J2ME read file byte by byte

I have encountered many site examples and almost all are like this:
http://www.java2s.com/Code/Java/J2ME/ReadDisplayFile.htm
http://www.roseindia.net/j2me/read-file.shtml
They only show how to read a file from a resource file, not on the file system.
This is my current code:

InputStream is;
String path = "file:///root1/photos/a.txt"
try {
     fc = (FileConnection)Connector.open(path,Connector.READ);
     is = fc.openInputStream();
     int a = is.available();
     char buf = 0;
     String buff = new String();
     while (buf!=-1){
           buf=(char)is.read();
           buff+=buf;                      
     }          
 } catch (IOException ex) {} 

but it doesn't work, and the infinite loop is created.

is.available(); (int a) returns 0 (Why?) and file:///root1/photos/a.txt exists and contains: Hi!Hello!

How can I get this to work?

EDIT: I figured it out, (buf!=-1) is checking -1 on a unsigned char so it is never negative. Stewpid mistake. I just changed it to int and it worked. Sorry for bothering. I hope someone will find this useful if it doesn't get deleted

better you try this

InputStream is;
String path = "file:///root1/photos/a.txt"
try {
     fc = (FileConnection)Connector.open(path,Connector.READ);
     is = fc.openInputStream();
     int a = is.available();
     char buf = 0;
     StringBuffer buff = new StringBuffer();
     int i=0;     
     String temp1=null;byte bt[]=null;   
     while ((i=is.read())!=-1){
           bt=new byte[1];
           bt[0]=(byte)i;
           temp1=new String(bt);
           buf.append(temp1);
           temp1=null;
           bt=null;

     }          
 } catch (IOException ex) {} 

buf is string buffer which have the string.