SUN MICROSYSTEMS DELIVERS NEXT GENERATION CLIENT-SIDE JAVA TECHNOLOGYSUN MICROSYSTEMS DELIVERS NEXT GENERATION CLIENT-SIDE JAVA TECHNOLOGYJava Web Start Software Enables Fast, Easy Deployment of Java Applications on ClientSAN FRANCISCO -- JavaOne Developer Conference -- June 6, 2000 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. today unveiled Java Web Start software, a new technology that provides a powerful way to easily deploy web-based Java applications. Available today through Sun's early access program, Java Web Start (JWS) technology gives web developers and users the best of two worlds: the feature richness and cross-platform capabilities of a rich Java application with the ease of centralized web deployment and management. With Java Web Start, Java applications are launched through a web browser by simply clicking on a link to download and run the application, just as a user would to go to a web page. Java Web Start applications, however, do not rely on the web browser's innate support of the Java platform. Rather, Java Web Start determines which version of the Java platform is necessary for the Java application to execute and automatically makes that support available. The technology that enables this is the Java Network Launcher Protocol (JNLP), a technology that is being developed through the Java Community Process program and upon which JWS is based. The public draft of the JNLP technology specification is also now available at http://java.sun.com/aboutJava/communityprocess/review.html With the growth of e-commerce and business-to-business applications driving customer demand for rich, interactive client-side Java applications, Sun continues to significantly improve client-side Java technology. Last month, Sun announced the shipment of the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE technology), v 1.3, the fastest client-side Java platform to date. When compared to the initial release of J2SE, version 1.3 is expected to dramatically improve performance in several areas: startup time, memory footprint and overall usability. The improved performance is due in part to the new Java HotSpot Virtual Machines as well as library tuning throughout the platform, particularly in the Java Foundation Classes. J2SE technology v 1.3 is now shipping for the Windows platform and available as a beta release for both the Solaris Operating Environment and Linux. Sun expects to announce the final release of J2SE technology v 1.3 for Solaris Operating Environment and Linux developers by the end of this calendar year, ensuring J2SE's viability for all major enterprise operating systems. "Sun Microsystems has been hard at work improving our client-side Java technology to meet customer demand, as witnessed by the recent availability of the fastest client-side Java platform to date in J2SE technology v 1.3 and today's introduction of Java Web Start's one-click client-side deployment," said Rich Green, vice president of Java Software Development at Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Java Web Start technology further solidifies the Java platform as a strategic ingredient for an enterprise's web strategy." Java Web Start TechnologyJava Web Start allows IT administrators to deploy full-featured Java applications that can be launched by clients through just a single "click" in any Web browser.Java Web Start provides the following features and benefits to the web user:
In addition to the end-user benefits, benefits to software developers include:
These benefits are delivered without additional software on the server. "Java technology allows us to develop and port an integrated suite of applications to all platforms. Java Web Start, in particular, was crucial for us because it allows our customers to optimally manage a large number of workstations in the medical industry," said John Lauer, Vice President of Research and Development at Per-Se Technologies. Expert Group: Java Network Launcher Protocol (JNLP) JNLP is being developed through the JCP program with the help of expert group members, including KL Group, SilverStream Software, BlueStone Software, Inc., and EOS. Java Web Start Technology Support and AvailabilityJWS technology initially will support Windows (95, 98, NT, 2000), Linux, and Solaris Operating Environment clients. Sun is working with other desktop platform vendors to encourage their support of JWS technology. Further, JWS technology is expected to support all major browsers including all versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator. The first supported release of JWS technology will be version 1.0 and is expected to be available in the fall of 2000. Developers interested in obtaining the early access version of JWS technology can go to http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart.Java 2 Platform, Standard EditionJ2SE technology v 1.3 offers developers and users alike world-class performance, enterprise-ready deployment capabilities, and new functionality and will serve as the base tool for creating sophisticated, valuable enterprise applications that can be quickly brought to market. (Press: please see recent press release at http://java.sun.com/pr/2000/05/pr000508-03.html) For end users, J2SE technology v 1.3 enables faster and easier use of functionally rich Web applications, such as corporate intranets and interactive shopping aids for eCommerce.An impressive list of J2SE v 1.3 licensees ensures its continued broad adoption across all major operating systems. To date over 17 companies have announced their support for J2SE v 1.3, including Apple, IBM, Oracle, Novell, Netscape and Sybase. Apple Computer recently announced at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference that its Mac OS X will also support J2SE technology. Availability of the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition v 1.3As announced at the Java Business event in December of 1999, source code for J2SE technology is available at no charge and can be downloaded through Sun's Community Source Licensing (SCSL) program at http://www.sun.com/communitysource. J2SE technology v 1.3 is available on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000 operating systems, with beta releases for both Linux and the Solaris Operating Environment expected to be available in June. Furthering its commitment to work with the Java technology community on future Java software development, Sun has submitted J2SE technology v 1.4 to be developed through the JCP program. The Java 2 Software Development Kit, Standard Edition v 1.3 binary download is available from http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/download-windows.html. The Java 2 Software Development Kit, Standard Edition is now bundled with integrated development environment (IDE) tools, such as Sun's Forte for Java, Community Edition and third party IDE tools from Oracle, Inprise, WebGain, and MetroWorks. All are available at http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/download-windows.html.INDUSTRY SUPPORT: JAVA WEB STARTBLUESTONE"BlueStone is pleased to see Sun extending Java's client-side capabilities with Web Start," stated Bob Bickel, senior vice president and executive technology officer at BlueStone Software. "As a result, our customers will be able to take advantage of BlueStone's powerful J2EE-based e-business server for more dynamic applications than were possible with HTML."
KL GROUP
SILVERSTREAM
TIDESTONE For a list of partner endorsements of J2SE v 1.3, please see http://java.sun.com/pr/2000/05/pr000508-03.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 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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