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Kshitij Sobti

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Posted on 25-08-2009

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It's strange to see an effort by Microsoft to enable ubiquitous applications. That too for multiple services and application that they do not own, on a platform that isn't made by them, in a language that they don't regulate.


OneApp is almost that. An application which runs on any mobile and provides a framework for running applications on it. Microsoft's intent with this is to enable feature phones to download and run applications from their online gallery.


Well, not exactly download-and-run, in order to make the applications run smoothly on the low powered feature phones, it reduces the processing required by performing most of the application's processing work on Microsoft's cloud servers.


OneApp is a (small 150k) Java application which can run on any compatible Java phone, the one's listed on Microsoft's website being:

• Oracle sues Google for using Java in Android
• Lemon Mobiles ties up with mig33 to offer a social networking...
• Aircell alligns with Aricent enabling inflight internet

• Nokia 3555, 5320, 6300, 6500, 6600, E50, E51, E63, E65, E66, E71, N70, N72, N73, N78, N80, N81, N82, N85, N95, N96
• Samsung U900 Soul
• Sony Ericsson C510, C902, C905, G705,K610i, K800i, K805i, T650i, W200i, W580i, W595, W660i, W980

Among the application they list on their website are clients for Windows Live Messenger (quite unsurprising surely), and also Twitter, and Facebook. With their OneApp developer kit, based on JavaScript and XML, they plan to enable anyone to create a custom branded experience with OneApp.


Does this seem familiar? Oh yes, the internet 10 years ago. All (or most) processing done server-side. How much processing do applications like Facebook, Twitter, and live messenger need anyway? Or do they plan to have Aero turned on on this one too!?


Java is already a ubiquitous platform, quite obviously, since this app itself is based on Java, why not just build on that?


All else aside, this does seem like a good way for people to get access to some of the most popular application that they use, and that too in an (initially?) light package. For people with Java phones finding official clients for their favorite services is currently quite a daunting task. Everything else will depend on how well these applications perform with Microsoft's client-server model.


The OneApp service is currently only launched in South Africa, however Microsoft is looking to launch it in other countries in the coming year. How long do you reckon it'll take for someone to write a Java VM on this?