title: What's a Java alternative to Google App Engine for developing iPhone Push Notification services?
body: <p>I'm a Java programmer who is working on an iPhone application. I'd like it to use Push Notification services. </p>
  
  <p>I originally thought I could use Google App Engine to provide the payloads to Apple, but I see now that it won't be possible because App Engine doesn't support the low-level socket programming that is needed to communicate with Apple. </p>
  
  <p>Are there any alternatives to Google App Engine that let me use Java? </p>
  
  <p>In brief, I'm wondering if there is a free hosting platform that supports Java and Socket Programming</p>
  
  <p>UPDATE - since writing this question I've written an app that uses Urban Airship to act as a middleman between GAE and APNS. It works just swell. There is an app engine issue on this - <a href="http://code.google.com/p/googleappengine/issues/detail?id=1164" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://code.google.com/p/googleappengine/issues/detail?id=1164</a> if you'd like to follow, but personally I've decided that this isn't really something that GAE should be doing. Just use Urban Airship.</p>