How to Run Java Apps on a Phone

This step by step tutorial assumes you prefer to use a windows PC to download the java programs and then transferring them to your phone (take care that if your phone has internal memory the Java apps need to be written on a a memory card, which is then inserted into your phone). Also, this should be used as a broad overview for all cell phones, but will most likely be very handy to folks who own an unbranded phone made in China.

Step 1
Make sure to find if your phone is enabled to run Java apps. For brand name phones, like the iPhone, look for a Java icon or just do a quick web search. For unbranded phones, make sure at the time you buy it that it has Java.

Step 2
Connect your phone to your computer using the USB cord. Following that, you should see a removable drive appear in your "My Computer", similar to if you plugged in a USB stick or your iPod. If your phone has both internal memory and a memory card (almost always a microSD) you will be able to see two removable drives.

Set up a new folder somewhere in your choice of the drives with some extra memory, and name it "java" (the reason being to make sure things looking clean so you can find your java apps when you need to, but it really doesn't matter what you call it).

Step 3
Look around for any java apps you think are cool. I think you should start with this site; "getjar" (just google the name)

They have a nice selection of apps, and you can narrow your choice by manufacturer or platform for quick choosing. I prefer Java Generic, because it commonly should be able to function on any phone.

After you have chosen the application you like, download it as you would any other program, being careful however, that what you wish to download from the site is a Jar file (.jar)

Step 4
After you have finished downloading the java application, you should have a zipped file. Make sure not to unzip it. All you need to do is click and drag the zipped file from your computer to your phone connected by the USB (remember step 2? Quite useful now to have a file already called java, don't you think?)

Step 5
Remove your phone from the pc, go to your phones file manager and locate your Java folder. Open it, and you should see your .jar file. Select it, and follow any instructions needed to install.. After that, the phone will install it for you and tell you if the installation was a success.

Step 6
Navigate to the the application on your phone that lets you run Java apps, find your uploaded application, and after that, you will be able to use the app.

That's basically it. Be forewarned that not all apps will work with all phones, or might just not work correctly. I suggest you try free java apps, or for payed java programs, finding out if there is a free trial version if at all possible. If there is a problem with the free java application, then you happily haven't lost anything. Also take note that java apps do a lot more than play useless games. Some of the best ones are able to run everything from fast and useful multimedia players, to office tools.

For this demonstration, I used an i93G china mobile phone. You can find this phone, and others phones with java here.