Sun Announces Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition

New JavaTM Technology Provides an End-to-End Solution for Creating State-of-the-Art-Networked Products and Applications for the Consumer and Embedded Market

SAN FRANCISCO, JavaOneSM Developer Conference -- June 15, 1999 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced the JavaTM 2 Platform, Micro Edition, an end-to-end Java technology aimed at the growing consumer and embedded market. Addressing the vast high-volume consumer space, Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition is a highly optimized Java runtime environment targeting a wide range of consumer products, including pagers, cellular phones, screenphones, digital set-top boxes and car navigation systems. In related news, the K virtual machine (KVM), formerly known as project KJava VM, a key component of the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition, was also unveiled this week. The KVM is optimized for small-footprint consumer lifestyle products such as wireless phones, pagers and personal digital assistants. A key feature of the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition is its ability to distribute virtual machine functionality between the server and the client. Designed to meet the stringent memory requirements of consumer devices, only the critical features are included in the client. Enhanced dynamic downloading capabilities deliver new services to the client from the server as necessary.

Understanding the diversity of market needs, Sun has grouped its innovative Java platform technologies into three editions: Micro, Standard and Enterprise. The Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition is comprised of Java virtual machines, application programming interfaces (APIs), profiles, tools and a programming model for building scalable, portable applications for the consumer market. Within the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition framework, major types of consumer devices are grouped into a limited number of categories, such as TV set-top, screenphone, wireless (pagers and cell phones, for example), car, and personal digital assistants. Each category will include a profile of the minimum set of APIs useful for that kind of product and a specification of the Java virtual machine functions required to support those APIs.

"Over the past four years, Sun has refined the Java programming language and APIs through a collaborative and consensus-building process," said Mike Clary, vice president and general manager, Consumer & Embedded, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "With the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition, we will continue this tradition by developing industry specific profiles under Sun's Community Process. We anticipate these profiles will move the Java platform forward quickly, effectively and with wide industry acceptance."

The Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition provides consistency and scalability across products from smart cards to supercomputers. The Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition enables manufacturers, service providers and content creators to gain a competitive advantage and capitalize on new revenue streams by rapidly and cost-effectively developing and deploying compelling new applications and services to their customers worldwide.

About Sun

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network is The ComputerTM," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. [NASDAQ: SUNW] to its position as a leading provider of high quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com/.

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