The International Java Community Finalizes Version 2.0 of the Java Community Process Program

Next Generation of Java Community Process To Be Implemented This Month

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JavaOne Developer Conference - June 6, 2000 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced that version 2.0 of the Java Community Process program, the community-based process for developing Java technology specifications and their associated reference implementations and compatibility test suites, has been finalized. The new process � dubbed JCP 2.0 � will start on June 19, 2000. The finalization of JCP 2.0 marks a significant step forward for Sun and the community of developers working with the Java technology in further refining the JCP program as an open, consensus-based collaborative effort for the development of Java technologies and compatible implementations.

Significance to the Java Technology Industry

JCP 2.0 was developed with direct input from major industry stakeholders and incorporates suggestions and comments from the international Java technology community. This version of the JCP program builds upon the original JCP program by giving the industry a direct voice in the direction and development of the Java technologies without introducing a burdensome overhead on the Expert Groups that develop the actual Java technology specifications. The result is an even more open and consensus-driven process that retains the speed and agility of the original JCP program. Everyone with a material interest in the evolution of the Java platform has an opportunity to participate and contribute. Enhancements included in JCP 2.0 include:

Executive Committee To Oversee Evolution of the Java Platform

As announced last week, two Executive Committees have been established to oversee key decisions concerning Java technology specifications as they move through the JCP 2.0. Interim ECs will serve for approximately six months until the first ratification/election process is held in late fall 2000. The Interim EC members are: Apache Software Foundation, Apple, BEA, Caldera, Compaq, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, IONA, Inprise, Insignia, Matsushita, Motorola, Nokia, Novell, Oracle, Palm, Philips, Siemens, Sony, Sun Microsystems, and Wind River.

The Interim ECs will hold their first in-person meeting over the summer, although they will begin work on June 19, 2000 using electronic collaboration methods. All EC decisions, as well as meeting minutes, will be posted to the public at the JCP web site at http://java.sun.com/jcp.

Java Technologies and Platforms Evolve Through JCP 2.0

Like other industry participants in the JCP program, Sun will adhere to the process. The Java 2 Platform editions, including the J2ME technology, Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE technology) and Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE technology) platform specifications, will be developed through JCP 2.0, with Sun as the specification leads. Decisions regarding the Java platforms and supporting technologies will be made by the industry representatives on the Executive Committees. To date, over 70 Java technology specifications have been initiated through the JCP, and over 240 companies and individuals have signed up as participants. Individual specification leads have been from other companies almost as often as they have been from Sun; they are driving significant Java technology developments while their companies assume long-term responsibility for associated reference implementations and compatibility test suites.

Industry Endorsement of JCP 2.0

Apache
"Apache Software Foundation regards a deep commitment to the open technology process as central to the interests of the Java technology development and user community," said Chuck Murcko, ASF Java Community Process representative. "Our relationships with equally committed partners such as Sun are producing world-class tools for both Java and World Wide Web applications. ASF is pleased to be a member of the Executive Committee, and looks forward to working together with the other participants to extend the open standards of Java technology."

Apple
"Apple's commitment to Java technology is strong -- Mac OS X will ship with Java-2 built-in, Java applications will be able to use the modern Aqua interface on Mac OS X, WebObjects 5 for Java will be built using 100 percent pure Java technology, and QuickTime for Java brings industry standard audio and video to Java applications," said Philip Schiller, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "As part of the Java Community ProcessSM Executive Committee, we plan to play a major role in shaping the future of Java technology through an open process."

BEA SYSTEMS
"Sun has done an exemplary job of spearheading the evolution of Java technology, and JCP 2.0 program marks an important milestone in the evolution of the Java technology" said Scott Dietzen, CTO of the BEA E-Commerce Server Division. "BEA WebLogic is the de facto standard in large-scale deployments and business-critical e-commerce, which is testament to the widespread adoption and growth of the Java technology. Going forward, JCP 2.0 program will best ensure that the Java technology community can maintain the pace of innovation and standardization that our customers require to meet their e-commerce and mobile commerce needs. Our greatest strength in the Java technology community is that we unify such a diverse array of skills and technology under the JCP 2.0 program umbrella."

Caldera Systems
"As the only Linux company to be part of the Java Community Process program, Caldera Systems brings Open Source experience and expertise," said Darren Davis, vice president of development for Caldera Systems, Inc. "Caldera is also the only Linux company to license Java. By doing this, we can work with the ISVs writing applications for Java and offer them on OpenLinux to our customers."

Compaq
Gary Campbell, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Compaq Enterprise Servers, said "Compaq strongly supports the Java Community ProcessSM PROGRAM as an enabler for controlled open innovation, and is pleased to have been invited to join in forming the Java Executive Committee, a new entity charged with the advancing of Java standards and the democratic evolution of Java technology. We are committed to working with the other committee members and the international Java community in continuing to extend the benefits and functionality of Java technology in the enterprise and personal computing worlds."

