Adoption of Java™ Technology by Key Wireless Companies to Enable Consumer-Friendly Services for Mobile Networked Services

Adoption of Java™ Technology by Key Wireless Companies to Enable Consumer-Friendly Services for Mobile Networked Services

Introduction of Development Tools Accelerate the Availability of Personalized, Interactive Wireless Services

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- October 30, 2000 -- A key component of Sun's platform for advanced wireless services, JavaTM technology is gaining momentum as the foundation for the development and deployment of personalized, interactive wireless services. The adoption of the Mobile Information Device (MID) profile, part of the Java 2 platform, Micro Edition (J2METM), by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) will provide a standards-based platform for the rapid development of wireless interactive services. Already widely adopted in other standards bodies such as Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Java technology provides a rich set of capabilities upon which service providers and developers can build highly differentiated subscriber offerings. Companies who have announced they are using Java technology to test, develop and deploy wireless services and products include Sprint PCS, Motorola, Nokia, Siemens, Research In Motion, Sony, NTT DoCoMo, LG Telecom, NEC, Matsushita/Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Symbian, SmarTone, Far EasTone, Telefonica, and One 2 One.

"Java technologies enable rapid, cost efficient development of new applications for wireless devices," said Patricia C. Sueltz, executive vice president, Sun's Software Systems Group. "Leveraging the standards-based Java platform allows handset manufacturers, operators and content creators to differentiate their offerings and maximize their reach with consumers."

J2ME Technology Endorsed By Wireless Industry

J2ME technology has been adopted as the industry standard for wireless devices by 3GPP. 3GPP is an industry working group responsible for defining the specification for the next- generation wireless networks in which the MeXe Working Group is defining handset application environments. The 3GPP MeXe Working Group recently announced it will include the MID profile, as well as J2ME technology, in the next version of its specification for 3GPP mobile handsets.

"3GPP has adopted J2ME technology and the MID profile as the new execution platform because it is particularly suitable for supporting Java technology applications on small resource constrained devices," said Mark Cataldo, MeXe Chairman of the 3GPP. "With worldwide support from software application writers developing applications around the specifications, 3GPP mobile handsets will be part of the exciting new market for IP-based multimedia services which will revolutionize mobile services."

Based on J2ME technology, the MID profile dramatically enhances the overall consumer experience by enabling more graphical and fun personalized interactive services for wireless devices that can be accessed offline. Created by more than twenty companies through the Java Community ProcessSM (JCP), the MID profile demonstrates how the wireless industry can collaborate to develop open, standards-based technologies that will enable practical and entertaining mobile interactive services. The MID profile specification and reference implementation are available for immediate download [ http://www.java.sun.com/products/midp/ ].

Tools to Simplify Creation of Content and Applications for Mobile Handsets

The introduction of new tools from Sun and Metrowerks will make it easy for content creators to develop and deploy new wireless services. Sun's J2ME Wireless Toolkit provides Java technology developers with the emulation environment, documentation and examples needed to develop MID profile compliant applications and services. It is tightly integrated with ForteTM for Java Community Edition, providing at no cost a complete development environment from which developers can develop and test applications from start to finish. More information about the J2ME Wireless Toolkit is available [ http://www.java.sun.com/products/j2mewtoolkit/index.html ].

Metrowerks CodeWarrior® for JavaTM, Version 6.0 is a comprehensive set of development tools for programming Java technology-based applications from desktop computers to wireless devices. The tools help reduce time to market by allowing developers to leverage Sun's open platforms, J2ME and Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SETM), and create innovative Java technology-based applications and services from a single, tightly integrated development environment. Metrowerks expects the CodeWarrior for Java tools to be available this quarter.

Java Platform Allows Differentiated Products and Personalized Content

By providing personalized, interactive content that can be delivered to consumers at any time, the Java platform allows operators and handset manufacturers to develop and offer highly differentiated wireless products and services. For consumers, Java technology enabled interactive services are the next step beyond today's text-based, static content. Java software enhances the user experience by supporting easy-to-use, graphical, interactive services for wireless devices.

Included among the companies who have recently announced that they are developing Java technology based wireless services and products is Sprint PCS. As part of its commitment to drive the best in interactive services, Sprint PCS will conduct in-house trials of Java technology based wireless services for deployment over Sprint PCS's all-digital, all-PCS nationwide network. Additionally, General Motors/OnStar and Sun announced earlier this month that they will collaborate to bring new personalized services -- many of which are based on wireless -- to OnStar subscribers using Java technology.

Back Up Service Delivery To the Device With Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EETM)

Extending from the device to the server, Java technologies work seamlessly to simplify the development of scalable network services. The Java platform scales from the subscriber identity module (SIM) card that is used for security and personal information in the handsets today, to the interactive J2ME environment, to J2EE technology on the backend with JSPTM and Servlets used to repurpose existing content for mobile devices. J2EE technology provides the foundation for the delivery and management of wireless solutions built on J2ME technology. By building on the J2EE platform, telco providers can leverage the benefits of hardware independence and avoid vender lock-in. The integration and adoption of J2EE technology inside the telecom network infrastructure and the rapid development and deployment of end-to-end wireless services that can be deployed on network equipment and servers from multiple vendors.

About Sun Microsystems

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 industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to dot-com their businesses. With $15.7 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com.