Hi Tobias,
 First let me thank you for providing me the
impetus for looking at J2ME, your OP was the
first that I've examined it - having fun!

I don't know - have you extended the MIDlet class?

Here's what I have so far - please don't use this
as a good example.

import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.util.Vector;

import javax.microedition.io.ConnectionNotFoundException;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.Command;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.CommandListener;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.Display;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.Displayable;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.Form;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.Item;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.ItemCommandListener;
import javax.microedition.lcdui.StringItem;
import javax.microedition.midlet.MIDlet;
import javax.microedition.midlet.MIDletStateChangeException;

public class ReadDisplayFile extends MIDlet
 implements CommandListener, ItemCommandListener{
 private Form mMainForm;
 private Command cmNext =
   new Command("Next", Command.SCREEN, 1);
 private Command cmExit =
   new Command("Exit", Command.EXIT, 1);
 private Command cmDial =
   new Command("Dial", Command.ITEM, 1);
 private StringItem siFirstname =
   new StringItem(null,null);
 private StringItem siSurname =
   new StringItem(null,null);
 private StringItem siStreet =
   new StringItem(null,null);
 private StringItem siPhone =
   new StringItem(null,null);
 private int nextRecord = 0;
 private int recordCount = 0;
 private String[][] records;

 public ReadDisplayFile() {
   records = splitFile();
   mMainForm = new Form("Phonebook");
   siFirstname.setText("Firstname: " +
       records[nextRecord][1] + "\n");
   siSurname.setText("Surname: " +
       records[nextRecord][0] + "\n");
   siStreet.setText("Street: " +
       records[nextRecord][2] + "\n");
   siPhone.setText("Phone: " +
       records[nextRecord][3] + "\n");
   siPhone.addCommand(cmDial);
   siPhone.setItemCommandListener(this);

   nextRecord++;

   mMainForm.append(siFirstname);
   mMainForm.append(siSurname);
   mMainForm.append(siStreet);
   mMainForm.append(siPhone);

   mMainForm.addCommand(cmNext);
   mMainForm.addCommand(cmExit);
   mMainForm.setCommandListener(this);
 }

 protected void destroyApp(boolean arg0)
   throws MIDletStateChangeException {}

 protected void pauseApp() {}

 protected void startApp()
   throws MIDletStateChangeException {
   Display.getDisplay(this).setCurrent(mMainForm);
 }

 public void commandAction(Command c, Displayable arg1)
 {
   if (c == cmNext)
   {
     if(nextRecord <= recordCount)
     {
       siFirstname.setText("Firstname: " +
           records[nextRecord][1] + "\n");
       siSurname.setText("Surname: " +
           records[nextRecord][0] + "\n");
       siStreet.setText("Street: " +
           records[nextRecord][2] + "\n");
       siPhone.setText("Phone: " +
           records[nextRecord][3] + "\n");
       nextRecord++;
     }
     else
     {
       nextRecord = 0;
       siFirstname.setText("Firstname: " +
           records[nextRecord][1] + "\n");
       siSurname.setText("Surname: " +
           records[nextRecord][0] + "\n");
       siStreet.setText("Street: " +
           records[nextRecord][2] + "\n");
       siPhone.setText("Phone: " +
           records[nextRecord][3] + "\n");
       nextRecord++;
     }
   }
   else if (c == cmExit)
   {
     notifyDestroyed();
   }
 }

 private String[][] splitFile()
 {
   InputStream is =
     getClass().getResourceAsStream("records.txt");
   try
   {
     StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
     int chr = 0;
     while ((chr = is.read()) != -1)
     {
       sb.append((char) chr);
     }
     is.close();
     String[] data = split(sb.toString(),"\r\n");
     String[][] records = new String[data.length][4];
     for(int recordIndex = 0;
       recordIndex < data.length;
       recordIndex++)
     {
       for(int fieldIndex = 0;
         fieldIndex < 4;
         fieldIndex++)
       {
         records[recordIndex] = split(data[recordIndex],";");
       }
       recordCount = recordIndex;
     }
     return records;
   }
   catch (IOException e)
   {
     System.err.print(e.toString());
   }
   return null;
 }

 static private String[] split(String original, String separator)
 {
   Vector nodes = new Vector();
   int index = original.indexOf(separator);
   while(index>=0)
   {
     nodes.addElement( original.substring(0, index) );
     original = original.substring(index+separator.length());
     index = original.indexOf(separator);
   }
   nodes.addElement( original );
   String[] result = new String[ nodes.size() ];
   if( nodes.size()>0 )
   {
     for(int loop=0; loop<nodes.size(); loop++)
       result[loop] = (String)nodes.elementAt(loop);
   }
   return result;
 }

 public void commandAction(Command c, Item arg1) {

   if(c == cmDial)
   {
     try {
       platformRequest("tel:<1-(555)555-5555>");
     } catch (ConnectionNotFoundException e) {
       e.printStackTrace();
     }
   }

 }
}