Sun Announces Availability of Java Plug-in
Sun Announces Availability of Java Plug-in
Apple Commits to Port Technology to the Macintosh Platform
CHICAGO, IL - April 20, 1998 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. today at
COMDEX Spring `98 announced that it will ship the Java™ Plug-in software
on April 30th. Additionally, Apple Computer, Inc. has committed to create
a port for Java Plug-in software for the Macintosh platform. Sun's release
of Java Plug-in (formerly code-named "Java activator") software enables
enterprise customers to specify Sun's Java runtime environment in leading
Web browsers so users can run applets that take full advantage of the latest
capabilities and features of the Java platform.
Java Plug-in software gives enterprise developers a solution directly from
Sun that provides the consistent, reliable, full featured, Java Compatible
runtime technology that they need to deploy applets written in the Java
programming language in Internet Explorer 3.02 and Netscape Navigator.
Today's release provides support for Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 and
Solaris™ desktops. With Apple's commitment to port the technology to
the Macintosh platform, Java Plug-in software will soon deliver the
latest Java Development Kit functionality to Navigator users on the
Macintosh platform.
"Java Plug-in software has received strong support throughout the
industry because it gives enterprises the power to immediately deploy
full-featured applets that will run reliably and consistently in both
Internet Explorer and Navigator," said Jon Kannegaard, vice president of
software products for Sun's JavaSoft division. "Apple's commitment to port
the Java Plug-in software is great news for enterprise customers supporting
multiple platforms because it provides consistent, Java Compatible application
support in leading Web browsers on the three major platforms."
"The Java Plug-in will allow Apple's customers to use our Java Virtual
Machine, Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ), to run Java applets in Netscape
Navigator," said Steve Naroff, director of Java technologies and core
tools, Apple Computer Inc. "Our work with Sun on the Java Plug-in is
another indication of Apple's commitment to make Mac OS the best platform
for authoring and viewing Internet content."
Java Plug-in software provides enterprise developers, software vendors
and system integrators with complete support for JDK™ 1.1 software
functionality, including the extremely popular JavaBeans™ component model,
as well as the Java™ Foundation Classes 1.1 software. The Java Plug-in
software is fully compatible with the Java platform specifications,
eliminating concerns about runtime compatibility between Web browsers.
Java Plug-in software was designed with a future-ready architecture,
which makes it a very effective channel for delivering future functionality
added to the Java platform, including the Java™ HotSpot™ virtual machine.
Additionally, this release of Java Plug-in software allows enterprise
developers to configure it to use the Beta 3 version of the next release
of the JDK software (code-named "JDK 1.2"). This gives developers the
power to begin creating and testing applets based on the next release of
the JDK software in the current shipping releases of Internet Explorer and
Netscape Navigator.
Java Plug-in software is available free of charge for anyone to download
and use. Redistribution of the Java Plug-in software is also free, subject
to terms of the license, which allows developers to bundle it with their
applications.
Additionally, Java Plug-in software will be included in Sun's Java™
Jumpstart enterprise solution, due to ship next month. Java Jumpstart
is the essential resource for all enterprise Java application developers.
It includes Sun's Java Development Kit, tools, online books and documentation
that enterprise developers need to build and deploy 100% Pure Java
applets, applications and JavaBeans components.
More information and a free public download of the Java Plug-in software
can be found at http://java.sun.com/products/plugin.
Sun Announces Availability for Java Plug-in
April 20, 1998
Quote Addendum
Apple Computer, Inc.
[SEE BODY OF RELEASE]
PR contact:
Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.
brady2@apple.com
408-974-6877
Borland International, Inc.
"Borland's new JBuilder 2 will provide a high level of integration with Java
Plug-in -- simplifying the development of 100% Pure Java applets that can run
in any browser on any operating system," said Michael Gardner, Borland's
director of Java products development. "JBuilder has become a market-leading
Java development tool for building applets and applications for enterprise
desktop because of its strong support for Sun's 100% Pure Java standard --
including JDK 1.1.6, JDK 1.2, JFC/Swing, JavaBeans, Enterprise JavaBeans,
CORBA, RMI, and JDBC."
Steve Curry
Borland International, Inc.
408-431-4863
scurry@corp.borland.com
Cosmo Software, a Silicon Graphics Company
"Cosmo Software is very excited about the release of the Java Plug-in
technology as it will help guarantee Java Compatible Web browsers across
enterprise desktops," said Aub Harden, Product Manager for Java Development
Environments at Cosmo Software, a Silicon Graphics Company. "To support this
effort, Cosmo Software will be bundling the Java Plug-in technology with Cosmo
Code, our third-generation Java IDE. Cosmo Code was the first commercially
available IDE, and from day one, our users have always been looking for the
confidence that their applets will run consistently across Web browsers. Java
Plug-in will deliver this to them."