Fujitsu
"Comprehensive open industry participation in decisions about Java technology is a fundamental requirement to broaden acceptance and customer use," said Mr. Junji Maeyama, Senior Vice President and Group President, Software Group, Fujitsu Limited. "Fujitsu strongly supports the move to a new Java Community Process and looks forward to providing leadership in the new executive committee on the J2SE/J2EE technologies. We expect that this improved JCP program will increase the speed of technology adoption and add significant customer value to our already popular application server product, INTERSTAGE."

HP
"HP believes the 2.0 revision of the JCP 2.0 program is an initial step in the right direction for our enterprise customers and partners," said Linda Lawson GM of Application Development Organization. "As a member of the Enterprise Executive Committee, HP is looking forward to an active participation to insure the success of this first step, and the eventual evolution of the JCP 2.0 program into a fully open, rapid, and vendor-neutral process."

IBM
"Leading the industry with more than 100 products for the Java platform including our WebSphere software platform and VisualAge for Java, IBM looks forward to helping steer the future of Java technology via the JCP," said Rod Smith, Vice President of Java Software, IBM. "Java technology is one of the cross-platform e-business technologies that are important to our customers and to IBM. We will continue to work with the licensees community and Sun to improve the process and the technology."

Insignia
"Since Sun formed the Blue Ribbon Panel earlier this year to refine the Java Community Process program, we've seen significant progress, including the appointment of Executive Committee members," said Jon Hoskin, chief technology officer of Insignia Solutions. "As a member of the J2ME Executive Committee, Insignia is committed to providing leadership in the JCP process that will help facilitate the rapid deployment of Java technology to Internet appliances and embedded devices."

Iona
"IONA is extremely pleased to have been selected as a member of the Java Community Process Executive Committee," said Barry Morris, CEO at IONA. "As a leading provider of Java enabled enterprise portals, we recognize the importance of JCP 2.0 and the framework it provides the international community to contribute towards the development and evolution of Java technology. IONA looks forward to working with our fellow JCP executive committee members to further develop Java technologies and platforms."

Inprise/Borland
"Inprise/Borland is proud to be a part of the new JCP 2.0, and to contribute to the success and evolution of the Java platform, as we have since its beginning," said Dale Fuller, interim chief executive officer and president of Inprise/Borland. "By bringing the industry leaders together, JCP supports our mission to help companies leverage the power of the Internet and will help ensure the future of the Java technology."

Matsushita Electric Industrial
"Java technology will be more important with the Java Community Process 2.0," commented Yoshiaki Kushiki, Director, Multimedia R&D, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), "Java architecture will offer a better solution for any applications and devices because new Java specification will be finalized in an open environment."

Motorola
"As an active member of the Java community -- and the newly created Executive Committee, Motorola believes that the enhancements to the Java Community ProcessSM program will significantly raise the value of Java technology based products to developers, OEMs and consumers who will ultimately benefit from products that work better across multiple standard platforms," said Farooq Butt, manager of global business development and strategic alliances for Motorola Semiconductor's Wireless Software Applications and Services group.

Nokia
"Nokia supports open standards and fair but fast and efficient standardization processes, and it has been actively participating in the renewal discussions of the JCP process and influencing the industry players in the specification processes. Nokia is delighted to see that the JCP 2.0 program is taking good steps in this direction. Nokia has also joined the Executive Committee of the Java Community Process, and we also look forward to giving our active input into the Java specification process and application development. Java technology is an excellent complementary element in the Nokia vision of the Mobile Information Society. Nokia will be supporting the Java 2 Micro Edition platform in a wide selection of its future mobile terminal products and the company is determined to guide the process of implementing Java technology in the mobile world," says Anssi Vanjoki.

Novell
"Novell applauds Sun's move to open up 'directing the future' of Java technology to the key stakeholders in the industry," said Steve Holbrook, Internet Technology Strategist for Novell. "The success of Java technology is largely due to the breadth of support by a multitude of companies. By now having those companies also involved in the leadership of the Java Community Process program, the natural result will be quicker acceptance and implementation of new Java technologies."

Palm
"Palm is pleased to be involved as an Executive Committee member of the Java Community Process 2.0 program," said Mark Bercow, vice president of strategic alliances and platform development at Palm, Inc. "We look forward to working with the Java technology community on the development of existing and new Java technology specifications for the consumer and embedded space."

Wind River
"As a JCP program EC member, Wind River is pleased to play a key role in the extension and advancement of the Java platform. As representatives of the embedded developer community, we look forward to promoting the unique requirements of Java technology for next-generation devices. The new JCP 2.0 program provides a valuable forum for the development and evolution of the Java platform," said Curt Schacker, vice president of corporate marketing, Wind River.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision - The Network Is The Computer - has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW), to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to dot-com their businesses. With $14.2 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.

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