OpenLAPI is most commonly used to access Bluetooth GPS devices from mobile devices, whilst retaining a high level of source code compatibility with JSR-179. OpenLAPI also has a range of backends for emulating location in development environments, making it a popular tool for J2ME developers.
The emulator mode supports the following back-ends for determining location:-
- Access of hardware GPS device over bluetooth (if available)
- Emulate a moving device from an NMEA log file (recorder application provided).
- Emulate a moving device from a predefined trail in a Google Earth file KML.
- Emulate a moving device by picking random entries from a persistent store
And the software may be shipped as part of a MIDlet (Java application) to provide location awareness.