LG Electronics has developed a mobile phone handset using SavaJe OS, SavaJe Technologies' Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME) Connected Device Configuration (CDC) based open OS. LG Electronics is ready to mass-produce handsets to operator specifications for delivery in 2006.
The LG Electronics handset features a slide design with 176x220 color TFT display, 1.3 megaixel camera, Bluetooth, and an SD memory card for storage of up to 1 gig of applications, music, video, and pictures. The handset plays MP3, AAC and AAC+ music formats as well as H.263 and MPEG4 videos.
SavaJe OS is an advanced open operating system for handsets, based on Sun Microsystems' Java technology. All handset applications, including the handset UI itself, are written in Java. This enables LG Electronics to easily offer operator customizations, while using a common software platform. Using deep theming functionality, SavaJe OS can implement operator-specified applications and menus, as well as color schemes, sounds, background images, and icons that affect both built-in and downloaded applications.
The SavaJe operating system implements open Java standards developed by the Java Community Process (JCP). The OS offers one of the richest and most complete sets of Java ME APIs seen to date on any mobile device, including core support for both the Java ME Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) and the CDC environment, using a single optimized Java Virtual Machine. In addition, SavaJe OS opens wireless development to desktop developers for the first time on mobile devices, with support for Sun's Swing-based advanced graphics API. Additional Java APIs are provided for multimedia, messaging, telephony, IM/chat, networking, file system, and PIM access.
Open OS security is addressed by the implementation of OMA-compliant Digital Rights Management (DRM), a secure key store, certificate and policy management, and a complete set of Java ME CDC security APIs for cryptography, secure networking, authorization, and authentication.
"The SavaJe and LG Electronics implementation of a complete handset operating system based on Java technologies extends significant opportunities to developers," said Alan Brenner of Sun Microsystems. "With the implementation of CDC-based technologies, the handset provides not only functionalities that are compatible with existing Java wireless APIs, but also access to additional APIs in the Java platform that are now made available on mobile devices."
Dr. Skott Ahn of LG Electronics said "LG Electronics and SavaJe Technologies have worked closely together since announcement of the relationship between the two companies a year ago. Creating an open OS is a significant achievement in itself. To do so using Java, offering this level of performance for the entire applications platform, including full telephony support, brings a new era of opportunity for developers, operators and end-users. The combination of LG experience and innovation with SavaJe's Java technology has resulted in a high performance platform that is applicable to handsets for GPRS, EDGE, 3G and beyond."
"The SavaJe and LG Electronics implementation of a complete handset operating system buries the myth that Java is not suitable for a complete embedded handset applications platform once and for all. The Java Micro Edition (Java ME) platform is already available on over 500 million handsets worldwide. The SavaJe-based LG Electronics handset provides not only compatibility with existing Java wireless standards, but also access to APIs that have until now only been available in the desktop environment. We are excited to be providing the next generation of the wireless Java platform to operators, developers and end users," said George Grey of SavaJe Technologies.
LG Electronics employs more than seventy thousand people in thirty-nine countries.