Free Java for Windows Mobile 5

While you can use PocketPC phones to edit Microsoft Office documents and all sorts of other fun things, most them are still in need of free Java for Windows Mobile 5. There are a lot of Java applications out there that require a proper Java environment, so you'll need to download that software before you can run these programs on your smartphone.

What is Java?

Java is a programming language that was originally created by Sun Microsystems. The first release was in 1995 and the programs that were designed for it were largely for desktop computers. The PCs would need to get a proper Java Runtime Environment (Java ME), but this was always free. After getting the appropriate environment, users could then access all sorts of great content on the Internet. For example, many popular online casual games make use of Java.

Coming to the world of mobile phones, Java was the preferred environment for many cell phone games. If you've ever owned a contemporary Motorola cell phone, for example, there's a good chance that the games found within were running in Java.

Moving over to the Windows Mobile smartphone software, it's somewhat ironic that these handsets typically do not come with Java compatibility right out of the box, considering that their less powerful non-smartphone counterparts can run Java applications without a hitch. You can get applications and games designed specifically for Windows Mobile, but what about all that Java content?

Sure, you could buy some software, but why spend money when you can get free Java for your Windows Mobile phone instead? After all, you simply cannot beat the price of zero dollars.

Free Java for Windows Mobile 5

In searching through the Internet for a free WM5 Java environment, we found two possible solutions. The first, Mysaifu, appears to be more popular than the second, Ewe. There are pros and cons to either piece of software, but thankfully, both are free so if you don't like one, you can always swap over to the other and it won't cost you a dime. That's the beauty of free smartphone software.

Mysaifu JVM

• Product page
• Download page

Mysaifu JVM, according to the official product page, is a "Java Virtual Machine which runs on Windows Mobile. It is a free software under the GPLv2 (GNU Public License Version 2)." Multiple versions have been released in the product's history, with the most recent rendition -- Mysaifu JVM Version 0.3.3 -- being released in December 2006. Based on the development diary, it seems that this is more or less the final release.

Mysaifu JVM (Java Virtual Machine) will work with most Windows-based PDAs and PDA phones, including those that run on Windows Mobile 5.0, Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC, and Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Pocket PC. The actual size of the files is quite small at just 5MB, but you'll need about 10MB of free space in order to complete the installation.

More detailed information regarding how to use this program can be found here.

Ewe Launcher

• Company page
• Download page
• Support forum

Ewe is actually a "programming system that allows you to write applications, using Java, which run exactly the same on desktop systems, on mobile systems, and even in a Web browser as an Applet." In this way, it's not exactly a free Java runtime environment (J2RE) for Windows Mobile, but there is a Ewe Launcher which seems to fulfill this need. Check their official demo page for more details.

• Timeline of Mobile Phone
• Cell Phone Picture Gallery

• Free Blackberry Curve Applications Downloads
• Retrieve Text Messages Online
• Free BlackBerry Pearl Downloads
• Track a Cell Phone Using GPS
• Free Java for Windows Mobile 5

• T-Mobile Dash
• Free Ringtones for Verizon Wireless Users
• HTC Cell Phone Apps
• Free Cell Phone Apps Development
• Smartphone Autostart Program