Sun, IBM to unveil expanded JavaOS for business

Sun Microsystems and IBM have unveiled the results of their collaborative work on the JavaOS for Business platform.

The Java partners announced the core JavaOS for Business operating system, along with development tools, an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) development kit, device drivers, beefed-up server-side management software, and testing and certification programs for the platform.

The rollout will also mark a departure from the platform's original Network Computer-only focus, according to sources familiar with the effort.

By releasing an OEM developer's kit and signing licensees not currently committed to producing NCs, the JavaOS partners are broadening the platform's focus and bringing it into more direct competition with Microsoft's Windows CE, according to one observer, who requested not to be named.

Sun and IBM will also this week name several OEMs that are targeting mobile and handheld devices, according to the sources.

The latest JavaOS for Business feature set includes easier systems management, remote administration of thin clients, tools and APIs (application programming interfaces) for server-side management of JavaOS clients (both OS and applications), a device driver interface for creating platform-independent drivers, and leverage of JavaBeans interfaces for managing device drivers, according to the sources.

Additional management improvements include the ability to reconfigure JavaOS systems without rebooting.