Java 2 micro edition (J2ME)

Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) is the smallest of the three Java 2 Editions: Java 2 Standard Edition( J2SE), Java 2 Enterprise Edition( J2EE) and Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME). It is designed for use in small mobile devices such as PDAs, organizers as well as smartphones, which have much less computing power and lower memory capacities than desktops and servers. It can also be used in communication devices such as set-top boxes and telephones.

J2ME is reduced in resources and consists of the Configuration and Profiles modules and has a low memory footprint, a reduced instruction set and short program runtimes. Due to the resource limitation, the range of functions is much smaller, measured by the number of programming interfaces in the class libraries. Also the complete Java language range is not supported.

The Java ME framework represents a three-tier layer model, whose lowest layer represents a class library and virtual machines. The virtual machines are the Java Virtual Machine( JVM) and a scaled-down Kilobyte Virtual Machine( KVM). For the JVM, the Connected Device Configuration( CDC) and for the KVM, the Connected Limited Device Configuration( CLDC) provide the class libraries for profiles in the layer above.

Java Micro Edition profiles include the Mobile Information Device Profile( MIDP), Information Module Profile( IMP), IMP Next Generation (IMP- NGN), Foundation Profile, Personal Basis Profile and the Personal Profile. MIDP and IMP are provided with the class library via the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC), the other profiles via the Connected Device Configuration (CDC). The optional packages are located in the top layer of the ME framework. These include programming interfaces such as the APIs for Bluetooth, PDA packages, Wireless Messaging APIs(WMA), Mobile MediaAPI (MMAPI), Payment API (PAPI), Mobile Telephony API ( MTA) and many others.

The J2ME Brew development platform competes with Qualcomm's Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW).