Location API for Java ME
| Company type | API |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Mobile software |
| Founded | September 2003 |
| Founder | Nokia (main contributor and maintainer) |
| Products | Location API for Java ME |
| Website | jcp |
The Location API for Java ME is a streamlined, versatile Java 2 ME API designed to supply location information to Java applications. Its implementation is optional and supported by certain mobile phone and PDA manufacturers, necessitating a minimum of CLDC v1.1.
Created through the Java Community Process as JSR 179, this API was initially launched in September 2003 and later revised to version 1.0.1 in March 2006. The main contributor and maintainer of this JSR is Nokia.
OpenLAPI represents an LGPL-licensed version utilized within emulator setups lacking Nokia’s official implementation, as well as on devices connecting to a GPS module via Bluetooth.
Features
The Location API facilitates access to location data through multiple positioning techniques using abstract interfaces, allowing applications to retrieve geographic information from different sources based on device capabilities. This design provides benefits such as backup options, adaptability for indoor and outdoor environments, and the ability to balance between accuracy and responsiveness among GPS, cellular networks, or alternative methods. The API offers functionalities including:
- Real-time location details – encompassing latitude, longitude, altitude, heading, velocity, and formatting into textual representations.
- Landmark proximity management – enabling local storage of landmarks and addition of current positions as new landmarks.
- Address information – providing textual data about nearby landmarks such as postal addresses, contact numbers, country specifics, building descriptions, and URLs.
- Location listeners – supporting dynamic applications that react to changes in geographic position.
Excluded from the API are:
- Topological information – typically inferred from cellular coverage maps.
- Location-based querying – although the current device location can be determined.
Device independence
Before this API, location services were often tied to specific providers. This specification standardizes how location data is accessed across a range of devices.
OpenLAPI accommodates several backend options:
- GPS connectivity via Bluetooth
- NMEA log file support (under development)
- KML (Keyhole Markup Language) integration (under development)
- Randomized entries sourced from persistent landmark databases (under development)
as well as device-specific interface layers.
Support
Due to many vendors not implementing this optional JSR, widespread compatibility remains limited, compelling developers to tailor builds for various hardware.
The Location API finds support on select BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices, newer models from Motorola and Sony Ericsson, along with all Nokia Series 60 3rd Edition handsets.