Several licensees have requested support for server-based input methods using the Internet-Intranet Input Method Protocol (IIIMP) as part of the JDK by adding a client-side protocol adapter that plugs into the input method framework.

Adding support for server-based input methods also requires the addition of a user interface for switching between input methods. The current design of the input method framework relies on the underlying host system to provide a user interface for switching between input methods. Windows and MacOS provide menus on the task bar or the menu bar from which the user can select the current input method. Solaris 2.6 can have a menu in the window manager's control panel, which may or may not have the effect of selecting an input method.

With the addition of IIIMP, this is not sufficient, since the host system doesn't know about server-based input methods. A JDK with a IIIMP adapter therefore generally has to provide its own user interface for switching between input methods. Platform vendors however may instead want to integrate the list of IIIMP input methods into their existing user interface.