PalmOS devices. You can think of PDAs as being larger than mobile phones but smaller than set-top boxes.
PDAP is built on top of CLDC and will specify user interface and persistent storage APIs. PDAP is currently being developed using the Java Community Process (JCP).

What is PDC ?
Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) is a Japanese standard for wireless communications.

What is PDCP ?
Parallel and Distributed Computing Practices (PDCP) are often used to describe computer systems that are spread over many devices on a network (wired or wireless) where many nodes process data simultaneously.

What is Personal Profile ?
The Personal Profile is a J2ME profile specification. Layered on the Foundation Profile and CDC, the Personal Profile will be the next generation of PersonalJava technology. The specification is currently in development under the Java Community Process (JCP).

What is PersonalJava ?
PersonalJava is a Java environment based on the Java virtual machine1 (JVM) and a set of APIs similar to a JDK 1.1 environment. It includes the Touchable Look and Feel (also called Truffle), a graphic toolkit that is optimized for consumer devices with a touch sensitive screen. PersonalJava will be included in J2ME in the upcoming Personal Profile, which is built on CDC.

What is PNG ?
Portable Network Graphics (PNG) is an image format offering lossless compression and storage flexibility. The MIDP specification requires implementations to recognize certain types of PNG images.

What is POSE?
Palm OS Emulator (POSE).

What is PRC ?
Palm Resource Code (PRC) is the file format for Palm OS applications.

What is preverification ?
Due to memory and processing power available on a device, the verification process of classes are split into two processes. The first process is the preverification which is off-device and done using the preverify tool. The second process is verification which is done on-device.

What is profile ?
A profile is a set of APIs added to a configuration to support specific uses of a mobile device. Along with its underlying configuration, a profile defines a complete, and usually self-contained, general-purpose application environment.
Profiles often, but not always, define APIs for user interface and persistence; the MIDP profile, based on the CLDC configuration, fits this pattern. Profiles may be supersets or subsets of other profiles; the Personal Basis Profile is a subset of the Personal Profile and a superset of the Foundation Profile. See also configuration, optional package.

What is Provisioning ?
In telecommunications terms, provisioning means to provide telecommunications services to a user. This includes providing all necessary hardware, software, and wiring or transmission devices.

What is PSTN ?
The public service telephone network (PSTN) is the traditional, land-line based system for exchanging phone calls.

What is RMI ?
Remote method invocation (RMI) is a feature of J2SE that enables Java objects running in one virtual machine to invoke methods of Java objects running in another virtual machine, seamlessly.

What is RMI OP ?
The RMI Optional Package (RMI OP) is a subset of J2SE 1.3's RMI functionality used in CDC-based profiles that incorporate the Foundation Profile, such as the Personal Basis Profile and the Personal Profile.
The RMIOP cannot be used with CLDC-based profiles because they lack object serialization and other important features found only in CDC-based profiles. RMIOP supports most of the J2SE RMI functionality, including the Java Remote Method Protocol, marshalled objects, distributed garbage collection, registry-based object lookup, and network class loading, but not HTTP tunneling or the Java 1.1 stub protocol.

What is RMI Profile?
The RMI Profile is a J2ME profile specification designed to support Java's Remote Method Invocation (RMI) distributed object system. Devices implementing the RMI Profile will be able to interoperate via RMI with other Java devices, including Java 2, Standard Edition. The RMI Profile is based on the Foundation Profile, which in turn is based on CDC.

What is RMS ?
The Record Management System (RMS) is a simple record-oriented database that allows a MIDlet to persistently store information and retrieve it later. Different MIDlets can also use the RMS to share data.

What is SDK ?
A Software Development Kit (SDK) is a set of tools used to develop applications for a particular platform. An SDK typically contains a compiler, linker, and debugger. It may also contain libraries and documentation for APIs.

What is SIM ?
A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) is a stripped-down smart card containing information about the identity of a cell-phone subscriber, and subscriber authentication and service information. Because the SIM uniquely identifies the subscriber and is portable among handsets, the user can move it from one kind of phone to another, facilitating international roaming.

What is SMS?
Short Message Service (SMS) is a point-to-point service similar to paging for sending text messages of up to 160 characters to mobile phones.

What is SOAP ?
The Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is an XML- based protocol that allows objects of any type to communicated in a distributed environment. SOAP is used in developing Web Services.

What is SSL?
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a socket protocol that encrypts data sent over the network and provides authentication for the socket endpoints.

What is T9?
T9 is a text input method for mobile phones and other small devices. It replaces the "multi-tap" input method by guessing the word that you are trying to enter. T9 may be embedded in a device by the manufacturer. Note that even if the device supports T9, the Java implementation may or may not use it. Check your documentation for details.

What is TDMA ?
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) is a second-generation modulation standard using bandwidth allocated in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1900MHz ranges.

What is WAP?
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a protocol for transmitting data between servers and clients (usually small wireless devices like mobile phones). WAP is analogous to HTTP in the World Wide Web. Many mobile phones include WAP browser software to allow users access to Internet WAP sites.

What is WAP Gateway?
A WAP Gateway acts as a bridge allowing WAP devices to communicate with other networks (namely the Internet).

What is W-CDMA?
Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), also known as IMT-2000, is a 3rd generation wireless technology. Supports speeds up to 384Kbps on a wide-area network, or 2Mbps locally.

What is WDP?
Wireless Datagram Protocol (WDP) works as the transport layer of WAP. WDP processes datagrams from upper layers to formats required by different physical datapaths, bearers, that may be for example GSM SMS or CDMA Packet Data. WDP is adapted to the bearers available in the device so upper layers don't need to care about the physical level.

What is WMA?
The Wireless Messaging API (WMA) is a set of classes for sending and receiving Short Message Service messages. See also SMS.

What is WML?
The Wireless Markup Language (WML) is a simple language used to create applications for small wireless devices like mobile phones. WML is analogous to HTML in the World Wide Web.

What is WMLScript?
WMLScript is a subset of the JavaScript scripting language designed as part of the WAP standard to provide a convenient mechanism to access mobile phone's peripheral functions.

What is WSP?
Wireless Session Protocol (WSP) implements session services of WAP. Sessions can be connection-oriented and connectionless and they may be suspended and resumed at will.

What is WTLS?
Wireless Transport Layer Security protocal (WTLS) does all cryptography oriented features of WAP. WTLS handles encryption/decryption, user authentication and data integrity. WTLS is based on the fixed network Transport Layer Security protocal (TLS), formerly known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

What is WTP?
Wireless Transaction Protocol (WTP) is WAP's transaction protocol that works between the session protocol WSP and security protocol WTLS. WTP chops data packets into lower level datagrams and concatenates received datagrams into useful data. WTP also keeps track of received and sent packets and does re-transmissions and acknowledgment sending when needed.