"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Thoughts on fragmentation, widgets and Java ME apps from Martin Wrigley, UTI Chairman
Director of Technology, Orange Partner Program

I was recently invited to speak at the OSIM conference in Amsterdam. It was great to see so much lively discussion about handsets, open source handset operating systems and handsets as platforms for creating applications - all important topics as our industry focuses, increasingly, on how to improve development and monetization of high quality mobile solutions.

I found discussions about web-runtime applications, widgets if you like, particularly interesting. Widgets are important as they broaden the audience for mobile content by streamlining the Internet experience and providing a simple way for users to discover and access targeted information on their phones. That said, are widgets the answer to everything and will they displace all previous technologies? Clearly not. At this point in their evolution, like any new technology, widgets have their limitations.

One of the key challenges is that as demand for widgets grows, quality concerns also rise. Widget fragmentation is just beginning. As standards emerge, widgets could become incredibly useful tools but as of now, Java ME remains the best option for those seeking quality tested applications that provide a rich level of functionality whilst delivering a broad market of available devices.

At Java Verified we are working on several new initiatives we believe will continue to help address fragmentation by making testing more accessible and affordable to developers. For starters, we understand that not every application requires the same level of rigorous testing in order to insure proper behaviour. So very soon you will see us introduce a new testing scheme designed to make it easier and less expensive for very simple applications (Java ME apps comparable in size and functionality to widgets) to go through the Java Verified process, without sacrificing application quality.

We are also evolving the program so as to become more open and industry-focused. To that end, we will be forming a Java Verified Advisory Council and launching a new Java Verified blog so we can communicate more freely, back and forth, with you and seek technical and business-related input directly from experts across the ecosystem.

Finally, speaking of feedback, did you notice that Java Verified is now on Twitter? At OSIM it was great to tap into Twitter to experience the real-time conversation going on at the conference. I always find it difficult to choose between tracks at industry events but with all the live tweeting going on at OSIM, I could be part of what was happening in two separate rooms at the same time! So if you are on Twitter, follow and engage with us at twitter.com/JavaVerified. Let us know your thoughts on the industry, how Java Verified can better serve you as wells as any ideas you may have about what we should be doing with widgets!