Is there any alternative to digital certificates from Verisign/Thwate ?

[mahesh_chavan]

I am using java since JDK 1.1 Few days before I purchased one cheap chinese Java enabled mobile for mere US $ 33. I started learning midlets programing. After few small midlets I started to work on real geiger counter using mobile. There are already many android apps on internet which use mobiles camera for this purpose. When camera lens is covered with black tape light can not pass through. But if any radioactive sample is kept near camera, beta and gamma rays pass through and camera sensors give some reading. Although you can not see picture, from alpha, r, g. b values you can co-relate actual accumulated dose. My idea is to take atleast 4 snapshots per second and takr av, reading of 240 photos per minute to get correct reading.
But this app needs permission to take snapshots and also I need write permissions, So, I have to sign this digitaly.
I came to know that min. charges for digital certificate from Thwate is US $ 129/- per annum and that of veisign is US $ 331 per annum.
My phone do not have any facility to add other root C.A, certificates. Other GoDaddy is giving certificates for US $ 19 only per annum.
Instead of sending so much, Iit's better to get Android mobile which I can get around US $ 90/- (MicroMax A 50) I have make it sure that android apps can be self signed.
But before leaving J2ME for this rason, I would like to know if there is ny way to run self signed apps.
I think all the J2ME developers must pressurised Oracle for coming out with Java V.M. which will allow self signed midlets. ( Any way app is asking permission to the user )

[DarrylBurke]

But this app needs permission to take snapshots

Accessing the camera doesn't require digital signing. An unsigned MIDlet *will* ask the user's permission before accessing the camera, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Some handsets allow the user to set persistent permissions for unsigned MIDlets; most devices ask when the program attempts to access the
camera, with an option to 'allow once' or 'allow for this session'

and also I need write permissions

Permissions for writing to what?

I think all the J2ME developers must pressurised Oracle for coming out with Java V.M. which will allow self signed midlets.

Oracle does not have (and never had, nor did Sun before them) any responsibility in respect of Java ME KVMs. The device manufacturers provide their own.

Not sure what happened when their mobile unit was sold, but the Java ME spec lead used to be Motorola.

db

[mahesh_chavan]

Thanks a lot DarryBurke.
I shall try if I can access camera without specifying permissions in JAD files.
Now another question. If I download JVM on my memory card and run it from there, then I may be able to install self signed certificates in JVMs certificate folder.
But from where can I download JVM binary ( My mobile vendor is not responding to my querries ) 98 % of mobiles use Arm architecture so the binary should run on any Arm processor ?
please shed some light

[DarrylBurke]

First off, you need a KVM, not JVM. I haven't heard of anyone installing Java on a mobile device themselves, bu that doesn't mean it can't be done.

I'm certain you can't just

download JVM on my memory card and run it from there

It'll be a lot more complicated than that.

db