Opera Mini - iDEN Support in Opera Mini 3.1

iDEN Support in Opera Mini 3.1

By Christoffer Årstrand. Monday, 26. February 2007, 09:30:25

opera mini, iDEN, WebJAL, midlet, idenJAL

Previous versions of Opera Mini didn't have official support for iDEN devices, since you generally needed cracked software (WebJAL) to install it on the actual device.

We're now happy to report that this has changed with Opera Mini 3.1 as a result of Motorola releasing an open version on WebJAL late last year called "idenJAL" (or in some places "OpenJAL"). idenJAL can be used to install any compatible MIDlet on your Motorola iDEN device using a data cable. We have tweaked the code to make Opera Mini work better on Motorola iDEN devices and are happy to report that Opera Mini 3.1 Advanced now works on those devices too.

Please note that this support should be considered a bit experimental and mostly aimed at power users at the moment due to the fact that the installation is a bit "hacky" and not much documentation is available yet. Also, testing on all iDEN devices is a bit cumbersome since there aren't any actual iDEN networks in Europe.

In other words, please provide us with feedback in the forums if you encounter any problems or want to share tips and tricks with your fellow iDEN users. You can also provide feedback via the bug reporting wizard.

What you need:
- Opera Mini 3.1 Advanced JAR & JAD file ¹
- Motorola "iDEN Java Application Loader" (idenJAL) ²
- A data cable for your iDEN device
- A compatible Windows system (for example XP)

Step by step:
1. Install the drivers for the data cable, if one is needed (USB).
2. Download and install idenJAL.
3. Download the Opera Mini 3.1 Advanced JAR & JAD file to your computer, save them in the same directory (or on the desktop).
4. Rename the files to "mini.jar" and "mini.jad".
5. Open "mini.jad" and change "MIDlet-Jar-URL: ???.jar" to "MIDlet-Jar-URL: mini.jar".
6. Turn on your phone and connect it to the computer using the data cable.
7. Start idenJAL and check the "preferences" to see that the right connection type is selected (com/USB).
8. Click on "connect to phone".
9. Click on download, and select the mini.jad file you just modified.
10. Wait for the transfer to complete and then disconnect your phone. On some models this will trigger an on-phone install to occur, others will do this step the first time you run Opera Mini.

Congratulations. If everything worked as it should, then Opera Mini 3.1 Advanced should be installed on your phone. It can be a bit tricky to find Opera Mini in the menus but look for "Java Apps". Sorry about the icon btw, it will look nicer in the future.

Links:
¹ http://www.operamini.com/download/pc/generic/generic_advanced_midp_2/
² http://developer.motorola.com/docstools/idenjal/openJAL/
Note that you need to register (free) at the MotoDev portal to be able to download idenJAL.

Additional information and help (a bit outdated):
http://wapreview.com/blog/?p=194#comment-29701
http://wapreview.com/blog/?p=212

Opera Mini 3.1 releasedWhen using soft keys gets hard

Comments

Yeswap # 27. February 2007, 15:15

Thanks to Lunkwill and all the Opera Mini developers for getting this great application working on iDEN phones.

Would it be possible for Opera to create a zip file containing ready to use .jar and.jad files and a copy of these instructions and distribute it on http://www.operamini.com/download/pc/motorola/ ? I think that would do a lot to increase adoption.

I'm also willing to host the zip on my own site if that's permitted.

Dennis at http://wapreview.com/blog/

Lunkwill # 28. February 2007, 11:13

I am sure that we will provide a zip or similar further on to make it easier for iDEN users. As I said in the blog, the support should be considered a bit experimental.

Thanks for writing about idenJAL and Opera Mini on your blog by the way, I hope you don't mind that I linked to them?

randomer # 18. May 2007, 00:18

This looked pretty good, but I tried downloading this to my new i880 and followed these directions and it just said "Failed to Connect to the Internet." I can use the openwave browser to check the limited websites (for checking the whether, etc) that come with the web plan, though.

Help! I was really hoping this would work.

randomer # 18. May 2007, 00:45

Still trying to get this to work. The instructions say in step 5:

Open "mini.jad" and change "MIDlet-Jar-URL: ???.jar" to "MIDlet-Jar-URL: mini.jar".

