Java Enabled Mobile Map

There was once a time where every mobile map available was designed for those mobile handsets that were Java enabled. However, the emergence of platforms such as Blackberry, Android and iPhone has meant that some developers are ignoring the basic Java platform, with many of the big players not supporting this.

Fortunately, there are a select few who do still make their products compatible with Java enabled mobile phones, with the main ones being evaluated below.

Google Maps

There is absolutely no doubt that the main developer who supports the Java platform is Google Maps. This product is seen as the most popular piece of software in the industry and with that, it will be no surprise to see that the majority of Java phone users utilise it.

What’s more, the software is certainly not outdated and Google are constantly rereleasing it to stay on top of the market. At the moment, Google Maps provides Java enabled phone users with the following features:

Although it’s still in the early stages, the software is starting to include various satellite navigational functions which allow the application to be used as a standalone GPS navigator.
Users can view maps in 3D mode.
If a user is searching for a particular type of business, they can tap into Google’s review database to see what’s on offer before requesting directions.
Google can supply instant traffic updates for those users that require it.

The software is completely free to download and considering the extensive features listed above, it is no surprise to see it as the most popular Java enabled mobile map.

MGMaps

For those users that wish to have some variation in their mobile map, they should perhaps consider MGMaps. While it does not hold the reputation that Google has, it allows users to locate maps from a variety of sources such as Yahoo Maps, Bing and Open Street Map. It contains all of the basic mobile map features and is an excellent alternative for those users who wish to avoid the Google product for whatever reason.

Map Quest

Map Quest used to be the market leader in the map industry although following the emergence of Google Maps and Bing, they are slowly starting to drift away. Owned by AOL, there is no doubt that they still hold an excellent reputation although their feature set is much less extensive than many of their competitors. One issue that certainly is in their favour is their support for Java enabled phones and considering the reputation of the developer, they have to be classed as one of the big players in the Java enabled mobile map industry.

Java Enabled Mobile Map Summary

While there are many mobile map developers, a lot of them have gradually moved away from the Java platform. Fortunately, two of the big players in Google Maps and Map Quest both allow Java users to experience their products, while some individuals may wish to look at smaller developers such as MGMaps.