Ubiquitous Wireless and Java-based Cell Phones

Imagine a free coast-to-coast wireless network and cheap Wifi-based cell-phones running Java.

With Sun’s acquisition of SaveJE (which led to JavaFX Mobile), and then the release of the iPhone and its ability to communicate over a Wifi wireless network, a light bulb went off in my head. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone introduced a free nation-wide wireless network for everyone to connect to, coupled with a JavaFX Mobile-based cell phone that can also connect to it? Imagine - VOIP-based cell phone calls without a carrier! It's time to remove the phrase "cell phone" from our vocabulary and just call them all plain "phones," regardless of whether you carry them with you or leave them at home.

I’ve been using a VOIP-based phone exclusively at home for a year now, and the experience has been excellent. The technology is proven and well-baked as far as I’m concerned. Whether it’s Skype, Vonage, or a local cable provider, the technology is already main-stream. But why limit that to the home? I’d love to be able to take my VOIP calling ability with me on the road. It really should be just like adding another phone jack or network port at home, except it’s a handheld device that looks and acts like a cell phone. Ubiquitous wireless networking would make this possible, almost for free.

It all started with Sun’s acquisition of SaveJE around the time of JavaOne this year. My aspirations of having a “virtual cell phone” are coming closer to reality. What I mean by “virtual” is a cell phone implemented in Java; it can run on my desktop at home, my laptop, and any mobile device I choose. Skype Mobile comes close to this, but it’s not Java-based, and it’s not quite that transparent.

Does ubiquitous, coast-to-coast, wireless networking with Java-based mobile VOIP devices that can communicate over this network interest you? Enter your opinion in the comments section below.

-EJB

Posted by Eric Bruno at 12:18 AM  Permalink