How to write symbian application?

If you are familiar with the C++ language, it is fairly quick to learn how to write Symbian C++ applications for Nokia Series 60 devices. Compared with regular C++, Symbian C++ requires a complex build structure with a lot of resource files and configuration files. A good IDE tool hides those complexities, and hence, greatly reduces the Symbian C++ learning curve. I can recommend two Symbian C++ IDEs:

The Borland C++BuilderX Mobile Edition is available at
http://www.borland.com/mobile/cbuilderx/index.html.

The CodeWarrior Development Studio for Symbian OS is Nokia's Symbian C++ development tool. You can download and purchase it from the tools section in the Forum Nokia web site (http://www.forum.nokia.com/).

How to register a Symbian Application?

Most Symbian applications are commercial software. To reduce piracy, they typically require that you activate the software after it is installed. If you do not activate the application within the specified trial period, it will stop working. The activation process ties the software purchase to a specific device. It works as follows.

Each Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) device is uniquely identified by a 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) code. You can get your device's IMEI code by typing *#06# on the keypad

Write down the IMEI code of the device you installed the software on and submit it to the software store or the developer. The option to submit the code will be made available to you when you download or purchase the .sis file.

The vendor or developer then sends you back an activation code (usually within minutes, but sometimes within a few days). You bring up the Activate menu of the application and type in the code to complete the activation process.

The Symbian application uses a secret algorithm (probably a secure hash algorithm with a secret key) to calculate the expected activation code based on the IMEI code. The software store and the developer know how to calculate the activation code from the IMEI code as well. In the meantime, as the user, you do not know the secret and hence cannot calculate the activation code yourself. So, if you supply the correct activation code to the application, it "knows" that you have gone through the official activation process. If you need to use the application on a different device beyond the grace period, you might have to repurchase the product and get a separate activation code. However, you should contact the vendor and explain that you are switching phones. They might offer you a new activation code for little or no cost.

The activation process enables Symbian software developers to offer trial versions of their software. For most commercial applications, you can download and install the .sis file for free and try it out during the trial period. You need to purchase the software only after you verify that it works with your device and are satisfied with its performance. The trial period could last a number of days or a number of restarts after you first install the application. In fact, Nokia Series 60 devices often come with trial versions of Symbian applications preinstalled on their add-on memory cards. They typically allow you to use them 510 times before activation

How to install Symbian application?

Symbian application file is a file with .sis extension. The best way to install a Symbian application is by first download the file. It usually done by downloading the .sis installation file on your computer and then pass it on to the device. Unlike Java applications, which are usually distributed by the wireless operator, Symbian applications are available through software or independent stores, the developer's own website. You can access these sites through the browser on your computer and select the software product. Once you accept the license (or buy it), you will be presented with a direct link to the. Click on the link and opens your browser to download. In most cases, the browser does not recognize the extension or contents of the .sis file. So, you may see random characters in the main browser window. But do not worry, just use the Menu File Save As to save the file to a local file with the.

At this stage, you can run the Nokia PC Suite software to install the .sis file to the camera via a local connection. However, if you have an infrared or Bluetooth connection established between the computer and the device, it is probably easier to just send .sis file to the device. The file appears as a new message in the inbox of the device. Once you open the message, the system automatically installs the Symbian applications. You will be asked to confirm a series of choices to make sure you understand what's happening before the application is actually installed.

How to write your own Java Application?

If you know how to do it, Java is an easy way for writing your own Nokia smartphone applications by using J2ME. You can use the Nokia Developer's Suite for J2ME, which is a free download from the website of Forum Nokia (http://www.forum.nokia.com/). The Nokia Developer's Suite for J2ME is running under Windows, Linux, and offers the following features from a simple graphical user interface (GUI):

• An editor of Java source code
• A drag-and-drop user interface (UI) builder to generate classes of the user interface for the phone application from a visual designer
• Tools for compiling the source code of Java and construct the JAD and JAR for distribution
• Emulators to test your applications on the computer before they are deployed on the physical device. Nokia PC Suite for J2ME comes with a Nokia 6230 emulator and a generic Nokia Series 60 phone emulator. You can download and install other emulators free from the website of Forum Nokia. The Nokia Developer's Suite for J2ME manages all installed emulators.
  

If you are a Java developer and prefer to work with the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) tools, you can install the Nokia Developer's Suite for J2ME inside a popular IDE such as Eclipse. In this way, the J2ME development features in the IDE appear in the menu rather than a graphics.

How to manage Java application?

You can manage any application at the Application Manager and select the 'Option' to display the Management Menu for the application. With this menu, you can delete the application, access to the update history, and automatically update the application for a newer version if downloading web address is known. Via the Settings menu, you can change the way the application asks the user permissions before making sensitive actions. For example, you can configure the application to ask for confirmation every time it accesses the Internet or sends messagesAs noted above, on an old series 60 devices (eg Nokia 3650), you can access the MIDlet settings in the Options menu when you select the MIDlet Games or Apps. From the menu. Please note that these old devices offer less configurable options latest Series 60 devices such as the Nokia 6600, as they are in accordance with an earlier version of the J2ME/MIDP specification.

On a Series 40 device, application management functions are accessible from the Options menu associated with each request pursuant to the application or applications Collection Games menu. Instead of the Settings menu, you use the "App. Access" menu in the series 40 device.

How to install Java application in your phone?

Sometimes, you might need to install a Java application from your PC to the phone. You may have obtain the JAD and JAR files by email, download them manually from web site, or write it yourself or, perhaps your phone does not support General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or WAP services to get the applications from internet. In these cases, you may use the Nokia PC Suite to install a pair of JAD and JAR files from your Windows-based PC to the phone. The Nokia Application Installer program in the PC Suite allows you to choose a JAR file from the local hard drive. Once you click the green arrow to install the JAR file to the phone, the PC Suite searches the directory the JAR file resides in for a matching JAD file of the same name. If such a JAD file is found, the JAD and JAR pair will be installed automatically. If the JAD file is not found, you can install the JAR file by itself (the JAR-only installation).

If you use a Mac computer or simply cannot get the Nokia PC Suite working on your computer, you can send the JAR file over to the phone via a local connection, such as Bluetooth or Infrared. The file shows up in your phone's messaging Inbox. When you open the message, the AMS is invoked to install the application . This method is one way to perform a JAR-only installation.

How to install Java application OTA (Over The Air)?

The quickest way to install a Java application is by downloading it through the Internet. This is called Over The Air (OTA) installation. In order to do this, you must use your phone WAP browser. You should then direct your browser to an Internet site that provide mobile Java applications, and then click the specified link to directly download the application you need to install. The browser downloads the file and load JAD Java applications management software (AMS) for installation process. The AMS will notify you to confirm a series of choices, after that it will automatically download the JAR file, and does the rest of the installation process. Please note that you cannot use any of the non-native Nokia Web browsers because they do not know how to invoke the AMS. To ensure OTA run properly, the web server that offers the download must map the .jad file suffix to the text/vnd.sun.j2me.app-descriptor Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type and the .jar file suffix to the application/java-archive MIME type

You may buy or try Java applications from many websites. Your WAP browser's probably already bookmarked with a selection of these websites.