Sun pushes Java further into the mobile space

By Alun Williams

Posted on 11 Jun 2003 at 13:13

Sun is focussing on wireless mobile computing in the latest announcements from the SunOne show in San Francisco.

As part of the push for Java-based wireless computing, Sun has announced a new testing initiative: the Unified Wireless Java Application Testing Criteria. With other industry players, such as Motorola, Nokia, Siemens, and Sony Ericsson, Sun is aiming to accelerate the secure development of mobile applications. The companies have agreed common certification criteria for content testing and Sun will license a Java logo for those applications that have been suitably verified.

Sun has also announced plans to launch an 'end-to-end mobile enterprise development platform' to help businesses extend their IT infrastructure into 2.5 and 3G wireless networks. Mobile Access v6.2 extends the Sun ONE Portal Server to provide access to data at anytime any anyplace from a wireless browser or device. It will include the Sun ONE Mobile Application Builder, for developers to build and deploy wireless applications.

Also for developers, Sun has launched its Developer Network Mobility Program as a resource for creating, testing and verifying J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition) applications and market them to consumers and enterprises. It includes tools, training, design blueprints, and technical forums.

'Java technology is at the heart of wireless network computing from the device via the J2ME technology platform, to the datacenter via the J2ME technology standard J2ME technology standard,' said Alan Brenner, VP, Consumer and Mobile Systems Group, Sun Microsystems. 'Our announcements today continue this parallel momentum and will enable developers to rapidly monetize their mobile Java applications and target a global market of wireless operators, device manufacturers and hundreds of millions of end-users.'