New Standard for Web Services Interoperability Also Licensed Under Open Source Terms to Apache Software Foundation and JBoss Group
For First Time J2EE 1.4 Platform SDK to Include Fully Deployable Application Server Based on Developer Release of Sun Java[tm] System Application Server 8 Platform Edition
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- November 18, 2003 - Sun Microsystems, Inc., the inventor and leading advocate of Java technology, today announced that the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition [J2EE] version 1.4 specification was approved by the Java Community Process (JCP) in a unanimous vote making it the industry's approved platform for Web services interoperability. This accomplishment for the Java community is marked with another Web services industry-leading move to license the new specification and its Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) under new license terms friendly to non-profit and open source projects. Apache Software Foundation and JBoss Group are demonstrating their commitment to the compatible J2EE technology industry, a key value proposition for the IT industry, by being amongst the first open source organizations to license the J2EE 1.4 specification and CTS."With nearly four million downloads and over 30 licensees, the J2EE platform and Software Developer Kit (SDK) are being established as the popular choice and premier platform for Java and Web services development," said Mark Bauhaus, Vice President of Java Web Services for Sun Microsystems. "The delivery of the J2EE 1.4 specification realizes the vision of an architecture that fuses Web services standards and the Java platform, and represents the most complete implementation of the WS-I Basic Profile that provides cross-vendor Web services interoperability."
Shared with a wide community of developers who contributed to the design of the J2EE 1.4 standard through the JCP, Sun brings to developers the best in Java Web services technology that is the first to support the Web Services Interoperability (WS-I) Basic Profile. The J2EE 1.4 specification also includes improved deployment and management capabilities to help developers accelerate time to market for their Web services applications. Complete information about the J2EE 1.4 specification can be found on the web at http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=151.
"We received a clear message from the J2EE technology community to provide complete support for Web services standards and interfaces," said Mark Hapner, Distinguished Engineer for Sun Microsystems and co-spec lead of the J2EE 1.4 specification. "Sun took this challenge and in collaboration with the J2EE 1.4 Expert Group, we believe we have delivered the most interoperable and standard Web services platform in the form of this important Java specification, Reference Implementation and Software Developer Kit."
Key Open Source Players License J2EE 1.4 Specification
Taking advantage of open source license terms for J2EE 1.4 specification that Sun is making available for non-profit and open source projects, Apache Software Foundation and JBoss Group have licensed the J2EE specification and CTS to bring the benefits of Java technology compatibility to their open source communities for development and deployment. This will lead to increased adoption of J2EE technology through a broader community of developers and further popularize this premier middleware platform. The new licensing provisions were introduced by the JCP program through the JCP 2.5 process document and require that all Java specifications allow for development and distribution of compatible independent implementations, make specification products available separately and offer Technology Compatibility Kits (TCK) free of charge to qualified non-profits, educational organizations and individuals.
"As a member of the executive committee of the JCP, Apache is thrilled that JCP is meeting its promise as a forum for the development of industry-leading specifications that can be implemented by open source vendors," said Greg Stein, Chairman of the Apache Software Foundation. "Apache is looking forward to completing and releasing an application server that is fully compatible with the J2EE specifications through our Apache Geronimo project. Working closely with Sun and leveraging Sun's support extended to us at no charge through the Compatibility Scholarship Program, we are optimistic we will quickly deliver product to our communities of developers."
"As JBoss continues penetrating the enterprise market, proving its J2EE compatibility is becoming more important to our customers, ISVs and partners," said Marc Fleury, founder of JBoss.org and president of JBoss Group. "Achieving J2EE certification is part of JBoss Group's strategy to deliver Professional Open Source to the market. We look forward to a release of the first officially compatible version of the JBoss application server."
Complete information regarding Sun's Compatibility Testing Scholarship Program can be found at http//java.sun.com/scholarship/.
Pricing and Availability
The J2EE 1.4 specification is projected to be available on November 24, 2003. The J2EE 1.4 technology SDK that includes a J2EE 1.4-certified version of a fully-deployable application server from Sun (the developer release of the Sun Java System Application Server 8 Platform Edition) is also projected to be available on November 24, 2003. The new SDK includes documentation and tools for developers to learn J2EE and get started with the J2EE 1.4 specification. It is available as a free download on the Solaris Operating Environment and Windows platforms at Sun's Developer Network site at http:java.sun.com/j2ee/download.html.
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 make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com
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