Ok I did that, but now there's no "http://" etc. in that line. Am I supposed to leave some of that URL info in there? (like "http://mini.opera.com/dl/mini.jar" maybe?)

I can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong.

randomer # 18. May 2007, 02:21

Ok, one more question: Where can I find older version of Opera to try and see if they work for me?

Lunkwill # 18. May 2007, 08:18

"Failed to Connect to the Internet."

So Opera Mini installs and starts on the phone, but can't connect? Could be an issue with your network (APN) settings on your phone, the built in WAP browser does not generally use the same settings. What operator do you use?

"Ok I did that, but now there's no "http://" etc. in that line."

That is correct, that field is a pointer to where the JAR file can be found, which is in the same directory as the JAD file.

"Where can I find older version of Opera"

Look around (search) in the forums for links to older builds.

randomer # 18. May 2007, 13:57

Yes, Opera installs and starts on the phone, and then goes through a 4 step process to connect to the internet, at the end of which it says "failed to connect to the internet."

My provider is Nextel. A quick web search seems to indicate that Nextel iDen phones don't have API settings. Any other ideas on how to fix this problem? Maybe they have just started blocking Opera's ability to access the internet using the limited version of their web plan.

randomer # 18. May 2007, 16:52

I also wonder if anyone has recommendations about settings I could try changing in the program, or which older version I should try installing. (I'm also not sure if these instructions: http://my.opera.com/operamini/blog/show.dml/780122 are appropriate to use when installing older versions of Opera mini on my phone).

randomer # 18. May 2007, 16:53

Oh, whoops, I linked to the instructions on this page. lol.

Lunkwill # 21. May 2007, 08:49

Try asking for assitance in the forums. I'm pretty sure Nextel works, or at least worked very recently.

harveyds # 23. May 2007, 03:59

Ok, my Motorola I875 on Nextel is Pimped with Opera Mini Advanced.

Tip -

After Opera mini installs on the phone - I suggest a phone reboot, as I got an Opera resuming message that would not quit, so I rebooted and launched Opera mini, after a security function, it launched and connected just fine.

Opera mini may not automatically install, in this case browse to Java apps and click on Opera mini, it will then install on the phone, remember if the wait is too long just reboot the phone and go back to Opera mini.

I hope this helps!

Thanks Opera and Motorola!

Dave

Atsaldetaiz # 24. May 2007, 08:52

Atsaldetaiz

stephensr # 21. September 2007, 18:05

One other question - is it possible to copy the "mini.jad" and "mini.jar" files to my i580 phone's microSD memory card and then have the phone install files Opera Mini from a directory on the microSD memory card?

LennyViDiViCi # 12. August 2008, 22:11

Nextel Users who have administrative rights to thier accounts can Use the Mobile application manager to load Opera Mini to the download apps -New Purchases- menu. Changing of the files is not needed using this route.

LennyViDiViCi # 14. August 2008, 15:42

It's available to nextel and Sprint But I have only done this with my nextel.
First U must have the jar and jad file downloaded on your pc
then goto
https://mam.sprint.com/mam/mamLogin.jsp

Sign in using your sprint/nextel password. It is a sprint/nextel site.

Click on "Application Library"

Then "Upload Application"

Then select sprint or nextel, Depending on what phone You have

Select "non Rim" (selecting "rim" requiers a "jad" and a "zip" file)

Click next

Select your Jad and Jar file for upload. (The maximum length of the file names are limited to 32, including the extension name)

Fill in the master title with what ever you like (try My Apps)

scroll down to "Compatible Software Version(s):" under the "Technical Information:" section

Select your phone and software version (Choose all with your phone model if your not sure)

Click next

On the left side of the page Select the application You just uploaded and on the right click "Assign"

Select your phone, or the phone You want to assign the program to

Click continue (keep clicking continue until you see the page "Assignment Complete:" justmake sure each page loads.

You have an option to send a text message to the phone. It's not needed if it's your own phone.

Then open "Download apps" on your phone and find it under New purchases

I got the link from a post on A cell phone Forum.

http://www.howardforums.com/showpost.php?p=11239727&postcount=27