How To: Install Apps and Games On iDEN Phones Using A Data Cable

Update: My connection issues turned out to be a provisioning issue with my number. It took a couple of calls to Boost to get it fixed but I'm back online with my Boost phone. Even though they didn't fix the problem on the first call I was quite pleased with Boost's telephone support, there was no waiting to talk to a support persons and both reps were courteous and helpful.  They even credited me $2.50 for my inconvenience.  Based on my experience today I have to say the Boost has made tremendous improvements in the support in the last couple of years. Anyone who had to call Boost a couple of years ago knows what I'm talking about, 30 minute or more wait times and reps who were often not helpful or hung up on callers.

I don't know if anyone else is having this problem but right down none of the Java apps on my i776 can connect to the Internet.  Not Opera Mini, not Gmail, not even Download Apps. I suspect it's a temporary data problem. I've seen this before with Boost and it's usually cleared up within a few hours.

Unable to use Download Apps I can't load and test any new games or apps to post on BoostApps. Which makes it a perfect time to write about another way to load apps on your Boost or Nextel iDEN phone, Motorola's iDen Java Application Loader  or iDenJAL.  It's a Windows program that lets you transfer Java apps and games from your PC to your phone. No network connection is required so iDenJAL, unlike BoostApps or Sprint's online iDEN Content Uploader works with any iDEN phone including ones on other networks like Canada's Telus Mike, Nextel Mexico, Celcom in Israel, Nextel Brazil and Southen Linc in the US. iDenJall is only for Java Apps and games. You can't use it to install ringtones or wallpapers.

You can download iDenJAL from developer.motorola.com/docstools/idenjal/openJAL/. It's part of Motorola's developer site and you do need to  register as a developer  in order to download. Registration is free and only takes a few minutes.  Downloading from Motorola insures that you have the latest version but if you don't want to wait you can download iDenJAL directly from here. The download is a .zip containing a single file, IdenJAL.exe. Extract the file and launch it to install Open WebJal.

You also need a data cable. These are available on the web from eBay, Amazon and many other vendors.

iDenJAL is pretty easy to use. Connect the data cable to your PC and to the phone, which should be powered up and not running any Java programs. The first time you do this Windows will want to install some drivers, let it and if it tells you you need to reboot your PC do that too. Click the Connect To Phone menu item. I've found connection problems are rare with Open WebJAL. If you get the message "The phone is currently busy performing another operation..." it means that a Java application is still running on the phone. Go to the Java Menu on the phone and you'll see the message "End all running applications", choose Yes and then Finish and try connecting again. If you get "The application was unable to read the required phone information... " disconnecting and reconnecting the cable usually helps.

To load a game or application, press the download button and browse to the location where you have saved the .jad and .jar files, double click the .jad and WebJAL will copy the game or application to the phone. It's as simple as that. Unlike with some phones both .jad and .jar are required.  The part of jad and jar file names to the left of the period need to be the same and no more than 11 characters long. For example:

Mini42.jad, Mini42.jar - Correct

Mini42.jad, Opera_Mini42.jar - Wrong, names don't match

gmaps-232-m2_L1.jad, gmaps-232-m2_L1.jar - Wrong, left portion of the names is more than 11 characters long