Julia Glenister
Niehaus Ryan Wong
julia@nrgpr.com
650-827-7098
Extensity Software
"We have found that while our customers appreciate and enjoy the benefits of
our Java-based Extensity Expense Reports, they were slowed in their
implementation of the application because several virtual machines were not
retroactively compatible with older versions of Web browsers in active use at
our customer sites," said Pam Kostka, director of product marketing at
Extensity. "Java Plug-in decouples the need for Web browser vendors to keep
pace with virtual machines. This is an important benefit, because it allows
our customers to deploy Extensity Expense Reports within existing technology
configurations. In addition, we can guarantee our customers that their users
will have full and immediate support for future enhancements to our
application that take advantage of new Java features."
Margit Wennmachers
Outcast Communications (for Extensity)
margit@outcastcom.com
510-596-0999
Fujitsu Software Corporation
"As a company extremely committed to Java development and deployment, Fujitsu
is very excited about the Java Plug-in and it's ability to ensure consistent
Java deployment across enterprise desktops regardless of whether or not the
Web browser has a Java compatible virtual machine," said Michael Kay, vice
president and general manager, enterprise management products at Fujitsu
Software Corporation. "We plan on incorporating Java Plug-in into NetPrism
and look forward to the benefits that it will bring to our users."
Bob Brodie
Fujitsu Software Corporation
rbrodie@fsc.fujitsu.com
408-456-7843
IBM Corporation
"IBM recognizes the importance of having a cross-platform client solution for
the differing customer environments, and the Java Plug-in will enable
developers to write Java applications to a standard Java virtual machine and
not be concerned about incompatibility. This step is evidence that the
industry understands customers requirements and is moving in the right
direction to address them," said Jan Jackman, Java Software Business Manager
at IBM.
Megan McFeely
IBM Corporation
meganm@us.ibm.com
415-545-4676
Infoscape, Inc.
"Infoscape has been committed to providing our customers with 100% Pure Java
application solutions since we introduced Fresco a year ago," said Richard
Williamson, Infoscape's Chief Technology Officer. "Java Plug-in allows
intranet applications developed with Fresco to be deployed without hassle and
regardless of browser platform. Our customers, such as BellCanada, are
already realizing the increased performance and deployment ease of Fresco 3.0
applications deployed using Java Plug-in.'"
Anthony Pho
Infoscape, Inc.
pho@infoscape.com
415-278-0116
Lotus Development Corporation
"We are pleased that Sun is releasing the Java Plug-in as it addresses
browser incompatibility issues," said Bart Lautenbach, senior manager, Lotus
Application Development Product Marketing. "We view the Java Plug-in as an
important tool to help customers using Lotus BeanMachine ensure that their JDK
1.1-based applets will run consistently across browsers."
Steve Hopley
Lotus Development Corporation
steve_hopley@lotus.com
617-693-0133
NRG Information Services
"The Java Plug-in is an excellent solution for our enterprise because it
addresses the problems we were facing with trying to deploy JDK 1.1-based
applets on Web browsers that didn't have consistent compatibility and support
at the virtual machine level," said Grant Genereux, project manager at NRG
Information Services. "Specifically, we use the Java Plug-in for RMI (Remote
Method Invocation) support from within browsers."
Grant Genereux
NRG Information Services
ggenereu@nrginfo.com
Oracle Corporation
"We enthusiastically support the Java Plug-in technology since it accelerates
the adoption of Java by permitting applets and applications to run
consistently in Web browsers, regardless of whether or not the built-in
virtual machine is Java Compatible," said William Sheehan, Java Program Manger
at Oracle Corporation. "We plan to provide the Java Plug-in technology with
Oracle products so that they can be easily deployed by enterprise managers and
so that users will be able to run our Java enabled products in their Web
browser of choice."
Kristin Harlan
Oracle Corporation
kharlan@us.oracle.com
650-506-9364
Solutions Consulting International
"The Java Plug-in is an excellent enterprise solution for our clients," said
David Boydston, President, Solutions Consulting International. "The Java
Plug-in addresses the problems we face when trying to deploy JDK 1.1-based
applets on Web browsers that do not have full support for the latest
functionality provided in the Java platform."
David Boydston
Solutions Consulting International
daveb@sc-systems.com
805-964-4868 x5
Symantec Corporation
"Java Plug-in, powered by Symantec's industry standard Just-In-Time compiler
version 3.0, directly addresses the needs of enterprise customers for high
performance Java execution in Java-compatible Web browsers," said Mansour
Safai vice president of Symantec's Internet Tools Division.
Michelle Cunningham
Symantec Corporation
mcunningham@symantec.com
408-447-8317
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 hardware, software and services for
establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the
Internet. With more than $9 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found
in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at
http://www.sun.com.
Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Java, JavaBeans, JDK, Java Compatible,
Java HotSpot, Java Jumpstart, 100% Pure Java, JavaSoft, Solaris, and The
Network Is the Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Netscape
Navigator is a trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation.
For reader inquiries about Sun's Java products and programs, call (800)
528-2763, (512) 434-1591 for international callers.
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