Bringing mobile Java developers together

I usually get up around 5:20 AM... well, that's when the alarm goes off... it's often more like 5:40 before I'm actually in front of the computer and starting work on the front page. Today, just before the 6 AM exercise break (400 cal. of Dance Dance Revolution Supernova 2), I got an instant message from Mobile & Embedded community lead Roger Brinkley.

Remember: it's just before 6 AM in the East. And I know Roger's in the Mountain time zone, where it's just before 4. So he's been up all night working on something big.

How big?

How about a whole new conference, just for Java ME developers?

He said "you guys are the first to know", as he sent me the URL for the the Java Mobile & Embedded Developer Conference, to be held January 22-24, 2008 at the Santa Clara Auditorium.

But why a conference just for ME? Consider it part of the ongoing trend towards smaller, more focused conferences (Desktop Matters, for example), as the page notes that:

At the present time there is no dedicated mobile Java developer conferences with deep technical content. We have consistently heard from developers at Sun Tech Days and JavaOne about the need for such a conference. Developers want a conference solely devoted to the Java Mobile space where they can learn about the technical content.

Some of the specifics of the conference are still being worked on, such as the cost (they intend to keep it under US$200), and the various kinds of content (technical sessions, lightning talks, hands-on labs, etc.), so be sure to keep an eye on the page for more information. Registration for the conference opens November 1, and the Call for Papers is underway as part of a forum thread.

And yeah, the home page's link to the Call for Papers currently goes to the Mobile Aerith project instead, but give Roger a break: he was up really late on this. I'm sure he'll fix it when he gets up in a few hours.